Punjab NEET UG 2026 MBBS/BDS 4th Round (Stray): Choice Filling Opens 20 Oct

The Baba Farid University of Health Sciences (BFUHS), Faridkot — Punjab's NEET UG counselling authority — has announced that the online choice-filling portal for the 4th round (stray round) of MBBS and BDS counselling for the 2026–27 academic session will open on 20 October 2026. This is the final opportunity for candidates who did not secure a seat in the first three rounds to participate in counselling and claim an available MBBS or BDS seat. The stray round typically has fewer seats and fewer candidates, making it a critical window for those still waiting. If you have a valid NEET UG 2026 score and have not yet been allotted a seat, this round is your last chance in Punjab's state counselling process.

What is the 4th Round (Stray Round)?

The 4th round, also called the stray round, is the final round of online counselling in Punjab's NEET UG admission process. It is held after the first three rounds of allotment and is designed to fill any remaining vacant seats in MBBS and BDS colleges across the state.

In earlier rounds, some candidates may have declined their allotted seats, or seats may have remained unfilled due to insufficient eligible candidates. The stray round gives another chance to candidates who were not allotted a seat in rounds 1, 2, or 3 to participate and secure admission.

This is typically the last opportunity in the state counselling process. After the stray round, any remaining seats may be filled through management quota, private counselling, or other mechanisms outside the state's main counselling portal.

Who Can Apply in the 4th Round (Stray)?

To be eligible for the 4th round choice-filling, you must meet the following criteria:

You must have a valid NEET UG 2026 score. You must have registered on the BFUHS counselling portal and completed the registration process. You must not have been allotted a seat in rounds 1, 2, or 3 of Punjab's NEET UG counselling, OR you may have been allotted a seat but declined it and are now eligible to participate again (depending on BFUHS rules on re-entry). You must be eligible for admission to MBBS or BDS under the NEET UG eligibility criteria set by the National Medical Commission (NMC).

If you have already been allotted and joined a seat in an earlier round, you cannot participate in the stray round. Similarly, if you have already joined a seat in another state's counselling, check with BFUHS whether you remain eligible for Punjab's stray round, as some states have rules against simultaneous participation.

• Valid NEET UG 2026 score
• Completed registration on BFUHS portal
• Not allotted in rounds 1, 2, or 3 (or allotted but declined with eligibility to re-enter)
• Meet NMC eligibility criteria for MBBS/BDS

Important Dates for the 4th Round

The notice confirms that the online choice-filling portal will open on 20 October 2026. However, the notice does not explicitly state the closing date or time for choice submission. You must check the detailed schedule document (titled 'SCHEDULE FOR 4th (STRAY) ROUND OF ONLINE COUNSELING OF MBBS BDS COURSES Session-2026') on the BFUHS portal for the exact closing date and time.

Typically, stray rounds have a shorter window than earlier rounds — often just 2–3 days. Do not delay; fill your choices as soon as the portal opens to avoid last-minute technical issues or missing the deadline.

After choice submission, the portal will close, and BFUHS will process the choices and generate an allotment list. The exact dates for allotment release, joining, and fee payment will be in the detailed schedule. Check the portal regularly or enable notifications so you do not miss any updates.

• Choice-filling portal opens: 20 October 2026
• Closing date and time: Check the detailed schedule on BFUHS portal (not stated in this notice)
• Allotment release date: Check detailed schedule
• Joining deadline: Check detailed schedule

How to Fill Your Choices Online

To fill your choices in the 4th round, follow these steps:

Log in to the BFUHS counselling portal (https://bfuhs.smartpad.in/Registration/Default.aspx) using your registration number and password. If you have forgotten your credentials, use the 'Forgot Password' option to reset them. Once logged in, navigate to the 'Choice Filling' section for MBBS/BDS 4th Round. You will see a list of all available MBBS and BDS colleges in Punjab, along with the number of vacant seats in each college and category (General, OBC, SC, ST, etc.).

Review each college carefully. You can rank colleges in order of your preference — the system will allot you a seat in the highest-ranked college where you are eligible and where a seat is available. Rank as many colleges as you wish; there is no penalty for ranking more colleges. After ranking, submit your choices before the deadline. You will receive a confirmation message with your choice submission details. Save or print this confirmation for your records.

