Punjab NEET UG 2026 Stray Round: Dates, Fees & How to Apply

Baba Farid University of Health Sciences (BFUHS), Faridkot, has released the schedule for the Stray Round of NEET UG 2026 counselling for Punjab. This is the final opportunity for candidates who did not join a seat in Rounds 1, 2, or 3, or who were not allotted a seat in Round 3, to secure an MBBS or BDS seat in Punjab colleges. The Stray Round begins with fresh registration on 16 October 2026 and concludes with joining by 26 October 2026. If you are eligible and did not get a seat earlier, you must register, pay fees, and participate within these tight deadlines — missing even one date will disqualify you.

What is the Stray Round and who should apply?

The Stray Round is the final counselling round for NEET UG 2026 in Punjab. It is open to candidates who did not join the seat allotted to them in Rounds 1, 2, or 3, or who were not allotted any seat in Round 3. This round fills leftover (vacant) seats in government and private MBBS and BDS colleges across Punjab.

If you have already joined a seat in any earlier round of Punjab counselling, or in any other state's counselling, or in MCC (Medical Counselling Committee) counselling, you are NOT eligible for the Stray Round. The university will automatically remove (weed out) any candidate who has already joined a seat before the provisional allotment is displayed.

• Eligible: Did not join in Rounds 1, 2, or 3; or were not allotted a seat in Round 3
• Not eligible: Already joined any seat in Punjab, another state, or MCC counselling
• Not eligible: Were allotted a seat in Round 3 of Punjab but did not report for joining
• Not eligible: Have not registered for the Stray Round

Important dates — do not miss any

The Stray Round operates on a compressed timeline. All key events happen between 15 October and 26 October 2026. Vacancy positions will be displayed on 15 October, and fresh registration opens the next day. You have only 3 days (16–18 October) to register and pay your application fee. After that, the focus shifts to security deposits, choice filling, and allotment.

Mark every date on your calendar. The university will not grant extensions. Once a deadline passes, your application may be locked or rejected automatically.

Application fees and security deposits — what you must pay

There are two separate payments: the application fee (paid during registration) and the security deposit (paid when you submit your willingness to participate). Both are non-refundable unless you are not allotted a seat or do not join.

The application fee depends on your category. General category candidates pay ₹5,900 (₹5,000 + 18% GST), while SC candidates pay ₹2,950 (₹2,500 + 18% GST). This fee must be paid through the University Payment Portal during registration (16–18 October).

The security deposit is separate and depends on which colleges you choose. If you choose only government colleges, you pay ₹10,000 (or ₹5,000 if you are SC/BC/PwD). If you choose private colleges or a mix of government and private, you pay ₹2,00,000. This deposit is held by the university and adjusted against your final fee after joining.

• Application fee (paid during registration, 16–18 Oct): General ₹5,900 | SC ₹2,950
• Security deposit (paid with willingness): Government colleges ₹10,000 | Government colleges (SC/BC/PwD) ₹5,000 | Private colleges ₹2,00,000 | Government + Private ₹2,00,000
• Both payments are through the University Payment Portal
• Security deposit is adjusted against your final fee after joining

Step-by-step: how to register and participate

Registration happens in two phases. First, you complete online registration and pay the application fee (16–18 October). Second, you submit your willingness to participate and pay the security deposit. Both must be done by the deadlines, or you will be excluded from the round.

After registration closes, the university displays the provisional merit list on 19 October. You then log in to the counselling portal and fill your choices of course (MBBS or BDS), college, quota (if applicable), and category. This choice-filling window is 20–21 October — only 2 days. Once you submit your choices, you cannot change them.

On 22 October, the university processes your choices and displays the provisional allotment. Check the portal to see which college and course you have been allotted. If you have an objection (e.g., you believe your merit rank is wrong), you must submit it in person at the Admission Branch by 23 October, 3:00 PM — no email or postal objections are accepted.

Finally, on 24–26 October, you must report to your allotted college with all required documents. The college will verify your eligibility and documents. After verification, you pay the balance fee (six months' fee minus the security deposit you already paid) through the University Payment Gateway. Only after this payment is your admission confirmed.

• Step 1 (16–18 Oct): Register online and pay application fee via University Payment Portal
• Step 2 (by 18 Oct): Submit willingness and pay security deposit (amount depends on college choice)
• Step 3 (19 Oct): Check provisional merit list on university website
• Step 4 (20–21 Oct): Log in to counselling portal and fill your choices of course, college, quota, category
• Step 5 (22 Oct): Check provisional allotment on portal
• Step 6 (by 23 Oct, 3:00 PM): If you have objections, submit them in person at Admission Branch with supporting documents
• Step 7 (24–26 Oct): Report to your allotted college with all documents and pay balance fee

Critical trap: candidates who did not join in earlier rounds must register afresh

If you were allotted a seat in Round 1, 2, or 3 but did not join (did not report to the college), you cannot simply participate in the Stray Round using your old registration. You must register again as a fresh applicant and pay the application fee and security deposit again.

This is a common mistake. Many candidates think they can skip registration because they already registered in an earlier round. They cannot. The university treats the Stray Round as a separate counselling event, and all participants — whether new or returning — must register afresh and pay all fees again.

