In short
The stray vacancy round is the last counselling round, run online by the same authority as the earlier ones, for seats left over after Round 3. In MCC’s 2026 cycle it runs 12–19 October after an extension (registration closes 16 October, result 19 October, reporting 19–26 October). The rule that matters most: as reported on 10 October, only candidates the portal shows without a seat after Round 3 can register, and Round 3 allottees are barred whether they joined or not.
Updated 16 October 2026. MCC extended the stray round by a notice of 14 October; dates now follow that notice as reported by Edufever and Shiksha. The eligibility rule is from a single news report; MCC’s notice decides.
Who can apply in the 2026 MCC stray round, and who cannot
| Situation after Round 3 | Can register? |
|---|---|
| No seat allotted, portal shows you as seat-free | Yes, as reported |
| Allotted a Round 3 seat and joined | No, as reported |
| Allotted a Round 3 seat and did not join | No, as reported (the deposit is also forfeited and you leave further MCC rounds) |
| Never registered with MCC at all | Not stated in 2026 reports, so confirm in the notice |
Dates, fees and the step-by-step plan are on our MCC stray round registration page. State rounds have their own eligibility, and domicile rules differ; see the table below.
Why leftover seats can open up for lower ranks
A seat that stays empty after the last round earns the college nothing for that year, so every seat that comes back is offered again. Closing ranks in this round depend on who resigned or never joined, which no one can predict in advance. That is why the stray round can reach colleges that were out of range earlier, and also why it can be tight: the number of seats is small. Qualifying is still a hard floor, 213 for General/EWS and 177 for OBC/SC/ST this year.
The deposit trap
Free exit rules differ by authority and are decided when you lock your choice list, not when the allotment arrives.
| Authority | Non-domicile candidates | Official portal |
|---|---|---|
| UP DGME (Uttar Pradesh State Counselling) | Eligible | upneet.gov.in |
| Bihar BCECEB (State Counselling) | Eligible | bceceboard.bihar.gov.in |
| Haryana DMER / UHSR (State Counselling) | Eligible | uhsrugcounselling.com |
| MCC — Deemed University Counselling | Eligible | mcc.nic.in |
| Rajasthan NEET UG Counselling Board | Largely restricted | www.ruhsraj.org |
| Karnataka KEA (State Counselling) | Largely restricted | cetonline.karnataka.gov.in |
In UP DGME there is no free exit from Round 1: being allotted and declining to join forfeits the ₹2,00,000 security deposit outright, and entering Round 2 requires a fresh ₹2,00,000. Understand your authority’s rule before you fill choices — this is where families lose the most money in the shortest time.
Being ready to report
Stray vacancy reporting windows are short, often two to three days including travel. Have everything assembled before the allotment:
Documents required at reporting
- Allotment letter and the NEET-UG admit card and scorecard
- Class 10 and Class 12 mark sheets and passing certificates
- Transfer certificate and migration certificate
- Character certificate from the last institution attended
- Government photo identification — Aadhaar, PAN or passport
- Eight to ten passport-size photographs
- Medical fitness certificate and the course discontinuation bond
- First-year fee by demand draft, drawn as the allotment letter specifies
Carry originals and two photocopy sets. A missing document at reporting can cost the seat, and the reporting window is usually two to three days.
What to fill, and how much of it
At this stage, breadth beats preference. Cutoffs are unpredictable in the final round because they depend on who resigned, and a short choice list is the main reason candidates who were eligible end up unallotted. Fill everything you would genuinely attend and can genuinely fund.
NEET score & budget college predictor
Enter your score and budget to see which private and deemed medical colleges are realistically in range.
Frequently asked questions
Who is eligible for the MCC stray vacancy round in 2026?
As reported by CareerIndia on 10 October, candidates the MCC portal shows with no seat after Round 3. Round 3 allottees are reported to be ineligible whether they joined or not. MCC’s notice is the authority, so read its eligibility section before paying.
Can I take part in the stray round if I never registered for MCC counselling?
The 2026 reports we read do not say. Past MCC bulletins required a candidate to be in the system, so assume you need an existing MCC registration and confirm it in the notice.
When is the 2026 MCC stray round?
After MCC’s extension: registration until 4 PM and payment until 6 PM on 16 October, choice locking until 11:55 PM on 16 October, result 19 October, reporting 19 to 26 October, as reported.
Is a seat obtained in the stray round the same degree?
Yes. It is the same MBBS programme at the same college, recognised by NMC, allotted through the same online merit process. The round in which a seat was allotted does not appear on the degree.
Do I lose my deposit if I do not join a stray seat?
Treat it as yes. Stray seats must be joined or the security deposit is forfeited. Check your authority’s rule before locking choices.
Related reading
- Round-by-round counselling calendar
- MBBS admission when you have just qualified
- 2026 NEET qualifying cutoff
NEET 2026 counselling support
Get stray vacancy alerts and a choice list
Get a personalised list of NMC-approved private and deemed medical colleges matching your NEET score and budget.
Sources and how to verify this page
Cutoffs and fees on this page are compiled estimates for the 2026 cycle, not official figures. Every claim about eligibility, counselling process and legality can be checked against the primary sources below, and you should check them before acting.
- National Medical Commission — recognised colleges and seat matrix
- Medical Counselling Committee (MCC) — deemed and all-India quota
- National Testing Agency — NEET-UG results and percentiles
- UP DGME — Uttar Pradesh private MBBS counselling
- BCECEB — Bihar private MBBS counselling
Found something wrong? Report a correction — we publish what changed and when.