NEET UG Counselling 2026: MCC Extends Stray Vacancy Round Schedule, Check Revised Dates

NEET UG Counselling 2026: The Medical Counselling Committee (MCC), under the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), has extended the schedule for the NEET UG 2026 Stray Vacancy Round. According to the revised schedule issued on October 15, 2026, eligible candidates have additional time to complete registration, payment and choice-related formalities for undergraduate medical admissions.

The registration window will remain open until 4:00 PM on October 16, 2026, while the payment facility will close at 6:00 PM. Candidates who need to revisit their registration details can use the RESET registration facility until 3:00 PM on the same day. Choice filling will continue until 11:55 PM, and the choice-locking window will remain open from 7:00 PM to 11:55 PM.

MCC is scheduled to process seat allotments on October 17 and 18, 2026. The NEET UG Stray Vacancy Round allotment result is scheduled for October 19, and candidates who receive seats must report physically to their allotted medical or dental colleges between October 19 and October 26, 2026.

Candidates should check the official MCC website, mcc.nic.in, for the latest schedule and instructions. They can also refer to the NEET UG Counselling 2026 schedule update for background on the counselling rounds and revised timelines.

NEET UG Counselling 2026 Latest Updates

The schedule extension gives eligible candidates more time to complete the remaining steps of the Stray Vacancy Round. Since the registration, RESET, payment and choice-locking deadlines differ, candidates should carefully check the closing time for each activity.

The important updates are as follows:

• Registration deadline: October 16, 2026, until 4:00 PM.

• RESET registration deadline: October 16, 2026, until 3:00 PM.

• Payment deadline: October 16, 2026, until 6:00 PM.

• Choice filling deadline: October 16, 2026, until 11:55 PM.

• Choice locking: October 16, 2026, from 7:00 PM to 11:55 PM.

• Seat allotment processing: October 17–18, 2026.

• Allotment result: October 19, 2026.

• Physical reporting: October 19–26, 2026.

Candidates who want to understand the role of the final counselling round can read the NEET Stray Vacancy Round 2026 guide, which explains the registration process, seat allotment and admission formalities.

NEET UG Counselling 2026 Revised Stray Vacancy Round Schedule

The revised schedule for the NEET UG 2026 Stray Vacancy Round is provided below.

Note: The dates and timings above are based on the revised schedule provided in the October 15, 2026, update. Candidates should verify the latest notice on the official MCC website before completing any counselling activity.

For an overview of the earlier counselling rounds and their timelines, candidates can also read the MCC NEET UG Counselling 2026 revised dates update.

How to Complete NEET UG 2026 Stray Vacancy Round Registration?

Eligible candidates who still need to complete registration should use the official MCC counselling portal. Before proceeding, they should confirm that they meet the eligibility requirements for the Stray Vacancy Round.

Follow these steps to register:

1. Visit the official MCC website at mcc.nic.in.

2. Open the UG Medical Counselling section.

3. Find the registration link for the NEET UG 2026 Stray Vacancy Round.

4. Log in using the required credentials or complete the registration process as instructed.

5. Enter the required personal, academic and examination details.

6. Review the information carefully before submitting the form.

7. Complete the applicable payment before the deadline.

8. Save the registration confirmation and payment receipt for future reference.

Candidates must complete registration by 4:00 PM and payment by 6:00 PM on October 16, 2026. Completing registration does not necessarily mean the payment has been completed, so both statuses should be checked.

For a more detailed explanation of the registration process, fees and required steps, refer to the NEET Counselling 2026 Registration guide.

NEET UG Counselling 2026 RESET Registration Facility

MCC has provided a RESET registration facility for candidates who need to revisit their previously submitted registration details, according to the revised schedule.

The facility is scheduled to close at 3:00 PM on October 16, 2026. This deadline is earlier than the registration and payment cut-offs, so candidates who need to use the facility should act promptly.

Before using RESET, candidates should read the instructions available on the counselling portal and carefully review the details that need to be corrected. They should also check whether any additional steps are required to complete registration after using the facility.

Candidates should not assume that resetting registration automatically completes the application or payment process.

NEET UG 2026 Stray Vacancy Round Choice Filling and Locking

Choice filling allows eligible candidates to select their preferred colleges and courses for consideration during seat allotment. Choice locking is a separate step through which candidates confirm their preferences according to the portal's instructions.

