Tamil Nadu's Directorate of Medical Education and Research has announced the Special Stray Round for NEET UG 2026 MBBS and BDS admissions, beginning November 25. This is the final counselling round for the 2026–27 academic year in the state, and it will fill remaining vacant seats in government medical and dental colleges, as well as management quota positions in self-financing institutions. Candidates with NEET UG ranks between 1 and 28,819 are eligible to participate. After this round closes, no further counselling will be held, and any unsold seats will lapse under state policy.
Tamil Nadu's last NEET UG counselling round opens November 25 for ranks up to 28,819; registration and verification run 2–8 pm that day, with choice filling November 27–28 and final reporting by December 5.
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Unlock My College ListWhen Does Tamil Nadu NEET UG Special Stray Round 2026 Begin?
Registration and certificate verification for the Special Stray Round will open on November 25, 2026, from 2 pm to 8 pm. Candidates must complete their online registration and submit original documents for verification within this six-hour window on the official portal tnmedicalselection.net.
Choice filling—the process of selecting and ranking your preferred colleges and courses—will run from 10 am on November 27 until 5 pm on November 28. The seat allotment result will be announced on November 29, and candidates must download their allotment order and report to their assigned college by 5 pm on December 5 to confirm their admission.
| Event | Date and Time |
|---|---|
| Registration and certificate verification | November 25, 2026 (2 pm to 8 pm) |
| Choice filling and locking | November 27 (10 am) to November 28 (5 pm) |
| Seat allotment result | November 29, 2026 |
| Allotment order download | Until December 5, 2026 (5 pm) |
| Reporting at allotted college | Up to December 5, 2026 (5 pm) |
Who Can Apply for Tamil Nadu's Final NEET UG Counselling Round?
Only candidates who registered for Tamil Nadu NEET UG 2026 counselling are eligible to participate in the Special Stray Round. Your NEET UG All India Rank must fall between 1 and 28,819. Additionally, you must satisfy Tamil Nadu's nativity and category eligibility criteria as defined by the state.
Two categories of candidates can apply: those who have not yet received any seat allotment in earlier rounds, and those who already hold an allotment but wish to upgrade to a better college or course through re-allotment. However, re-allotment carries a critical condition—if you accept a new seat in this round, you forfeit your right to return to your earlier allotted seat. This is a binding, irreversible decision.
What Documents Must You Carry for Certificate Verification?
On November 25, you must bring both original and self-attested photocopies of all required documents to the verification centre. Missing or incomplete documentation will result in rejection at the verification desk, and you will lose your chance to participate in this final round.
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Ensure you have the following documents ready: your NEET UG 2026 admit card and scorecard; Class 10 and Class 12 mark sheets and pass certificates; a transfer certificate from your last educational institution; a nativity or permanent residence certificate proving Tamil Nadu domicile; a community certificate if you are applying under a reserved category; government-issued photo identity proof and recent passport-sized photographs; and, if you are a re-allotment candidate, your earlier allotment order and joining report.
- NEET UG 2026 admit card and scorecard
- Class 10 and Class 12 mark sheets and pass certificates
- Transfer certificate from the last institution attended
- Nativity or permanent residence certificate of Tamil Nadu
- Community certificate for reserved category candidates
- Government-issued photo identity proof and recent passport photos
- Earlier allotment order and joining report (for re-allotment candidates)
How Do You Register and Fill Choices Online?
The entire registration and choice-filling process is conducted online through tnmedicalselection.net. You will use your login credentials from the earlier counselling round to access your account. Visit the portal, click on the NEET UG Counselling 2026 link, and log in using your registered mobile number and password.
After completing certificate verification on November 25, you will be able to fill and lock your college choices between November 27 and November 28. Review your selections carefully before locking, because once locked, your choices are final and binding. Downloading your allotment order after November 29 is treated as joining the college, so verify every detail before proceeding.
- Visit tnmedicalselection.net and log in using your registered mobile number and password
- Report for certificate verification between 2 pm and 8 pm on November 25
- Fill and lock your college choices from November 27 to November 28
- Download your allotment order after November 29 from your dashboard
- Report at your allotted college before 5 pm on December 5
What Seats Are Available in This Round?
The Special Stray Round will fill vacant MBBS and BDS seats across Tamil Nadu's government medical and dental colleges. It will also cover management quota positions in self-financing medical and dental colleges in the state. These are seats that remained unfilled after all previous counselling rounds.
Before choice filling opens on November 27, the Directorate of Medical Education and Research will publish the seat matrix showing category-wise vacancies. Review this matrix carefully to understand which colleges have openings in your category and which courses are available. This information is critical for making informed choices.
Why Is This the Final Round, and What Happens to Unsold Seats?
