Maharashtra NEET UG stray Round 3 list out: report by 5:30 PM on Oct 26 or lose the seat

By TUF News Desk · Published 25 October 2026 · 3 min read

Fact-checked against 2+ independent sources · Editorial policy

The Maharashtra State Common Entrance Test Cell has published the provisional selection list for the third online stray vacancy round of NEET UG 2026. The list, marked new on the counselling portal on October 25, covers MBBS and BDS seats left vacant in government, corporation, government-aided, private unaided and minority colleges across the state. Candidates can check it on the official Maharashtra NEET UG counselling portal.

Choice filling for this round ran on October 24 and closed at 8 AM on October 25, under Notice No. 28 issued by the CET Cell on October 21. Candidates had to submit a fresh preference list for this round. Choices entered in CAP Round 3 or in the first two stray rounds do not carry forward into a new round.

What allottees must do by October 26

Candidates named in the list have to report in person to the allotted college on October 26, by 5:30 PM. They must carry all original documents and pay the required fee by demand draft at the college. The selection list also asks candidates to fill the status retention form at the college by the same deadline. Our admission documents checklist runs through the standard set to carry for verification.

Joining is mandatory in the stray rounds, so candidates were advised to list only colleges they are willing to join. October 26 is also the last joining date in the Medical Counselling Committee schedule, which makes this the final round for these seats.

Who could take part

The round was open to candidates who qualified NEET UG 2026, registered for the Maharashtra admission process and filled preferences earlier, but had no seat after CAP Round 3. No fresh registrations were accepted for the stray rounds. Medical colleges in the state admit through this process, including colleges affiliated to Maharashtra University of Health Sciences.

Candidates who already hold a seat from state counselling or from All India Quota counselling could not take part. Anyone allotted a seat in stray vacancy Round 1 or Round 2 was also out of the later rounds. State quota seats are filled separately from the All India Quota; our guide to central, state and private universities explains how the two tracks differ.

How the three stray rounds ran

The CET Cell revised the schedule to run three online stray rounds inside the MCC deadline, after the All India Quota stray schedule was announced. Round 1’s selection list came out on October 19, with joining on October 20 and 21. Round 2’s list followed on October 22, with joining on October 23 and 24.

Round 3 closes the sequence. Candidates who do not report by 5:30 PM on October 26 risk losing the allotted seat, and there is no later window for these MBBS and BDS seats.

Frequently asked questions

Is the Maharashtra NEET UG stray vacancy Round 3 selection list out?

Yes. The State CET Cell published the provisional selection list for MBBS and BDS courses on October 25, 2026, on the official portal medical2026.mahacet.org.

When must Round 3 allottees report to their colleges?

On October 26, 2026, by 5:30 PM, with all original documents and the required fee by demand draft. The status retention form must also be filled at the college by the same time.

Who was eligible for the Maharashtra stray vacancy rounds?

NEET UG 2026 qualified candidates who had registered for the Maharashtra admission process and filled preferences earlier, but had no seat after CAP Round 3. No fresh registrations were accepted.

Is Round 3 the last chance for Maharashtra NEET UG 2026 admission?

Yes. October 26, 2026 is the final joining date in the Medical Counselling Committee schedule, so no further round follows Round 3.

Frequently asked questions

Sources: Shiksha, Careers360, The Times of India