The West Bengal Medical Counselling Committee (WBMCC) has released the seat matrix for the stray vacancy round of NEET UG 2026 counselling. This is the final opportunity for candidates to secure an MBBS or BDS seat in West Bengal colleges for the 2026 academic year. The stray round covers vacant positions across government medical colleges, private medical colleges, and dental colleges under various quotas. Candidates who were verified by October 16 can now fill and lock their choices, with the allotment result expected on October 23. After this round, no further counselling will be conducted, and any remaining seats will lapse.
If you cleared NEET UG 2026 and were verified by October 16, you must fill and lock your choices by October 18 at 10 am to participate in West Bengal's final stray round—your last chance to secure an MBBS or BDS seat.
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Unlock My College ListWhat is the WB NEET UG 2026 Stray Round and why does it matter?
The stray vacancy round is the concluding phase of NEET UG counselling in West Bengal. It exists to fill seats that remain vacant after all earlier rounds of allotment are complete. For many aspirants, this round represents a final opportunity to secure admission to an MBBS or BDS programme in the state.
Once this round concludes and allotments are made, no further counselling rounds will be held. Any seats that remain unallocated will be forfeited for the academic year. This makes the stray round critical for candidates who did not receive a seat in previous rounds or who wish to upgrade their college or course choice.
Who is eligible to participate in the stray round?
Only candidates who completed both registration and verification by October 16, 2026 are permitted to take part. You must have cleared NEET UG 2026 and satisfied the domicile and eligibility criteria set by WBMCC. Candidates who already received and reported to a seat in an earlier round cannot use the stray round to upgrade.
Fresh registrations for the stray round closed on October 16 at 8 pm. If you missed this deadline, you cannot participate. The round is designed for candidates who either did not participate in earlier rounds or who wish to try for a different college or course from the remaining vacant seats.
- Must have cleared NEET UG 2026
- Must meet WBMCC domicile requirements
- Must have completed verification by October 16
- Cannot have already reported to a seat in an earlier round
- Registration window closed on October 16 at 8 pm
Key dates and deadlines for the stray round
The timeline for the stray round is compressed, with all major steps occurring within a week. Understanding these dates is essential to ensure you do not miss any critical deadline.
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Choice filling opened on October 17 at 6 pm and will close on October 18 at 10 am. This is a narrow window—just 28 hours—to review the seat matrix, decide on your preferences, and lock your choices. Any choices not locked by the deadline will be automatically locked when the window closes. The final allotment result will be announced on October 23 at 12 noon.
- Online registration: October 16, 11 am to 8 pm
- Fee payment deadline: October 16, until 12 midnight
- Seat matrix publication: October 17, after 5 pm
- Choice filling and locking: October 17, 6 pm to October 18, 10 am
- Final allotment result: October 23, 12 noon
How to access and review the seat matrix
The seat matrix is available on the official WBMCC website and lists all vacant MBBS and BDS seats across participating colleges. The matrix is organised by college, course, and quota type, allowing you to identify which seats are available.
To download the seat matrix, visit wbmcc.nic.in, navigate to the latest notices section on the homepage, and click the link for the Stray Vacancy Round Seat Matrix 2026. The document will open as a PDF in a new tab. Save this file to your device so you can refer to it while filling your choices. The matrix also includes the list of candidates eligible to participate, so verify your name appears before proceeding.
- Visit wbmcc.nic.in
- Open the latest notices section
- Click the Stray Vacancy Round Seat Matrix 2026 link
- Download and save the PDF for reference
- Verify your name in the eligible candidates list
Step-by-step guide to filling and locking your choices
Log in to the WBMCC portal using your NEET UG 2026 roll number and password. Once logged in, open the choice filling tab. You will see a list of available colleges and courses based on the seat matrix. Select your preferred colleges and courses by clicking on them.
After selecting your preferences, arrange them in order of priority. The system will allot you a seat based on your rank and the priority order you set—your first choice receives the highest priority. Before the choice-filling window closes on October 18 at 10 am, click the lock button to finalise your choices. If you do not manually lock your choices, they will be automatically locked when the deadline passes. Once locked, you cannot make further changes, so review carefully before locking.
- Log in with your NEET UG 2026 roll number and password
- Open the choice filling tab
- Select preferred colleges and courses from the seat matrix
- Arrange choices in order of priority
- Click lock before October 18 at 10 am
- Unlocked choices auto-lock at the deadline
What seats are available in the stray round?
Every kind of MBBS/BDS seat, one rank
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The stray round covers vacant MBBS and BDS seats across government medical colleges, private medical colleges, and dental colleges in West Bengal. Seats are available under multiple quota categories: State Quota (reserved for West Bengal domicile candidates), Private Management Quota (seats managed by private institutions), and NRI Quota (for Non-Resident Indian candidates).