The Special Stray Round is explicitly the last counselling round for NEET UG 2026 in Tamil Nadu for the 2026–27 academic year. After this round concludes and all candidates have reported to their allotted colleges by December 5, no further counselling will be conducted by the state.
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Any seats that remain vacant after this round will lapse under Tamil Nadu's admission rules. This means they will not be filled through any additional counselling or direct admission process. Therefore, if you are eligible and interested in an MBBS or BDS seat in Tamil Nadu, this is your final opportunity to secure admission through the official counselling process.
What Is the Binding Re-allotment Rule, and How Does It Affect You?
If you already hold a seat allotment from an earlier round and choose to participate in the Special Stray Round for re-allotment, you must understand the binding nature of this decision. If you receive a new seat in this round, you cannot revert to your earlier allotted seat under any circumstances. This is a permanent, irreversible choice.
Before opting for re-allotment, carefully weigh whether the potential upgrade is worth the risk of losing your current seat. If you are unsure, it may be safer to report to your earlier allotted college and secure your admission rather than gamble on a better option in the final round.
What Should You Do to Prepare for November 25?
Begin by visiting tnmedicalselection.net and logging into your counselling account to confirm your credentials are active. Gather all original certificates and prepare self-attested photocopies of each document listed in the eligibility requirements. Organize these documents in a folder so you can present them quickly during verification.
Create a priority-ordered list of colleges and courses before choice filling opens on November 27. Research each college's location, infrastructure, course structure, and fees. Since this is the final round and re-allotment is binding, your choice must reflect your genuine preference, not a speculative upgrade. On December 5, ensure you report to your allotted college before 5 pm to complete the admission process.
- Log into your counselling account at tnmedicalselection.net to verify your credentials
- Gather and organize all original documents and self-attested photocopies
- Research colleges and prepare a priority-ordered list of your preferred options
- Review the seat matrix and category-wise vacancies before choice filling begins
- Report to your allotted college before 5 pm on December 5 to confirm admission
Where Can You Find Official Updates and Clarifications?
Monitor the official portal tnmedicalselection.net regularly for updates. The Directorate of Medical Education and Research may issue last-minute clarifications on fees, bond rules, reporting instructions, or other admission-related matters. Check the portal at least once every two days between now and December 5.
If you have specific questions about your eligibility, documents, or the process, contact the DMER office directly through the contact details provided on the portal. Do not rely on unofficial sources or social media for critical information about your admission.
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See My CollegesFrequently asked questions
What is the Tamil Nadu NEET UG Special Stray Round 2026?
It is the final counselling round for NEET UG 2026 MBBS and BDS admissions in Tamil Nadu. It fills vacant seats in government medical and dental colleges, as well as management quota positions in self-financing institutions. After this round, no further counselling will be held in the state.
When does registration for the Special Stray Round begin?
Registration and certificate verification begin on November 25, 2026, from 2 pm to 8 pm. You must complete both steps within this six-hour window on tnmedicalselection.net.
What is the eligibility criteria for this round?
You must have registered for Tamil Nadu NEET UG 2026 counselling, hold an All India Rank between 1 and 28,819, and meet Tamil Nadu's nativity and category eligibility requirements. Both candidates without any prior allotment and those seeking re-allotment are eligible.
What happens if I choose re-allotment and get a new seat?
If you accept a new seat through re-allotment, you cannot return to your earlier allotted seat. This is a binding, irreversible decision. Carefully consider whether the upgrade is worth this risk before opting for re-allotment.
When must I report to my allotted college?
You must report to your allotted college by 5 pm on December 5, 2026. Downloading your allotment order after November 29 is treated as joining the college, so ensure all details are correct before proceeding.
What documents do I need to bring on November 25?
Bring original and self-attested photocopies of your NEET admit card and scorecard, Class 10 and 12 mark sheets, transfer certificate, Tamil Nadu nativity certificate, community certificate (if applicable), government photo ID, passport photos, and earlier allotment order (if re-allotting).
When can I fill and lock my college choices?
Choice filling and locking will occur from 10 am on November 27 until 5 pm on November 28. Once you lock your choices, they are final and binding.
What happens to seats that remain vacant after this round?
Any seats left vacant after the Special Stray Round will lapse under Tamil Nadu's admission rules. They will not be filled through any additional counselling or direct admission process, so this is your final opportunity to secure a seat.
If you are eligible for Tamil Nadu NEET UG 2026 counselling, mark November 25 on your calendar and prepare your documents now. This is the final round—missing the registration window or failing to report by December 5 will end your chance for a state-allocated MBBS or BDS seat. Visit tnmedicalselection.net regularly for updates and the seat matrix before choice filling begins.
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