Uttarakhand's Hemwati Nandan Bahuguna Medical Education University (HNBUMU) has announced the Stray Vacancy Round—the final counselling round for NEET UG 2026 MBBS and BDS admissions in the state. This round fills any remaining seats after all previous counselling rounds. Registration opens today, 18 October 2026, and closes on 21 October at 5 PM. All eligible, NEET UG 2026-qualified candidates can apply by paying a ₹4,500 registration fee. Results will be declared on 22 October, and successful candidates must join their allotted college by 26 November. Since this is the last round, all reserved category seats will be converted to general seats as per state government policy if they remain unfilled.
Register online by 21 October 5 PM (₹4,500 fee), fill choices, and results come 22 October—this is Uttarakhand's final NEET UG 2026 counselling round, so act now if you want a seat.
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Unlock My College ListWhat is the Stray Vacancy Round?
The Stray Vacancy Round is Uttarakhand's final counselling round for NEET UG 2026. It is designed to fill any MBBS and BDS seats that remain vacant after all previous counselling rounds (merit-based, category-based, and other rounds) are completed. This is your last opportunity to secure a medical seat in Uttarakhand through the centralised counselling process.
Because this is the last round, the state government has a special policy: any reserved category seats (SC, ST, OBC, etc.) that are still empty after this round will be converted to general seats. This means if you are a general category candidate, you may have access to more seats in this round than in earlier rounds. Conversely, if you belong to a reserved category, you must ensure you have the correct original certificate to claim your category—without it, you will not be considered for allotment.
Who is Eligible to Apply?
To apply for the Stray Vacancy Round, you must meet ALL of the following conditions:
First, you must have qualified in NEET UG 2026—that is, you must have appeared in the exam and scored at or above the qualifying cutoff set by the National Medical Commission (NMC). Second, you must meet the eligibility norms set by the NMC (the national regulator for medical education) and the Government of Uttarakhand. These typically include Indian citizenship, age limits, and educational qualifications. Third, if you belong to a reserved category (SC, ST, OBC, EWS, etc.), you must be able to produce the original certificate issued by the competent authority in support of your category claim—without this, you will not be included in the seat allotment process, even if you register.
- Qualified in NEET UG 2026 (scored at or above the qualifying cutoff)
- Meet NMC and Government of Uttarakhand eligibility norms
- Have original category certificate (if claiming reserved category)
- Indian citizen (as per NMC norms)
Important Dates: Timeline for the Stray Vacancy Round
The Stray Vacancy Round follows a tight schedule. All key dates are listed below. Note that the registration deadline is 21 October 2026 at 5:00 PM (server time)—this is a hard deadline, and late submissions will not be accepted. After registration closes, the counselling board will process all applications and declare results on 22 October. You then have until 26 November 2026 to join your allotted college and complete admission formalities.
| Event | Date & Time |
|---|---|
| Online registration, fee payment, and choice filling opens | 18 October 2026 |
| Online registration, fee payment, and choice filling closes | 21 October 2026, 5:00 PM (server time) |
| Declaration of result (seat allotment) | 22 October 2026 |
| Last date to join the allotted college | 26 November 2026 |
Registration Fee and Payment Method
The online registration fee for the Stray Vacancy Round is ₹4,500 for all candidates, regardless of category (General, SC, ST, OBC, EWS, etc.). This fee must be paid at the time of registration and covers your application processing and seat allotment.
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Payment must be made online only—by Credit Card, Debit Card, or Net Banking. No other payment method (cash, cheque, demand draft, etc.) is accepted. The fee is non-refundable once paid. However, if you have already registered in a previous round of NEET UG 2026 counselling and your security deposit has not been forfeited, you do not need to pay the security fee again—you only need to register and fill your choices in this round. Check the counselling board's website or contact them to confirm your previous registration status before paying.
- Registration fee: ₹4,500 (all categories)
- Payment method: Credit Card, Debit Card, or Net Banking only
- Fee is non-refundable
- Already registered candidates: no need to pay security fee again (if not forfeited)
How to Register and Fill Choices: Step-by-Step Process
Registration for the Stray Vacancy Round is entirely online. You will need to visit the official HNBUMU counselling portal (www.hnbumu.ac.in) and follow the registration process. The process involves three main steps: online registration, fee payment, and choice filling. All three must be completed between 18 October and 21 October 2026 by 5:00 PM (server time).
Step 1: Log in to the counselling portal using your NEET UG 2026 roll number and password. Step 2: Fill in your personal and academic details as required. Step 3: Pay the ₹4,500 registration fee using your Credit Card, Debit Card, or Net Banking. Step 4: Once payment is confirmed, you will be able to access the choice-filling interface. Step 5: Select the colleges and courses (MBBS or BDS) you wish to apply for, in order of preference. You can typically rank multiple colleges and courses. Step 6: Submit your choices before the deadline. After submission, you cannot modify your choices, so review carefully before clicking submit.
Important: Keep your registration number, password, and payment receipt safe. You will need these to check your allotment result on 22 October. The counselling board will not send separate notifications—all updates will be posted on the university website.
