CENTAC NEET MDS Round 3: Fresh applications till November 2, choices till November 3
By TUF News Desk · Published 28 October 2026 · 4 min read
Fact-checked against 2+ independent sources · Editorial policy
November 2 at 5 pm is the date to remember first. The Centralised Admission Committee (CENTAC), Puducherry, will stop accepting fresh applications for NEET MDS 2026 Round 3 at that time. Candidates who are already in the process get one extra day for the remaining steps, but that second deadline is just as firm.
The round covers postgraduate dental (MDS) seats in Puducherry for the 2026-27 academic session. CENTAC issued the revised schedule after the Medical Counselling Committee (MCC) revised its own Round 3 schedule for MDS admissions, following the lowering of the qualifying cut-off. That cut-off change is why a fresh window exists at all: candidates who were not eligible earlier can now enter the process.
The revised dates
Fresh applications close on November 2, 2026, at 5 pm. Willingness for Round 3, payment of the Round 3 registration fee and submission of course preferences all close on November 3, 2026, at 5 pm. Resignation requests from candidates admitted in Round 1 or Round 2 also close on November 3 at 5 pm.
The split matters. A fresh applicant who files the form by November 2 still has to complete willingness, fee payment and preferences by November 3.
Who can apply
The round is open to candidates who have qualified NEET MDS 2026. That includes fresh applicants who became eligible under the revised cut-off and candidates who did not register in earlier rounds. Candidates already registered can take part in Round 3 through the willingness step.
Candidates admitted in Round 1 or Round 2 and hoping for an upgrade face a harder choice. They must resign their current seat by November 3 at 5 pm to participate in Round 3. Resigning without a Round 3 allotment means giving up a seat already in hand, so that decision deserves a careful look at the vacancy position before it is made.
CENTAC counselling covers Government Quota, Management Quota, Management Telugu Minority Quota and NRI quota seats. Government Quota seats are for Puducherry candidates. Applicants should check the PG Dental Information Brochure for 2026-27 on the portal before choosing a quota.
What to do before the deadline
Applications and preferences are submitted online through the official CENTAC portal. Keep the NEET MDS scorecard, BDS certificates, internship completion certificate and registration certificate ready before logging in, and run through the admission documents checklist.
Order of preferences deserves the same attention as the form itself. Round 3 allotment follows merit, preferences and seat availability, so list colleges and courses in the order they would actually be accepted. Save the confirmation page and the fee payment receipt after submitting, since both are needed at reporting if a seat is allotted.
This state round sits alongside the national counselling run by MCC, which handles All India Quota and deemed and central university MDS seats. Candidates tracking both processes should keep the two schedules separate: the November 2 and November 3 dates here belong to CENTAC Puducherry, and the MCC NEET MDS Round 3 registration followed its own timetable.
Candidates with questions can contact the CENTAC helpline on 0413-2655570 or 0413-2655571. Anyone planning to apply should start the form now instead of waiting for the final day, when portal traffic and small document problems tend to pile up.
Frequently asked questions
What is the last date for fresh applications in CENTAC NEET MDS Round 3?
November 2, 2026, at 5 pm. Fresh applications are submitted online through the official CENTAC portal, centacpuducherry.in.
When do willingness, fee payment and course preferences close for CENTAC NEET MDS Round 3?
November 3, 2026, at 5 pm. All three steps must be completed by that time to stay in the round.
Who can apply fresh in CENTAC NEET MDS Round 3?
NEET MDS 2026 qualified candidates, including those who became eligible after the qualifying cut-off was lowered, and candidates who did not register in earlier rounds.
Can a candidate admitted in Round 1 or Round 2 join CENTAC NEET MDS Round 3?
Yes, but such candidates must submit their resignation request by November 3, 2026, at 5 pm if they want to take part in Round 3.
Frequently asked questions
What is the last date for fresh applications in CENTAC NEET MDS Round 3?
November 2, 2026, at 5 pm. Fresh applications are submitted online through the official CENTAC portal, centacpuducherry.in.
When do willingness, fee payment and course preferences close for CENTAC NEET MDS Round 3?
November 3, 2026, at 5 pm. All three steps must be completed by that time to stay in the round.
Who can apply fresh in CENTAC NEET MDS Round 3?
NEET MDS 2026 qualified candidates, including those who became eligible after the qualifying cut-off was lowered, and candidates who did not register in earlier rounds.
Can a candidate admitted in Round 1 or Round 2 join CENTAC NEET MDS Round 3?
Yes, but such candidates must submit their resignation request by November 3, 2026, at 5 pm if they want to take part in Round 3.
Sources: Medical Dialogues, Collegedunia