Maharashtra NEET UG 2026: 3 Stray Vacancy Rounds Announced
Maharashtra CET Cell has announced three online stray vacancy rounds for MBBS and BDS admissions. Eligible candidates must fill in fresh preferences for each round, and candidates allotted a seat in one round cannot participate in subsequent stray vacancy rounds.
Maharashtra NEET UG 2026: Stray Vacancy Rounds Been Announced?
The Maharashtra State Common Entrance Test (CET) Cell has announced three online stray vacancy rounds to fill vacant MBBS and BDS seats for the 2026–27 academic session. These rounds will cover remaining seats in participating government, municipal corporation, government-aided, private unaided and minority medical and dental colleges, subject to the applicable counselling rules.
Unlike regular counselling rounds, these stray vacancy rounds have specific eligibility and participation conditions. Candidates should carefully read the latest notice before submitting their preferences. The official counselling portal is medical2026.mahacet.org/NEET-UG-2026.
2. Maharashtra NEET UG 2026 Stray Vacancy Rounds: Important Dates
| Counselling activity | Round 1 | Round 2 | Round 3 |
| Seat matrix and choice filling | October 14–16 | October 20–21 | October 23–24 |
| Choice-filling deadline | October 16, 11:59 PM | October 21, 10 AM | October 24, 10 AM |
| Selection list | October 17 | October 21 | October 24 |
| College reporting | October 18–20 | October 22–23 | October 25–26 |
OGcollege Insight: Round 1 choice filling is scheduled to close on October 16. Candidates should not wait for the next round if they are eligible and want to participate in the current one.
Who Is Eligible for Maharashtra NEET UG Stray Vacancy Counselling?
According to the reported counselling instructions, candidates must have qualified NEET UG 2026, registered for Maharashtra state counselling and submitted preferences in the earlier process, but remained without a seat allotment through CAP Round 3. Fresh registration will not be permitted for these online stray vacancy rounds. Candidates who are unsure about their eligibility should check the official Notice No. 24 and Notice No. 23 on the CET Cell portal.
There is another crucial rule: candidates allotted a seat in the first stray vacancy round will not be eligible to participate in the subsequent stray vacancy rounds. Therefore, candidates should consider their preferences carefully before submitting them.
How to Fill Choices for Maharashtra NEET UG Stray Vacancy Rounds
Eligible candidates should follow these steps:
- Visit the official Maharashtra NEET UG counselling portal.
- Log in using the credentials used for the state counselling process.
- Check the seat matrix published for the relevant stray vacancy round.
- Select preferred MBBS and BDS colleges and courses according to eligibility and personal priorities.
- Review and submit the fresh preference list before the round-specific deadline.
- Save the submission confirmation for future reference.
OGcollege Insight: Choices entered during CAP Round 3 will not automatically carry forward to the stray vacancy rounds. Candidates must submit new preferences for each round in which they are eligible to participate.
What Should Candidates Do After the Seat Allotment Result?
After the selection list is published, candidates should check their allotment status on the official portal. Candidates allotted a seat must report to the assigned college within the prescribed period, carrying original documents and paying the applicable admission fees. Missing the reporting deadline can affect admission, so candidates should follow the official instructions carefully. Candidates who are not allotted a seat should check the next round's schedule and eligibility conditions. Participation in a later round is not guaranteed for everyone, particularly candidates who have already received an allotment.
Related OGcollege Guides
Students following NEET counselling can also read “MCC NEET UG Stray Vacancy Round 2026: Registration, Dates & Seat Matrix,” “MCC NEET UG Round 3 Result 2026: Check Seat Allotment,” and “West Bengal NEET UG Round 3 Choice Filling 2026: Check Dates” for updates on national and state-level counselling processes.
Final Verdict
Maharashtra’s decision to conduct three online NEET UG 2026 stray vacancy rounds provides eligible candidates with further opportunities to compete for remaining MBBS and BDS seats.
The most important rules are to check eligibility, submit fresh preferences for each round and follow the reporting deadlines. Since the schedule is time-sensitive, candidates should rely on the latest State CET Cell notice rather than unofficial social media updates.
Verified Sources
Maharashtra State CET Cell – NEET UG 2026 Counselling Portal
Maharashtra CET Cell – Official Notices and Counselling Updates
Hindustan Times – Maharashtra MBBS and BDS Stray Vacancy Round Schedule
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