- Visit www.hnbumu.ac.in and log in with your NEET UG 2026 credentials
- Fill personal and academic details
- Pay ₹4,500 fee online (Credit/Debit Card or Net Banking)
- Fill and rank your college and course choices
- Submit before 21 October 5:00 PM (server time)
- Save your registration number and receipt
- Check results on 22 October on the website (no separate notification)
Critical Trap: Original Category Certificate Required
This is the most important rule to understand: if you are claiming a reserved category seat (SC, ST, OBC, EWS, etc.), you MUST produce the original category certificate issued by the competent authority at the time of admission. The notice explicitly states: 'Candidates who failed to produce the original certificate in support of reservation category will not be included in seat allotment process.'
What does this mean? Even if you register, pay the fee, and fill your choices, if you do not have the original certificate when you join the college, you will be excluded from the allotment process entirely. Your application will be rejected, and you will not receive a seat. The certificate must be issued by the competent authority (usually the District Magistrate or Tehsildar in your state) and must be in the original form—photocopies or e-certificates are not accepted. If you do not have this certificate yet, obtain it immediately before registering. Do not assume you can produce it later—the counselling board will not wait.
- Original category certificate is MANDATORY for reserved category candidates
- Without it, you will be excluded from seat allotment—even if you register and pay
- Certificate must be issued by competent authority (District Magistrate, Tehsildar, etc.)
- Photocopies and e-certificates are NOT accepted
- Obtain the certificate BEFORE registering if you don't have it
Reserved Seats Will Be Converted to General Seats
Because this is the last round of NEET UG 2026 counselling, the state government has a special policy: all reserved category seats (SC, ST, OBC, EWS, etc.) that remain unfilled after this round will be converted to general seats. This is important for two reasons.
First, if you are a general category candidate, this round may offer you more seats than earlier rounds, because reserved seats that were held back in previous rounds will now be available to you. Second, if you are a reserved category candidate, this is your final chance to secure a reserved seat—after this round, those seats will no longer be reserved. This makes the Stray Vacancy Round particularly important for both general and reserved category candidates.
- All unfilled reserved seats will be converted to general seats after this round
- This is the LAST round—no further counselling will occur
- General category candidates may have more seat options
- Reserved category candidates: this is your final chance for a reserved seat
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What Happens After You Register: Allotment and Joining
After the registration and choice-filling deadline (21 October 5:00 PM), the counselling board will process all applications. On 22 October 2026, the seat allotment result will be declared and uploaded on the university website (www.hnbumu.ac.in). You will need to log in with your registration number and password to view your allotment. The notice does not specify a particular time on 22 October, so check the website from early morning onwards.
If you are allotted a seat, you must join the college and complete admission formalities by 26 November 2026. This is the last date for joining—if you do not join by this date, your seat will be cancelled, and you will lose your admission. Joining typically involves reporting to the college in person, submitting original documents (10th and 12th certificates, NEET admit card, category certificate if applicable, etc.), paying the first semester fees, and completing medical fitness tests. Contact your allotted college immediately after the result is declared to confirm the exact joining procedure and required documents.
- Result declared on 22 October 2026 on www.hnbumu.ac.in
- Log in with your registration number and password to check allotment
- If allotted, join the college by 26 November 2026 (hard deadline)
- Joining involves submitting original documents, paying fees, and medical fitness tests
- Contact your allotted college for exact joining procedure
Documents You Will Need at the Time of Joining
While the notice does not provide a detailed list of documents required at joining, standard practice for NEET UG admissions in Uttarakhand requires you to have the following originals ready. Prepare these documents now so you are not caught off guard after the allotment result.
Essential documents typically include: (1) NEET UG 2026 admit card and score card, (2) 10th standard certificate (or equivalent), (3) 12th standard certificate (or equivalent), (4) Category certificate (if claiming reserved category), (5) Domicile certificate (if required by the state), (6) Medical fitness certificate (to be obtained after joining), (7) Character certificate from your school or college, (8) Passport-size photographs (usually 4-6 copies), (9) Aadhar card or other government-issued ID, and (10) Any other document specified by your allotted college. The exact list may vary by college, so contact your allotted college immediately after the result to confirm.
- NEET UG 2026 admit card and score card (original)
- 10th and 12th standard certificates (original)
- Category certificate (original, if applicable)
- Domicile certificate (if required)
- Character certificate
- Passport-size photographs
- Aadhar card or government-issued ID
- Contact your allotted college for the complete list
Important Notes and Disclaimers
The counselling board has issued several important disclaimers that you must be aware of. First, the counselling schedule and procedures may be updated at any time based on directions from the Government of India, the Medical Counselling Committee (MCC), the National Medical Commission (NMC), the Dental Council of India (DCI), or the Government of Uttarakhand. Any updates posted on the university website will replace the information in this notice. You are responsible for checking the website regularly for updates—the counselling board will not send separate notifications to candidates.
Second, the State Government and the Counselling Board reserve the right to modify the counselling schedule at any time. This means dates, fees, or procedures could change with little notice. Third, all latest information and procedures will be uploaded on the university website (www.hnbumu.ac.in) based on government directions. You must visit the website regularly to stay informed. Do not rely solely on this notice or on information from coaching centres or other sources—always verify with the official website.
