NEET UG 2026 Counselling Schedule Out: Check Revised Round 3, Stray Vacancy Dates

The Medical Counselling Committee (MCC) has unveiled the revised schedule for NEET UG Counselling 2026, revealing new dates for Round 3 and the Online Stray Vacancy Round for MBBS, BDS, and B.Sc Nursing courses. This schedule pertains to counseling under the 15% All India Quota (AIQ) and full seats at Deemed Universities, Central Universities, AFMC, AIIMS, and JIPMER campuses in Puducherry and Karaikal.

The Round 3 counseling process kicks off on September 21, while the Online Stray Vacancy Round begins on October 12, 2026. The full schedule can be accessed via the official MCC link.

Institute verification of the seat matrix for Round 3 will occur on September 21, 2026. Registrations and payments are open from September 22 to September 27, with the payment facility closing at 3 PM and 6 PM, respectively, according to server time. The choice-filling process runs from September 23 to September 28, up to noon, while choice locking takes place from September 27, 7 PM, to September 28, 12 noon.

Seat allocation processing follows on September 28 and September 29, with the Round 3 result announced on September 30. Institutions must finalize the choice-filling and locking process within the given deadlines, with all MCC-specified times based on server time.

The Online Stray Vacancy Round has its own timeline, beginning with registration and payment from October 12 to October 14, 2026, with the payment facility closing at 3 PM and 6 PM, respectively, based on server time. Choice filling is from October 12 to October 15, up to 10 AM on the last day. Choice locking is from October 14, 4 PM, to October 15, 10 AM.

Seat allotment processing follows on October 15 and October 16, with the stray round result declared on October 17, 2026. Reporting and joining is scheduled between October 19 and October 26, 2026.

MCC has instructed participating institutes and colleges to consider Saturdays, Sundays, and gazetted holidays as working days for the counselling process. This directive aims to ensure the timely completion of the admission process within the allocated time frame. Candidates are urged to closely monitor the revised schedule and fulfill all registration, fee payment, choice filling, choice locking, reporting, and other requirements within the stipulated deadlines.