• ⚠️ If you did not join in Rounds 1, 2, or 3: you must register afresh for the Stray Round
• ⚠️ You must pay the application fee again (₹5,900 or ₹2,950 depending on category)
• ⚠️ You must pay the security deposit again (amount depends on college choice)
• ⚠️ Your old registration from earlier rounds is not valid for the Stray Round

NRI Quota — separate application and early deadline

If you are applying under the NRI (Non-Resident Indian) Quota, you must submit a separate NRI Quota application form by 16 October 2026, 4:00 PM. This deadline is earlier than the general registration deadline (18 October), so do not delay.

The university has two separate forms for NRI candidates: one for obtaining an Eligibility Certificate and another for the Admission Application. Both are available on the university website. You must fill both forms and submit them by the deadline. If you miss this deadline, you cannot participate in the Stray Round under the NRI Quota.

• NRI Quota application deadline: 16 October 2026, 4:00 PM (earlier than general deadline)
• Two separate forms required: Eligibility Certificate form + Admission Application form
• Both forms available on BFUHS website
• Submit both forms by 4:00 PM on 16 October — no extensions

Christian Minority Quota — verification required by 19 October

If you are applying under the Christian Minority Quota, you must have your minority status verified by the Christian Medical College, Ludhiana. The verification deadline is 19 October 2026, 3:00 PM.

If your minority status was already verified during Rounds 1, 2, or 3 of counselling, you do not need to verify again — you are exempt. However, if you registered under the Minority Quota in an earlier round but your status was not verified at that time, you must now report to the Christian Medical College for verification before 19 October, 3:00 PM. Failure to verify will disqualify you from the Stray Round.

• Christian Minority Quota candidates must verify minority status at Christian Medical College, Ludhiana
• Verification deadline: 19 October 2026, 3:00 PM
• If already verified in Rounds 1, 2, or 3: no need to verify again
• If registered in earlier round but not verified: must verify now by 19 October, 3:00 PM

Objections to provisional allotment — in-person submission only

After the provisional allotment is displayed on 22 October, you have until 23 October, 3:00 PM to raise objections if you believe there is an error (e.g., your merit rank is incorrect, your category was wrongly assigned, or your documents were misread).

Objections must be submitted in person at the Admission Branch of Baba Farid University of Health Sciences, Faridkot. You must bring all relevant supporting documents and records with you. Objections submitted by email, post, or any other mode will not be entertained. This is a strict rule — do not attempt to submit objections remotely.

• Objection deadline: 23 October 2026, 3:00 PM
• Submission method: In person only at Admission Branch, BFUHS, Faridkot
• ⚠️ Email, post, or online objections will NOT be accepted
• Bring all supporting documents and records with you

Joining formalities and final fee payment

Once you are allotted a seat, you must report to your allotted college between 24 and 26 October 2026 to complete joining formalities. Bring all original documents (NEET admit card, NEET scorecard, 10+2 mark sheet, category certificate if applicable, domicile certificate, and any other documents the college requests).

The college will verify your documents and confirm your eligibility. After verification, you must pay the balance fee through the University Payment Gateway. The balance is calculated as six months' fee minus the security deposit you already paid. For example, if the total fee is ₹3,00,000 and you paid a ₹2,00,000 security deposit, you now pay ₹1,00,000 (half of ₹3,00,000 minus ₹2,00,000). Only after this payment is your admission final.

• Reporting dates: 24–26 October 2026
• Bring all original documents: NEET admit card, scorecard, 10+2 marks, category certificate, domicile, etc.
• College verifies documents and eligibility
• Pay balance fee (six months' fee minus security deposit already paid) via University Payment Gateway
• Admission is confirmed only after balance fee payment

No upgradation in the Stray Round

Upgradation means moving from a lower-ranked college to a higher-ranked college after the allotment is made. In the Stray Round, upgradation is NOT allowed. Once you are allotted a seat, that is your final allotment — you cannot request a change to a different college or course.

This is different from earlier rounds where some upgradation may have been permitted. In the Stray Round, the allotment is final. If you are unhappy with your allotment, your only option is to not join and forgo your seat.

• Upgradation is NOT permitted in the Stray Round
• Your allotment is final — you cannot request a change to a different college or course
• If you do not join, you forfeit your seat and the security deposit

BDS leftover seats — candidates not eligible for 85% state quota may be considered

If there are not enough eligible candidates for BDS course seats, the university may consider candidates who are not eligible for the 85% state quota seats. This means candidates from outside Punjab or those who do not meet the state domicile requirement may be offered BDS seats if they remain vacant after all eligible candidates have been allotted.

This is a provision to fill leftover seats and is not guaranteed. It applies only if there is a genuine shortage of eligible candidates for BDS.

• If BDS seats remain vacant after allotting to eligible candidates, non-85% quota candidates may be considered
• This applies only to BDS, not MBBS
• Not guaranteed — only if seats genuinely remain vacant

Frequently asked questions

If you are eligible for the Stray Round, act immediately. Registration opens on 16 October and closes on 18 October — only 3 days. Register on the University Payment Portal, pay your application fee, submit your willingness with the security deposit, and fill your choices by 21 October. Check the provisional allotment on 22 October, raise any objections by 23 October if needed, and report to your allotted college by 26 October with all documents and the balance fee. This is your last chance to secure an MBBS or BDS seat in Punjab — do not miss any deadline.