The Medical Counselling Committee (MCC) has released the schedule for Round 3 and the Stray Vacancy Round of NEET UG Counselling 2026. The NEET counselling process is for students who want to get admission to MBBS and BDS courses through the All India Quota (AIQ).
Candidates can check the important dates for registration, choice filling, processing of seat allotment and reporting at the allotted college. The MCC counselling will also provide details about vacant seats available in medical and dental colleges across the country. Candidates who are still looking for a seat after the earlier counselling rounds can participate in the upcoming rounds, subject to eligibility.
Students looking to register for MCC NEET Round 3 can fill their application on 22 September 2026. The NEET UG Round 3 registration last date is 27 September till 3 PM. The online Stray Vacancy Round will get started in October 2026. It is advisable for students to carefully check the official MCC schedule and complete registration and choice filling within the given timeline.
NEET UG Counselling 2026 Round 3: Complete Schedule
Candidates who are going to participate in the NEET UG Counselling 2026 Round 3 must note the dates of registration, choice filling, choice locking, seat allotment and reporting. Candidates are advised to check the complete schedule of Round 3 from the table given below and plan their counselling accordingly.
Activity
Date
Verification of tentative seat matrix with participating institutions
September 21, 2026
Registration & Payment
September 22 to 27, 2026; Registration till 3 PM, payment till 6 PM on September 27
Choice Filling
September 23 to 28, 2026; till 12 Noon on September 28
Choice Locking
From September 27, 7 PM to September 28, 12 Noon
Seat Allotment Processing
September 28 to 29, 2026
Seat Allotment Result
September 30, 2026
Reporting at Allotted College
October 1 to 9, 2026
Verification of Joined Candidates
October 10, 2026
NEET UG Counselling 2026 Stray Vacancy Round: Important Dates
Students who are appearing for NEET UG Counselling 2026 online Stray Vacancy Round can check the complete schedule below. The MCC has released the registration, fee payment, choice filling, choice locking, seat allotment and reporting schedule.
The online stray vacancy round will be conducted in October 2026. This gives eligible candidates another opportunity to secure MBBS and BDS admission. Candidates are advised to note the date and complete the steps on time to avoid missing the counselling process.
Counselling Activity
Date & Time
Registration & Fee Payment
October 12 to 14, 2026; Registration till 3 PM, payment till 6 PM on October 14
Choice Filling
October 12 to 15, 2026; till 10 AM on October 15
Choice Locking
From October 14, 4 PM to October 15, 10 AM
Seat Allotment Processing
October 15 to 16, 2026
Seat Allotment Result
October 17, 2026
Reporting at Allotted College
October 19 to 26, 2026
Who Can Apply for NEET UG Counselling 2026 Round 3?
Students who are eligible for NEET UG Counselling 2026 can take part in Round 3 as per the rules set by the MCC. These include:
Students who did not register or participate in Round 1 or Round 2 can register for Round 3.
Students who registered in an earlier round but did not get a seat can participate in Round 3.
Candidates who took part in earlier rounds but did not join the allotted college or exited the counselling process as allowed under MCC rules may also be eligible.
Candidates should check the latest MCC rules before registering, especially if they were allotted a seat in an earlier round.
