The Medical Counselling Committee (MCC) has announced the schedule for the NEET UG 2026 Stray Vacancy Round for undergraduate medical and dental admissions. Candidates participating in the counselling process must complete their choice filling and lock their preferred colleges and courses within the prescribed deadline.

According to the published schedule, the choice-locking window will open at 4:00 PM on 14 October 2026 and close at 10:00 AM on 15 October 2026. The seat allotment result is scheduled for 17 October 2026, followed by the reporting period from 19 October to 26 October 2026.
Candidates should visit the official MCC website to check the latest counselling instructions and complete the required steps on time.
NEET UG 2026 Stray Vacancy Round: Overview
| Particulars | Details |
|---|---|
| Examination | National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET UG) 2026 |
| Counselling Authority | Medical Counselling Committee (MCC) |
| Counselling Round | Stray Vacancy Round |
| Academic Session | 2026 |
| Choice Locking Starts | 14 October 2026, 4:00 PM |
| Choice Locking Ends | 15 October 2026, 10:00 AM |
| Seat Allotment Result | 17 October 2026 |
| Reporting Period | 19–26 October 2026 |
| Official Website | https://mcc.nic.in/ |
NEET UG 2026 Stray Vacancy Round Important Dates
Candidates can check the important dates for the stray vacancy counselling round below.
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Registration | 12–14 October 2026, as reported in published counselling coverage |
| Choice Filling | 12–15 October 2026 |
| Choice Locking | 14 October, 4:00 PM to 15 October, 10:00 AM |
| Seat Allotment Processing | 15–16 October 2026 |
| Seat Allotment Result | 17 October 2026 |
| Reporting to Allotted College | 19–26 October 2026 |
Note: Candidates should verify the latest dates and instructions on the official MCC portal, as counselling schedules may be revised. <Cite refs={[“turn111299search0″,”turn111299search1″,”turn111299search3”]} />
NEET UG 2026 Choice Locking Time
The choice-locking facility is scheduled as follows:
- Choice locking date: 14 October 2026
- Choice locking start time: 4:00 PM
- Last date for choice locking: 15 October 2026
- Closing time: 10:00 AM
Candidates should not wait until the last minute. They should review their selected colleges and courses carefully and ensure their choices are locked successfully before the deadline.
How to Lock Choices for NEET UG 2026 Stray Vacancy Round
Candidates can follow these general steps to complete the choice-locking process:
- Visit the official MCC website: https://mcc.nic.in/.
- Open the UG Medical Counselling section.
- Access the NEET UG 2026 counselling portal.
- Log in using the required candidate credentials.
- Open the choice-filling section and review the selected colleges and courses.
- Arrange the choices according to your preferences, where editing is permitted.
- Use the available choice-locking option during the specified window.
- Follow the on-screen instructions and confirm the action.
- Save or print the confirmation page or choice details for future reference, if available.
These are general navigation steps. Candidates should follow the exact instructions displayed on the official portal.
Important Instructions for Candidates
- Complete choice locking within the scheduled window.
- Review college and course preferences before finalising choices.
- Check the official portal for any revised schedule or additional instructions.
- Monitor the website for the seat allotment result scheduled for 17 October 2026.
- If allotted a seat, follow the reporting instructions and deadline provided by MCC.
- Read the official counselling information carefully to understand eligibility and participation conditions for the stray vacancy round.
Candidates should also note that stray vacancy counselling has specific eligibility and participation rules. Check the official MCC guidelines before proceeding.
Official Links
| Purpose | Link |
|---|---|
| MCC Official Website | https://mcc.nic.in/ |
| UG Medical Counselling | https://mcc.nic.in/ug-%20medical-counselling/ |
| NEET UG 2026 Candidate User Guide | https://mcc.nic.in/document/candidate-user-guide-neet-ug-counselling-2026/ |
| MCC UG Counselling Schedule | https://mcc.nic.in/eservices-schedule-ug/ |
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. When does NEET UG 2026 Stray Vacancy Round choice locking begin?
Choice locking is scheduled to begin on 14 October 2026 at 4:00 PM.
2. What is the last date for choice locking?
The scheduled closing time is 10:00 AM on 15 October 2026.
3. When will the NEET UG 2026 Stray Vacancy Round result be declared?
The seat allotment result is scheduled for 17 October 2026.
4. When will candidates report to their allotted colleges?
The published schedule lists 19 October to 26 October 2026 as the reporting period.
5. Where can candidates lock their choices?
Candidates should visit the official MCC website at https://mcc.nic.in/ and access the NEET UG counselling portal.
6. Should candidates wait until the last minute to lock choices?
No. Candidates should review and lock their choices well before the deadline to avoid last-minute technical or login issues.
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