For thousands of medical aspirants still waiting for a seat, Monday brings one more chance. The Medical Counselling Committee (MCC) has opened registration today, November 2, for a special stray vacancy round of NEET UG 2026 counselling, aimed at filling around 2,000 MBBS seats that remain vacant across the country even after several rounds of counselling.
The Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), which runs the MCC counselling, issued the schedule on October 30. Registration and fee payment run from November 2 to November 4, with the registration window closing at 3 pm on November 4. The payment facility opens at 10 am on November 2 and closes at 6 pm on November 4, so candidates should not leave either step to the last hour.
This is an extra round created because seats stayed empty after the regular rounds, including the earlier stray vacancy round. For students who missed out narrowly, it may be the last realistic opening this cycle.
NEET UG special stray vacancy round: full schedule
The timetable published by MCC leaves very little slack, and every step has its own deadline. Candidates should treat the official MCC website, mcc.nic.in, as the final word and check it before acting.
- Registration and fee payment: November 2 to November 4, 2026. Registration closes at 3 pm on November 4, and payment closes at 6 pm the same day.
- Choice filling: November 2 to November 5, 2026. Candidates can list their preferred colleges and courses in order of priority.
- Choice locking: November 4 from 4 pm to November 5 at 11 am. Choices that are not locked in this window will be treated as per MCC rules, so locking matters.
- Seat allotment processing: November 5 to November 6, 2026.
- Seat allotment result: November 7, 2026.
- Reporting to allotted college: November 7 to November 16, 2026, up to 5 pm.
Why are around 2,000 MBBS seats still vacant?
Vacancies at this stage are not unusual, even in a system as competitive as NEET UG. Seats can remain empty when candidates do not join after allotment, when they move to a state quota seat, when they withdraw for personal reasons, or when a college seat simply finds no taker in the earlier rounds. Added together across states and institutions, the number reaches around 2,000, according to reports based on the DGHS schedule.
What about BDS and BSc Nursing seats?
The MCC announcement covers more than MBBS. A fifth round of counselling for BDS and BSc Nursing seats follows the same broad schedule as the special MBBS round, with its result also due on November 7 and reporting scheduled until November 16.
A sixth round, exclusively for BDS and BSc Nursing, will begin on November 17, 2026, with its result expected on November 20. Candidates interested in dental or nursing seats should therefore watch both rounds, and not assume that the November 7 result is the end of the process for them.
Who can apply, and what to check first
Eligibility for the special stray vacancy round is governed by the MCC notification and the applicable counselling rules, including a candidate’s status in previous rounds. Not every aspirant will be eligible, and past participation or resignation rules can affect who can take part.
Before registering, candidates should confirm three things on mcc.nic.in: whether they are eligible for this round, which seats are shown in the seat matrix, and what documents and fees apply to their category. The seat matrix matters more than guesswork. A college that looks attractive on paper may have very few seats in this round, while another option may offer a stronger chance.
Choice filling deserves the same care. Rank options in the order you would genuinely accept, rather than listing colleges you would not join. In a stray round, an allotment that is not taken up can close doors.
Documents and reporting: do not wait for November 7
Allotted candidates have only a few days to report, with the window closing on November 16 at 5 pm. Original documents, allotment letter, fee receipts and identity proof should be organised now, and travel plans for an outstation college sorted early.
If unsure about any step, check the MCC notice itself rather than social media summaries. A missed payment or an unlocked choice list cannot be fixed after the window closes.
FAQs
When does NEET UG special stray vacancy round registration start?
Registration starts on November 2, 2026, and closes on November 4 at 3 pm. Payment closes at 6 pm on November 4.
How many MBBS seats are vacant in this round?
Around 2,000 MBBS seats remain vacant across India, according to the DGHS schedule reported by multiple outlets.
When will the NEET UG special stray round result be declared?
The seat allotment result is scheduled for November 7, 2026, after processing on November 5 and 6.
What is the last date to report to the allotted college?
Allotted candidates must report between November 7 and November 16, 2026, up to 5 pm.
Is there also a round for BDS and BSc Nursing?
Yes. A fifth BDS and BSc Nursing round follows a similar schedule, and a sixth round for those courses begins on November 17, with its result due on November 20.
Registration is open now, the window is short, and the result will be known within the week.
