The West Bengal Medical Counselling Committee (WBMCC) has opened the Stray Vacancy Round for NEET UG 2026, marking the final opportunity for candidates to secure an MBBS or BDS seat in the state. This round covers leftover seats across government medical colleges, private medical colleges, and dental institutions under various quotas. Candidates who completed verification by October 16 can now fill and lock their college preferences, with the choice window closing on October 18 at 10 am. The allotment result will be announced on October 23 at noon, after which no further counselling rounds will be held for the 2026 academic year.
If you cleared NEET UG 2026 and were verified by October 16, the Stray Round is your last chance to get an MBBS or BDS seat in West Bengal—lock your choices by October 18 at 10 am or they will auto-lock when the window closes.
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Unlock My College ListWhat is the Stray Vacancy Round and who can apply?
The Stray Vacancy Round is the final counselling phase for NEET UG 2026 in West Bengal. It exists to fill seats that remain vacant after all earlier rounds of counselling are complete. Only candidates who have already cleared NEET UG 2026, completed online registration, and undergone verification by October 16 are eligible to participate.
Importantly, if you were already allotted a seat in an earlier round and reported to that college, you cannot use the Stray Round to upgrade to a different college or course. This round is strictly for candidates who either did not participate in earlier rounds or were not allotted a seat. Fresh registrations for this round closed on October 16 at 8 pm, so no new candidates can enter at this stage.
Which colleges and seats are available in the Stray Round?
The Stray Round includes vacant MBBS and BDS seats across three types of institutions: 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 location of vacant seats varies by college and course. To see which seats are available and where, you must download the official seat matrix from the WBMCC website. This matrix is your primary tool for deciding which colleges to prioritize during choice filling.
How to access and download the seat matrix
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The seat matrix is now live on the official WBMCC portal at wbmcc.nic.in. To find it, visit the homepage and look for the latest notices section. Click on the link labeled 'Stray Vacancy Round Seat Matrix 2026' and the PDF will open in a new browser tab. Download and save this file to your device so you can refer to it while filling your choices.
- Visit wbmcc.nic.in
- Navigate to the latest notices section on the homepage
- Click the Stray Vacancy Round Seat Matrix 2026 link
- Download the PDF and save it for reference
Critical dates and deadlines for the Stray Round
The Stray Round operates on a compressed timeline. Online registration and fee payment both occurred on October 16 (registration from 11 am to 8 pm, fees due by midnight). The seat matrix was published on October 17 after 5 pm. Choice filling and locking opened on October 17 at 6 pm and will close on October 18 at 10 am—this is your only window to submit and lock your preferences. Any choices not locked by 10 am on October 18 will be automatically locked when the system closes.
- Online registration: October 16, 11 am to 8 pm
- Fee payment deadline: October 16, midnight
- Seat matrix published: 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 fill and lock your choices
To participate, log in to the WBMCC portal using your NEET UG 2026 roll number and password. Once logged in, open the choice filling tab. Study the seat matrix carefully and select the colleges and courses you wish to apply for. You can list multiple preferences, and the order matters—arrange them in your true order of preference, with your most desired college and course at the top.
After arranging your choices, click the lock button to finalize your selections. Once locked, your choices cannot be changed. If you do not manually lock your choices before October 18 at 10 am, the system will automatically lock whatever you have filled in at that time. There is no option to unlock or modify after the deadline, so take your time to think through your preferences before locking.
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Why this is your final opportunity
The Stray Vacancy Round is explicitly the last counselling phase for NEET UG 2026 in West Bengal. After October 23, when allotment results are declared, no further rounds will be conducted. Any seats that remain vacant after this round will lapse for the 2026 academic year, meaning they will not be filled. This makes the Stray Round a critical last chance for any candidate who has not yet secured a seat.
If you miss the choice-locking deadline on October 18 or do not participate in this round, you will not have another opportunity to be allotted an MBBS or BDS seat in West Bengal for 2026. Plan accordingly and ensure you have your documents and fee amount ready in case you are allotted a seat.
What to do after allotment results are announced
On October 23 at 12 noon, the allotment result will be published on wbmcc.nic.in. Log in with your credentials to check whether you have been allotted a seat and, if so, which college and course. The result will also include a reporting schedule—the dates and times by which you must visit your allotted college in person to confirm your admission and complete formalities.
If you are allotted a seat, bring all original documents (NEET admit card, mark sheet, domicile certificate, caste certificate if applicable, and any other documents specified by WBMCC) and the fee amount in the form and quantity specified by your college. Failure to report by the deadline will result in forfeiture of your seat.
Practical checklist for Stray Round candidates
To ensure you do not miss this final opportunity, follow this step-by-step checklist. First, verify that you completed registration and verification by October 16—if you did not, you are ineligible for this round. Next, download the seat matrix from wbmcc.nic.in and carefully study which colleges have vacant seats in your preferred courses.
- Confirm you were verified by October 16
- Download and review the seat matrix from wbmcc.nic.in
- Shortlist colleges based on vacant seats, fees, location, and your preference
- Log in to the portal using your NEET roll number and password
- Fill your choices in order of preference
- Lock your choices before October 18 at 10 am
- Keep all original documents and required fee amount ready
- Check the allotment result on October 23 at 12 noon
- Note the reporting deadline and visit your allotted college on time
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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 online registration and verification by October 16 are eligible for the Stray Round. Fresh registrations closed on October 16 at 8 pm, so no new candidates can enter this phase.
If I was allotted a seat in an earlier round, can I use the Stray Round to upgrade?
No. Candidates who were already allotted a seat in an earlier round and reported to that college cannot participate in the Stray Round. This round is only for candidates who did not receive an allotment in previous phases or did not participate earlier.
What is the deadline to lock my choices?
The choice-locking deadline is October 18 at 10 am. Choice filling opened on October 17 at 6 pm. Any choices not manually locked by 10 am on October 18 will be automatically locked when the system closes.
What happens if I do not lock my choices by the deadline?
If you do not manually lock your choices, the system will automatically lock whatever you have filled in at 10 am on October 18. You cannot unlock or modify your choices after this time, so it is important to finalize your preferences before the deadline.
When will the allotment result be announced?
The final allotment result for the Stray Round will be declared on October 23, 2026 at 12 noon on the WBMCC website at wbmcc.nic.in. You can log in with your NEET roll number and password to check your result.
Is there another counselling round after the Stray Round?
No. The Stray Round is the final counselling phase for NEET UG 2026 in West Bengal. After October 23, no further rounds will be held. Any seats remaining vacant will lapse for the 2026 academic year.
What documents do I need to bring if I am allotted a seat?
You must bring all original documents including your NEET admit card, mark sheet, domicile certificate, caste certificate (if applicable), and any other documents specified by WBMCC and your allotted college. You must also bring the fee amount in the form and quantity specified by your college.
What happens if I do not report to my allotted college by the deadline?
If you fail to report by the deadline specified in the allotment result, your seat will be forfeited and you will lose your admission. It is critical to note the reporting deadline and visit your college on time.
The Stray Round is your final opportunity to secure an MBBS or BDS seat in West Bengal for 2026. Download the seat matrix immediately, finalize your college preferences, and lock your choices by October 18 at 10 am. Check your allotment result on October 23 at noon and report to your college by the specified deadline with all required documents.
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