Maharashtra NEET UG stray round revised: choice filling Oct 17-18, list on Oct 19
By TUF News Desk · Published 14 October 2026 · 4 min read
Fact-checked against 2+ independent sources · Editorial policy
Update (October 17): the CET Cell has revised the stray vacancy schedule (Notice No. 27). Round 1 choice filling now runs October 17-18, and the selection list will be declared on October 19. The dates below reflect the revised schedule.
Maharashtra’s medical aspirants have a revised schedule to plan around. The State Common Entrance Test Cell has announced new dates for its online stray vacancy rounds for NEET UG 2026 counselling, covering MBBS and BDS seats for the 2026-27 academic year.
The CET Cell issued the revised schedule for three online stray vacancy rounds, running between October 17 and October 26, to fill the vacant seats in government, municipal corporation, government-aided, private unaided and minority medical and dental colleges.
Round 1 dates to remember
The provisional round 1 seat matrix was published on October 16. Candidates can fill and submit their college preferences on October 17 and 18, up to 11:59 pm on October 18. The CET Cell will declare the round 1 selection list on October 19.
Students who get a seat in round 1 must report to the allotted college with original documents and the required fee on October 20 and 21, up to 5:30 pm. The last date to resign from an allotted seat without penalty is October 21, up to 5:30 pm.
Our admission documents checklist walks through the paperwork colleges usually ask for at reporting, so keep originals and self-attested copies ready before you travel.
Rounds 2 and 3 follow immediately
There is no gap between the rounds. Round 2 opens with a fresh seat matrix on October 21, and choice filling runs on October 21 and 22, closing at 11 am on October 22. The round 2 selection list comes out the same day, and joining happens on October 23 and 24, up to 5:30 pm.
Round 3 follows the same pattern: seat matrix and choice filling on October 24 and 25, up to 11 am on October 25; selection list on October 25; joining on October 26. The final joining deadline, fixed by the Medical Counselling Committee, is October 26.
Who can take part
Only candidates who qualified for NEET-UG 2026, registered for the Maharashtra state admission process and submitted their preferences earlier are eligible. Anyone allotted a seat up to the third centralised round cannot take part, and fresh registration will not be permitted.
The CET Cell has cancelled the preferences submitted during round 3, so those choices will not be considered for stray vacancy allotment. Eligible candidates must fill fresh choices for each stray round, and candidates allotted a seat in the first stray round will not be eligible for the later ones.
How to fill the preferences
Preference filling happens on the official Maharashtra NEET UG counselling portal. Log in with your existing credentials, go through the vacant seat details published on October 16, and arrange the colleges and courses in the order you would actually accept them. Save the form after each session and keep a screenshot of the final submission for your records.
These are the last rounds of state counselling, so order your preferences by what you would genuinely take if allotted. Our guide on how to choose a university in India explains how to weigh location, fees and course type when the decision window is this short.
Frequently asked questions
When does choice filling start for Maharashtra NEET UG stray vacancy round 1?
Under the revised schedule, choice filling for round 1 runs on October 17 and 18, 2026, closing at 11:59 pm on October 18. The round 1 selection list is declared on October 19.
Can I register fresh for the Maharashtra NEET UG stray vacancy rounds?
No. The CET Cell has said fresh registration will not be permitted. Only candidates already registered for the state admission process, who have not been allotted a seat up to round 3, can take part.
Do I need to fill fresh choices for the stray round?
Yes. Preferences submitted in round 3 have been cancelled and will not be considered. You must fill fresh choices for each stray vacancy round.
How many stray vacancy rounds will Maharashtra hold for NEET UG 2026?
Three online stray vacancy rounds, running from October 17 to October 26, 2026 under the revised schedule. The final joining deadline set by MCC is October 26.
Frequently asked questions
When does choice filling start for Maharashtra NEET UG stray vacancy round 1?
Under the CET Cell's revised schedule, choice filling for round 1 runs on October 17 and 18, 2026, closing at 11:59 pm on October 18. The round 1 selection list is declared on October 19.
Can I register fresh for the Maharashtra NEET UG stray vacancy rounds?
No. The CET Cell has said fresh registration will not be permitted. Only candidates already registered for the state admission process, who have not been allotted a seat up to round 3, can take part.
Do I need to fill fresh choices for the stray round?
Yes. Preferences submitted in round 3 have been cancelled and will not be considered. You must fill fresh choices for each stray vacancy round.
How many stray vacancy rounds will Maharashtra hold for NEET UG 2026?
Three online stray vacancy rounds, running from October 17 to October 26, 2026 under the revised schedule. The final joining deadline set by MCC is October 26.
Sources: Free Press Journal, Careers360, Jagran Josh, FreeJobAlert