The Medical Counselling Committee (MCC) has released the schedule for Round 3 and the Stray Vacancy Round of NEET UG Counselling 2026. Candidates seeking admission to MBBS, BDS and other undergraduate medical courses through the All India Quota counselling process can check the detailed timetable on the official MCC website.
According to the revised schedule, registration and fee payment for NEET UG Counselling 2026 Round 3 will begin on September 22. Candidates will be required to complete the registration process, fill in their preferred choices and lock their choices within the deadlines announced by MCC.
NEET UG Counselling 2026 Round 3 Schedule
The Round 3 registration and fee payment process is scheduled to be held from September 22 to September 27, 2026. Candidates will then be allowed to complete choice filling and locking before the seat allotment process begins.
MCC will process the seat allotment based on candidates’ NEET UG rank, category, eligibility, seat availability and preferences submitted during choice filling.
The Round 3 seat allotment result will determine the colleges and courses allotted to successful candidates, following which they will have to report to their respective institutions within the prescribed deadline.
Stray Vacancy Round to Fill Remaining Seats
After the completion of Round 3, MCC will conduct an online Stray Vacancy Round to fill seats that remain vacant after the earlier rounds of counselling.
The stray vacancy round is particularly important for eligible candidates who have not secured a seat in the previous counselling rounds and for institutions with unfilled MBBS, BDS and other participating undergraduate medical seats. MCC has included the complete schedule for registration, choice filling, seat allotment and reporting in its revised counselling timetable.
Candidates Advised to Check Eligibility and Deadlines
Candidates planning to participate in Round 3 or the Stray Vacancy Round should carefully check the eligibility conditions and counselling rules before registering.
They should also verify seat availability and the updated seat matrix before filling their choices. Missing registration, payment or choice-locking deadlines could affect a candidate’s participation in the respective counselling round.
MCC conducts online counselling for 15% All India Quota undergraduate seats and other eligible seats under its counselling framework, including participating central and deemed universities and designated institutions.
NEET UG Counselling Enters Final Phases
With Round 2 allotments already released and reporting underway, the announcement of the Round 3 and Stray Vacancy Round schedule takes the NEET UG Counselling 2026 process into its later stages.
Candidates are advised to regularly check the MCC portal for notices, revised schedules, seat matrices and other counselling-related updates before participating in the upcoming rounds.