Once submitted, your choices cannot be edited. If you need to change your choices, check whether the portal allows re-submission before the deadline. If it does, log in again, clear your previous choices, and submit new ones. Only your final submission will be considered for allotment.

• Log in with your registration number and password
• Navigate to MBBS/BDS 4th Round choice-filling section
• Review available colleges and vacant seats
• Rank colleges in order of preference
• Submit before the deadline
• Save confirmation of submission
• Note: choices cannot be edited after final submission

Documents You Must Have Ready

Before you begin the choice-filling process, ensure you have all required documents ready. While the notice does not list specific documents for choice-filling itself (choice-filling is typically a preference-ranking exercise), you will need these documents later when you join a seat after allotment:

NEET UG 2026 admit card and score card. Class 10 and Class 12 mark sheets and certificates. NEET UG 2026 registration confirmation. Caste certificate (if applicable — SC, ST, OBC). Domicile certificate for Punjab (if required by BFUHS). PwD certificate (if applicable). Any other document specified in the detailed schedule or admission prospectus.

Keep digital and physical copies of all documents. During joining, you will need to submit originals for verification. If any document is missing or incorrect, your admission can be cancelled. If you are unsure about any document requirement, contact BFUHS at the email provided on the portal or check the detailed admission prospectus.

• NEET UG 2026 admit card and score card
• Class 10 and 12 certificates and mark sheets
• NEET UG registration confirmation
• Caste certificate (if SC/ST/OBC)
• Domicile certificate for Punjab (if required)
• PwD certificate (if applicable)
• Any other document in the detailed schedule

Category-Wise Seat Availability

In the 4th round, seats are available across different categories: General, OBC (Other Backward Classes), SC (Scheduled Caste), and ST (Scheduled Tribe). The number of seats in each category varies by college and is determined by the college's total intake and the reservation policy set by the Government of Punjab and the National Medical Commission.

When you fill your choices, the portal will show you which categories you are eligible for based on your caste certificate (or lack thereof). If you belong to a reserved category (OBC, SC, ST), you can apply for both your reserved category seats and General category seats. If you are General, you can only apply for General category seats.

The allotment algorithm will match your rank and preferences with available seats. You will be allotted the highest-ranked college where a seat in your eligible category is available. If you are allotted a seat in a reserved category, you must produce the relevant caste certificate at the time of joining; failure to do so will result in cancellation of your admission.

• General category
• OBC (Other Backward Classes)
• SC (Scheduled Caste)
• ST (Scheduled Tribe)
• Candidates from reserved categories can apply for both reserved and General seats
• Caste certificate must be produced at joining if allotted in a reserved category

Colleges and Seats Available in the 4th Round

The notice does not specify which colleges or how many seats are available in the 4th round. This information will be displayed on the choice-filling portal itself when you log in on 20 October 2026. The available seats depend on how many candidates joined in rounds 1, 2, and 3, and how many seats were surrendered or remained vacant.

Typically, the 4th round has significantly fewer seats than earlier rounds — sometimes only 5–15% of the total intake. The colleges and seats available may vary widely. Some colleges may have no vacant seats, while others may have a few seats in specific categories.

When the portal opens, you will see the exact list of colleges, the number of vacant seats in each, and the category-wise breakdown. Review this carefully and rank colleges strategically. Prioritize colleges where you have a realistic chance of getting a seat based on your NEET rank and the competition in that college.

• Exact colleges and seat numbers will be shown on the portal on 20 October 2026
• Typically fewer seats than earlier rounds
• Availability varies by college and category
• Check the portal for real-time seat status

Allotment, Joining, and Fee Payment

After the choice-filling deadline, BFUHS will process all submitted choices and generate an allotment list. The allotment will be based on your NEET rank, your preferences, and the availability of seats in your eligible category. You will be allotted the highest-ranked college in your preference list where a seat is available.

Once the allotment list is released, you must log in to the portal to check your allotment status. If you are allotted a seat, you will see the college name, course (MBBS or BDS), and category. You will then have a specified deadline to join the college and pay the admission fee. The exact deadline will be in the detailed schedule.

