The Medical Counselling Committee (MCC) has opened registration for the NEET UG 2026 stray vacancy round today, October 13, 2026. A notice on the MCC UG counselling page, posted a day earlier, said the registration facility would be available from October 13. This is the last round of the all-India counselling for the 15 percent All India Quota seats and for seats in deemed universities, central universities and other institutions counselled by MCC.
Candidates who do not hold a seat after Round 3 and wish to try for the remaining MBBS and BDS seats must register afresh. The direct link to the MCC UG counselling page is given in the Official References list at the end of this article.
MCC NEET UG Stray Vacancy Round 2026: Latest Update
MCC had earlier announced October 12 to 14 as the registration window. The notice on the portal shifted the start of registration to October 13. Reports available at the time of writing do not say whether the closing date has also changed, so candidates should treat October 14 as the working deadline and confirm the final time on the MCC notice.
NEET UG Stray Vacancy Round 2026 Schedule
| Event | Date as per schedule |
|---|---|
| Registration and fee payment | October 12 to 14, 2026 (registration till 3 PM, payment till 6 PM); portal notice says registration available from October 13 |
| Choice filling | Till 10 AM on October 15, 2026 |
| Choice locking | As specified in the MCC notice for this round |
| Seat allotment processing | October 15 and 16, 2026 |
| Stray vacancy result | October 17, 2026 |
| Reporting at the allotted institute | October 19 to 26, 2026 |
Who Can Apply for the Stray Vacancy Round?
MCC has asked for fresh registration for this round. Education portals report that candidates who do not hold a seat and have not been allotted or joined a seat in earlier rounds can take part. In some past cycles, candidates who were allotted a Round 3 seat but did not report were treated differently from year to year, so the exact eligibility must be read in the information bulletin and in the notice for this round.
Registration Fee for the Stray Round
| Seat type and category | Registration fee | Security deposit |
|---|---|---|
| 15% AIQ and central institutions: UR and EWS | Rs 1,000 | As per bulletin |
| 15% AIQ and central institutions: SC, ST, OBC and PwD | Rs 500 | As per bulletin |
| Deemed universities: all categories | Rs 5,000 | Rs 2,00,000 (refundable) |
How to Apply for MCC NEET UG Stray Vacancy Round 2026
- Open the MCC UG counselling page from the direct link in the Official References list below.
- Click on the registration link for the stray vacancy round under the Candidate Activity Board.
- Log in or create a new registration with your NEET UG 2026 roll number and the required details.
- Check the vacant seat matrix and the eligibility notice for the round.
- Pay the registration fee and security deposit, if applicable, before the payment deadline.
- Fill your choices of college and course, and lock them within the time allowed.
- Download the confirmation of locked choices and wait for the result on October 17.
Documents Needed for Reporting
- NEET UG 2026 admit card, scorecard and rank letter.
- Class 10 and Class 12 certificates and mark sheets.
- Category, EWS or PwD certificates in the prescribed format, where claimed.
- Resignation or non-joining proof, if you held a seat earlier.
- Allotment letter and the registration and payment receipts.
- Valid photo identity proof and passport-size photographs.
