NEET UG 2026: MCC Announces Special Stray Vacancy Round for Vacant Seats

By Gaurav Sharma Kota Coaching NEET-UG 2026 October 31, 2026

Important Instructions for NEET UG 2026 Candidates

The Medical Counselling Committee (MCC) has announced a Special Stray Vacancy Round for NEET UG 2026 candidates to fill the MBBS, BDS and BSc Nursing seats that remained vacant even after the regular counselling rounds.

The registration process for this additional counselling round will begin on November 2, 2026, and the entire process will continue until November 16, 2026.

The special round will be conducted for seats under the 15% All India Quota (AIQ) and other central counselling categories managed by MCC. Admissions will be offered based on candidates’ NEET UG 2026 ranks and their choices of colleges and courses.

Why Has MCC Announced a Special Stray Vacancy Round?

Despite the completion of Round 1, Round 2, Round 3 and the regular Stray Vacancy Round, several MBBS, BDS and BSc Nursing seats have remained vacant. These vacancies have primarily occurred because of non-joining and non-reporting by candidates who were allotted seats during the earlier counselling rounds.

According to Parijat Mishra, a career counselling expert, MCC has decided to conduct an additional Special Stray Vacancy Round to ensure that these vacant seats can be filled. The round will provide another admission opportunity to NEET UG 2026 candidates who have not secured a seat in the previous counselling rounds.

NEET UG 2026 Special Stray Vacancy Round: Important Dates

Candidates planning to participate in the special counselling round should carefully follow the registration, choice-filling, locking and seat allotment schedule released by MCC.

Registration Begins: November 2, 2026
Last Date for Registration: November 4, 2026, up to 3:00 PM
Choice Filling: November 2 to November 5, 2026, until 11:00 AM
Choice Locking: November 4, 2026, from 4:00 PM to November 5, 2026, 11:00 AM
Seat Allotment Result: November 7, 2026
Last Date for Reporting: November 16, 2026

Candidates must complete every step within the prescribed deadline. Missing any important deadline may result in disqualification from the counselling process.

Do Previously Registered Candidates Need to Register Again?

Candidates who have already registered on the MCC counselling portal during the earlier rounds but have not received any seat allotment will not need to register again. They can directly participate in the choice-filling process for the Special Stray Vacancy Round.

However, candidates must ensure that their preferred colleges and courses are correctly selected and locked within the specified schedule. They should also carefully review their choices before final submission to avoid mistakes during the allotment process.

Physical Reporting Mandatory for Allotted Candidates

Candidates who receive a seat in the Special Stray Vacancy Round must report physically to their allotted medical, dental or nursing college. They will be required to complete the admission formalities by November 16, 2026.

During reporting, candidates must pay the prescribed college admission fees and submit all the necessary original documents for verification. Failure to report within the stipulated period may lead to the cancellation of the allotted seat and other applicable consequences.

Important Advisory: Be Careful While Filling College Choices

Candidates should exercise particular caution while filling their choices in the Special Stray Vacancy Round. They are advised to select only those colleges and courses where they are genuinely interested in taking admission.

Adding colleges without a clear intention to join can create problems if a seat is allotted. According to the counselling advisory, candidates who fail to join after receiving a seat may face financial penalties, and their security deposit may also be forfeited.

Therefore, students should check the college preferences, fee structure, admission requirements and willingness to join before locking their choices. A carefully prepared preference list can help candidates avoid unnecessary complications during the final stage of NEET UG 2026 counselling.

Another Opportunity for NEET UG 2026 Aspirants

The Special Stray Vacancy Round is an additional opportunity for eligible NEET UG 2026 candidates seeking admission to MBBS, BDS and BSc Nursing programmes. With the final round of seat allotment scheduled for November 7, candidates should keep track of MCC notifications and complete all counselling formalities within the prescribed timeline.

Students are advised to regularly visit the official MCC website for the latest updates, detailed counselling guidelines and seat allotment information.

Recommended Read:-