To join, you must report to the allotted college with all original documents, pay the admission fee (amount varies by college and course), and complete the admission formalities. If you do not join by the deadline, your seat will be cancelled and offered to the next eligible candidate. There is typically no option to defer or postpone joining in the stray round.

• Allotment list will be released after choice-filling closes
• Check portal for your allotment status
• Join the allotted college by the specified deadline
• Bring all original documents and pay admission fee
• Failure to join by deadline results in seat cancellation

Common Mistakes That Get Applications Rejected

**Missing or incorrect caste certificate:** If you claim a reserved category (OBC, SC, ST) during choice-filling but cannot produce the valid caste certificate at joining, your admission will be cancelled. Ensure your caste certificate is issued by the competent authority, is valid, and clearly states your sub-caste (for OBC) if required. Do not assume a certificate from one state is valid in Punjab; check with BFUHS beforehand.

**Incomplete or expired documents:** Class 10 and 12 certificates must be original or attested copies. If your NEET score card is damaged or illegible, get a duplicate from NTA before joining. Any document that appears tampered with or forged will result in rejection. Keep all documents in good condition.

**Missing domicile certificate:** If BFUHS requires a Punjab domicile certificate and you do not produce it at joining, you may lose your seat. Check the detailed prospectus to confirm whether domicile is mandatory for your category and state of origin.

**Registering with incorrect information:** If your name, date of birth, or other details on the portal do not match your NEET admit card or certificates, your registration may be rejected. Verify all information before submitting.

**Missing the joining deadline:** The stray round typically has a very tight joining deadline — sometimes just 2–3 days. If you miss it, your seat is forfeited. Mark the deadline on your calendar and plan to join on the first day itself if possible.

• Invalid or missing caste certificate (if claiming reserved category)
• Incomplete, expired, or damaged documents
• Missing domicile certificate (if required)
• Mismatch between portal registration and certificates
• Missing the joining deadline
• Failure to pay admission fee on time

What If You Don't Get a Seat in the 4th Round?

If you are not allotted a seat in the 4th round, your options depend on your NEET score and eligibility. You may be eligible to participate in counselling in other states (if you have registered there), or you may explore private medical colleges in Punjab or other states that accept NEET scores.

Some colleges also conduct their own management quota or NRI quota admissions outside the state counselling process. You can contact colleges directly to inquire about such seats. However, these are typically more expensive and have different eligibility criteria.

If you wish to pursue MBBS or BDS in the future, you can attempt NEET UG again next year. Many candidates improve their score in a second attempt and secure admission in the next cycle.

• Explore counselling in other states (if registered)
• Contact private medical colleges for management quota seats
• Inquire about NRI or other special quota seats
• Consider attempting NEET UG again next year

How to Contact BFUHS for Help

If you face any technical issues with the choice-filling portal, the notice states: 'If you are facing any issue with portal then Please send mail to .....@gmail.com.' The email address is partially obscured in the notice, but you can find the complete contact email on the BFUHS official website or by visiting the counselling portal homepage.

For general queries about eligibility, documents, or the counselling process, you can also contact BFUHS through their official website or visit their office in Faridkot. Keep your registration number and NEET roll number handy when contacting them.

Do not rely solely on unofficial sources or social media for information. Always verify details from the official BFUHS portal or contact them directly.

• Email BFUHS for technical portal issues (address on portal homepage)
• Visit BFUHS website for general queries
• Keep registration and NEET roll number ready when contacting
• Verify all information from official sources only

Frequently asked questions

The 4th round (stray) choice-filling portal opens on 20 October 2026 — this is your final opportunity to secure an MBBS or BDS seat through Punjab's state counselling. Log in to the BFUHS portal (https://bfuhs.smartpad.in/Registration/Default.aspx) on 20 October, review available colleges and seats, rank your preferences carefully, and submit before the deadline (check the detailed schedule for the exact closing date and time). Ensure all your documents are ready and valid, especially your caste certificate if you are claiming a reserved category. After allotment, join the college immediately by the specified deadline — missing the deadline will result in loss of your seat. If you face any portal issues, contact BFUHS support immediately.