2,000 MBBS seats remain vacant in medical colleges; admission will be granted through a special stray round..

NEET UG Special Stray Vacancy Round 2026: Even after several exhausting rounds of NEET UG counseling and a long wait, approximately 2,000 MBBS seats remain vacant in medical institutions across the country. To fill these seats, the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) and the Medical Counselling Committee (MCC) have initiated a ‘Special Stray Vacancy Round.’ For deserving students who missed out in earlier rounds due to minor errors or high cut-offs, this round comes as a true boon.

The schedule for the NEET UG special round has been released on the MCC website, mcc.nic.in. This time, the framework includes not only MBBS but also the 5th and 6th rounds of counseling for BDS and B.Sc. Nursing courses. The process, which begins on November 2, 2026, outlines all key dates—from registration and choice filling to reporting at the allotted colleges. If you missed securing a seat by a narrow margin, this could be an excellent opportunity.

A Lifeline for the 2,000 Vacant Seats: The Special Stray Vacancy Round
Following multiple rounds of NEET UG counseling, about 2,000 MBBS seats remain unfilled in medical colleges nationwide. Consequently, the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), in collaboration with the Medical Counselling Committee (MCC), has decided to conduct a ‘Special Stray Vacancy Round.’ This serves as a significant opportunity for hardworking students who narrowly missed out on admission, allowing them another chance to prove their merit and potential.

Schedule for the MBBS Special Stray Round and the 5th Round for BDS/Nursing

According to the schedule released on the official MCC website (mcc.nic.in), this process is set to commence on November 2, 2026. Registration and Fee Payment: Registration can be completed from November 2 to November 4 (up to 3:00 PM), while the facility for fee payment will remain open until 6:00 PM on November 4.

Choice Filling and Locking: Candidates can select their preferred colleges between November 2 and November 5. Choice locking will be available from 4:00 PM on November 4 until 11:00 AM on November 5.

Seat Allotment and Results: The seat allotment process will be conducted on November 5 and 6, and the final results will be declared on November 7, 2026.
College Reporting: Students who are allotted a seat must report to their assigned college between November 7 and November 16 (up to 5:00 PM) to complete the admission formalities.

Plan for the Sixth Round (BDS and B.Sc. Nursing)

Beyond MBBS, the DGHS has also devised a strategy for students seeking admission to BDS and B.Sc. Nursing courses. Along with the 5th round, the 6th round has also been announced.

Registration and Choice Filling: The registration, fee payment, and choice-filling process for the 6th round will take place from November 17 to November 19, 2026. Choice locking for this round will be open from 4:00 PM on November 18 until 9:00 AM on November 19.

Results and Reporting: Following the seat allotment on November 19, the results will be declared on November 20. Subsequently, the selected students will be able to report to their allotted colleges between November 21 and November 28, 2026.

Important Tips for Students
This is the final stage of the NEET UG counseling process; therefore, any negligence at this point could prove costly. When filling in your choices, ensure you have a reasonable idea of ​​your rank and the previous year’s cut-offs for the colleges. Make sure to pay the fees within the stipulated deadline. Additionally, keep all your original documents ready; this will help you avoid any last-minute rush or inconvenience when reporting to the college.

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