Under the revised schedule, choice filling will remain open until 11:55 PM on October 16, 2026. The choice-locking window will run from 7:00 PM to 11:55 PM on the same day.

Candidates should follow these steps:

1. Visit the official MCC website.

2. Log in to the NEET UG counselling portal.

3. Open the choice-filling section, if eligible.

4. Review the available colleges and courses.

5. Arrange preferences according to eligibility and personal priorities.

6. Save the choices and complete the locking process as instructed.

7. Verify the final status and retain a copy of the submitted preferences, where permitted.

Candidates should not confuse saving choices with locking them. They must confirm the final status before the deadline.

For further guidance on arranging college preferences and completing the locking process, read the NEET Choice Filling 2026 guide.

NEET UG Counselling 2026 Stray Vacancy Round Result Date

The NEET UG 2026 Stray Vacancy Round seat allotment result is scheduled for October 19, 2026. Before the result announcement, MCC is scheduled to process seat allotments on October 17 and 18.

The allotment result will indicate the seat allocated to candidates according to the applicable counselling rules, eligibility conditions, available seats and submitted preferences.

Candidates should visit the official MCC website to check the result once it becomes available. They should also read the instructions provided with the allotment details to understand the next steps.

How to Check NEET UG Stray Vacancy Round Result 2026?

Candidates can follow these steps after the result is published:

1. Visit mcc.nic.in.

2. Open the UG Medical Counselling section.

3. Look for the Stray Vacancy Round seat allotment result link.

4. Open the relevant result document or login page.

5. Enter the required credentials if prompted.

6. Check the allotment status and read the instructions carefully.

7. Download the allotment letter or result document, as applicable.

8. Note the reporting deadline and document requirements.

Candidates who want to understand how allotment outcomes and admission formalities work can also refer to the NEET UG Round 1 Seat Allotment Result 2026 guide.

For an example of the updates issued during subsequent rounds, see the report on the NEET UG Counselling 2026 Round 2 revised provisional seat allotment.

NEET UG Counselling 2026 Physical Reporting Dates

Candidates allotted seats in the Stray Vacancy Round are scheduled to report physically to their allotted medical or dental colleges between October 19 and October 26, 2026.

During reporting, candidates must complete the admission formalities specified by their respective institutions. These may include document verification, confirmation of eligibility and other procedures mentioned in the allotment letter.

Candidates should check the reporting instructions carefully and confirm the required documents, reporting time and any additional requirements with their allotted colleges.

Failure to complete the required formalities within the prescribed period may affect admission. Candidates should therefore plan their reporting arrangements in advance after checking the allotment result.

Documents Required for NEET UG 2026 Counselling Reporting

Candidates should prepare the documents listed in the official MCC instructions and allotment letter. Depending on the applicable requirements, the following documents may be needed:

• NEET UG 2026 admit card

• NEET UG 2026 scorecard or rank letter

• MCC seat allotment letter

• Class 10 certificate or proof of date of birth

• Class 12 marksheet and passing certificate

• Valid photo identity proof

• Passport-sized photographs, as specified

• Category or reservation certificate, if applicable

• Other certificates required under the relevant eligibility rules

Candidates should carry original documents and the required photocopies. They should also check whether the allotted institution requires additional forms or certificates before reporting.

For a detailed checklist, candidates can read Documents Required for NEET UG Counselling 2026.

Important Instructions for NEET UG Counselling 2026 Candidates

Candidates participating in the Stray Vacancy Round should keep the following points in mind:

• Complete registration by 4:00 PM on October 16, 2026.

• Use the RESET registration facility by 3:00 PM if required.

• Complete payment by 6:00 PM on October 16.

• Fill and lock choices within the prescribed time window.

• Verify that the final choice-locking status is successful.

• Check the allotment result scheduled for October 19, 2026.

• Read the allotment letter and admission instructions carefully.

• Complete physical reporting within the October 19–26 window, subject to official instructions.

• Verify the latest schedule and eligibility conditions on the MCC website.

Candidates should not wait until the final minutes to complete online formalities, as technical problems or incomplete submissions may prevent them from finishing the process on time.