- Counselling procedures may be updated based on government directions
- Updates on the website will replace information in this notice
- Check www.hnbumu.ac.in regularly for updates (no separate notifications)
- Schedule and procedures may be modified at any time
- Verify all information with the official website, not coaching centres
Courses Available: MBBS and BDS
The Stray Vacancy Round is open for both MBBS (Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery) and BDS (Bachelor of Dental Surgery) courses. MBBS is a 5.5-year undergraduate medical degree that qualifies you to practice as a doctor. BDS is a 4-year undergraduate dental degree that qualifies you to practice as a dentist. Both courses are regulated by the National Medical Commission (NMC) and Dental Council of India (DCI) respectively. When you fill your choices, you can select colleges offering either or both courses, depending on your preference and eligibility.
- MBBS: 5.5-year medical degree (regulated by NMC)
- BDS: 4-year dental degree (regulated by DCI)
- Both courses available in this round
- Select your preferred course(s) when filling choices
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See My CollegesFrequently asked questions
Is this the last counselling round for NEET UG 2026 in Uttarakhand?
Yes, the Stray Vacancy Round is the final counselling round for NEET UG 2026 in Uttarakhand. After this round, no further counselling will occur. All unfilled reserved category seats will be converted to general seats as per state government policy. If you have not secured a seat by the end of this round, you will not get another chance through the centralised counselling process.
I already registered in an earlier round. Do I have to pay the ₹4,500 fee again?
No, if you have already registered in a previous round of NEET UG 2026 counselling and your security deposit has not been forfeited, you do not need to pay the security fee again. However, you must still register and fill your choices in this Stray Vacancy Round. Check the counselling board's website or contact them to confirm your previous registration status before paying.
What happens if I don't have my category certificate when I register?
Do not register without your original category certificate if you are claiming a reserved category. The notice explicitly states that candidates who fail to produce the original certificate will not be included in the seat allotment process. Even if you register and pay the fee, you will be excluded from allotment if you cannot produce the certificate. Obtain your certificate from the competent authority (District Magistrate or Tehsildar) before registering.
When will the allotment result be declared, and how do I check it?
The allotment result will be declared on 22 October 2026 and uploaded on the university website (www.hnbumu.ac.in). You will need to log in with your registration number and password to view your allotment. The counselling board will not send separate notifications—you must check the website yourself. The exact time on 22 October is not specified, so check from early morning onwards.
What is the last date to join my allotted college?
The last date to join your allotted college is 26 November 2026. If you do not join by this date, your seat will be cancelled, and you will lose your admission. Contact your allotted college immediately after the result is declared to confirm the exact joining procedure and required documents.
Can I pay the registration fee by cash or cheque?
No, payment must be made online only—by Credit Card, Debit Card, or Net Banking. No other payment method (cash, cheque, demand draft, etc.) is accepted. The fee is non-refundable once paid.
What if the counselling schedule is changed after I register?
The State Government and Counselling Board reserve the right to modify the counselling schedule at any time based on directions from the Government of India, NMC, DCI, or Government of Uttarakhand. Any updates will be posted on the university website (www.hnbumu.ac.in) and will replace the information in this notice. You must check the website regularly for updates—the counselling board will not send separate notifications.
I am a general category candidate. Will I have more seats available in this round because reserved seats are being converted?
Yes, because this is the last round and all unfilled reserved category seats will be converted to general seats, you may have access to more seats in this round than in earlier rounds. This makes the Stray Vacancy Round a good opportunity for general category candidates to secure a seat.
What documents do I need to bring when I join the college?
The notice does not provide a detailed list, but standard documents typically include NEET UG 2026 admit card and score card, 10th and 12th certificates, category certificate (if applicable), domicile certificate, character certificate, passport-size photographs, and Aadhar card. Contact your allotted college immediately after the result to confirm the exact list of required documents.
Can I modify my choices after I submit them?
No, the notice does not mention the ability to modify choices after submission. Once you submit your choices before the 21 October 5:00 PM deadline, you cannot change them. Review your choices carefully before clicking submit.
What if I don't get allotted a seat in this round?
Since this is the final counselling round for NEET UG 2026 in Uttarakhand, if you do not get allotted a seat in this round, you will not have another chance through the centralised counselling process. You may explore other options such as private medical colleges, deemed universities, or counselling in other states, depending on your NEET score and eligibility.
Is there a separate counselling for MBBS and BDS, or can I apply for both?
The Stray Vacancy Round is open for both MBBS and BDS courses. When you fill your choices, you can select colleges offering either or both courses, depending on your preference. You can rank multiple colleges and courses in order of preference.
Register immediately on www.hnbumu.ac.in between 18 and 21 October 2026 by 5:00 PM. Pay the ₹4,500 fee online and fill your college and course choices carefully—you cannot modify them after submission. If you are claiming a reserved category, ensure you have your original category certificate ready before registering. Check the website on 22 October for your allotment result, and if allotted, join your college by 26 November 2026. This is Uttarakhand's final NEET UG 2026 counselling round, so do not miss this deadline.
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