The exact number and type of vacant seats vary by college and course. This is why reviewing the seat matrix carefully is crucial—it shows you precisely which colleges have openings and under which quota they are available. Some colleges may have multiple vacant seats, while others may have none. Your choice of college and quota will depend on your eligibility, rank, and preference.
- MBBS seats in government medical colleges
- MBBS seats in private medical colleges
- BDS seats in dental colleges
- State Quota seats
- Private Management Quota seats
- NRI Quota seats
What happens after you lock your choices?
Once you lock your choices, the allotment algorithm processes all candidates' preferences and ranks. The system matches your rank with available seats, respecting your priority order. On October 23 at 12 noon, WBMCC will announce the final allotment result. You will be able to view your allotted college, course, and seat category on the official website.
If you receive an allotment, you must report to the allotted college within the specified reporting period with your original documents and the required fee. Failure to report within the deadline may result in forfeiture of your seat. Keep your original certificates, NEET admit card, and other required documents ready. The reporting schedule will be announced along with the allotment result.
- Allotment algorithm processes all choices on October 23
- Result announced at 12 noon on October 23
- Check your allotment on wbmcc.nic.in
- Report to your allotted college with original documents
- Pay the required fee during reporting
- Reporting schedule will be announced with the result
Practical action plan for stray round candidates
Begin by logging into wbmcc.nic.in and downloading the seat matrix. Spend time carefully reviewing which colleges have vacant seats in your preferred courses and quotas. Cross-reference this with your NEET rank to identify realistic options. Make a shortlist of colleges you would be willing to attend, ranked by your preference.
Next, gather all required documents: your NEET admit card, mark sheet, domicile certificate (if applicable), and any other documents specified by WBMCC. Confirm the fee amount required for reporting and ensure you have funds available. On October 17 after 6 pm, log in and fill your choices in priority order. Lock your choices well before the October 18 at 10 am deadline to avoid last-minute technical issues. Finally, mark October 23 at 12 noon on your calendar to check the allotment result immediately.
- Download and review the seat matrix carefully
- Identify colleges with vacant seats matching your rank and preference
- Create a priority-ordered shortlist
- Gather all required original documents
- Confirm the reporting fee amount
- Fill and lock choices between October 17, 6 pm and October 18, 10 am
- Check the allotment result on October 23 at 12 noon
- Report to your allotted college within the announced deadline
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See My CollegesFrequently asked questions
Can I participate in the stray round if I was not verified by October 16?
No. Only candidates who completed both registration and verification by October 16, 2026 are eligible for the stray round. Fresh registrations closed on October 16 at 8 pm. If you missed this deadline, you cannot participate in this round.
What is the deadline to fill and lock my choices for the stray round?
The choice-filling window is open from October 17 at 6 pm to October 18 at 10 am. You must lock your choices by October 18 at 10 am. Any choices not manually locked by this time will be automatically locked when the window closes.
When will the final allotment result be announced?
The final allotment result for the stray round will be announced on October 23, 2026 at 12 noon. You can check your result on the official WBMCC website at wbmcc.nic.in.
Can I upgrade my seat if I was already allotted in an earlier round?
No. Candidates who already received and reported to a seat in an earlier round cannot participate in the stray round to upgrade. The stray round is only for candidates who did not receive a seat in previous rounds or who did not participate earlier.
What types of seats are available in the stray round?
The stray round covers vacant MBBS and BDS seats across government medical colleges, private medical colleges, and dental colleges in West Bengal. Seats are available under State Quota, Private Management Quota, and NRI Quota categories.
What happens if I do not lock my choices before the deadline?
If you do not manually lock your choices by October 18 at 10 am, they will be automatically locked when the choice-filling window closes. Once locked, you cannot make any changes, so review your preferences carefully before the deadline.
Is the stray round the final opportunity to secure a seat in West Bengal?
Yes. The stray round is the final counselling round for NEET UG 2026 in West Bengal. After this round concludes, no further counselling will be conducted. Any seats remaining vacant will lapse for the academic year.
How do I download the seat matrix?
Visit wbmcc.nic.in, go to the latest notices section on the homepage, and click the link for the Stray Vacancy Round Seat Matrix 2026. The PDF will open in a new tab. Download and save it for reference while filling your choices.
The stray round is your final chance to secure an MBBS or BDS seat in West Bengal for 2026. Act quickly: review the seat matrix, prepare your documents, and lock your choices by October 18 at 10 am. Check the allotment result on October 23 at noon and be ready to report to your allotted college immediately.
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