NEET UG stray round: registration ends today at 3 pm, result on October 17
By TUF News Desk · Published 14 October 2026 · 4 min read
Fact-checked against 2+ independent sources · Editorial policy
If you are still waiting for a medical seat, today is the last day to act. The Medical Counselling Committee (MCC) closes registration for the NEET UG 2026 online stray vacancy round at 3 pm on October 14. The fee payment window stays open a little longer, until 6 pm, but the registration form itself shuts at 3.
This is the national round, run by MCC for All India Quota seats. It is separate from the state counselling rounds that state CET cells are running in parallel for their own seat pools. For many candidates, this is the last opening for an MBBS, BDS or B.Sc Nursing seat in the 2026-27 academic year.
The schedule, hour by hour
The timetable runs on server time. Registration and fee payment both end today, October 14. Choice locking opens at 4 pm today and runs until 10 am on October 15. Choice filling itself closes at 10 am on October 15.
MCC will process seat allotments on October 15 and 16. The stray round result is scheduled for October 17. Candidates who get a seat must report to the allotted college between October 19 and 26 to complete admission.
Register on the official MCC counselling portal. Keep an eye on the portal through the day for any revised notice before you act.
Who can take part
Fresh registration is compulsory for this round. If you registered for an earlier round, that does not carry over. You need to register again and fill fresh choices.
Not everyone qualifies. Candidates who already hold a seat, or have joined one, cannot take part. Candidates who were allotted a seat in Round 3 but did not report to the college are also out. MCC will share candidate data with the Centre and the states after Round 3, and anyone on an allotment list at either level stays out of the All India stray round.
Before you pay any fee, check what your MCC dashboard shows.
What seats are on offer
The stray round fills vacant All India Quota seats in deemed universities, central universities, AIIMS and JIPMER. These are the seats that stayed empty after Round 3, and they are now open to eligible candidates who register fresh.
This is the final round, so order your choices by what you would actually accept. A seat you would not take should not sit high on your list. 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.
How to register and lock choices
Registration and choice filling are two separate steps. Completing registration alone does not mean you have submitted your college preferences.
Log in to the MCC portal, complete the form, and pay the fee before the cutoffs. Then fill your choices in order of preference and save after each session. Lock your choices inside the window that runs from 4 pm today to 10 am tomorrow. MCC counts server time, so a late click can fail even if your clock says you are in time. Download the confirmation page once your choices are locked.
Keep your documents ready before reporting day. Our admission documents checklist walks through the paperwork colleges usually ask for.
Frequently asked questions
What is the last time to register for the NEET UG 2026 stray vacancy round?
Registration closes on October 14, 2026, at 3 pm, and the fee payment window stays open until 6 pm the same day on the MCC portal.
Who cannot take part in the MCC stray vacancy round?
Candidates who already hold or have joined a seat, and candidates allotted a seat in Round 3 who did not report to the college, are not eligible for this round.
When will the NEET UG stray vacancy round result be declared?
The seat allotment result is scheduled for October 17, 2026. Allotted candidates must report to their colleges between October 19 and 26.
Do I need to fill fresh choices for the stray vacancy round?
Yes. Fresh registration and fresh choice filling are both compulsory. Choices filled in earlier rounds will not carry over.
Frequently asked questions
What is the last time to register for the NEET UG 2026 stray vacancy round?
Registration closes on October 14, 2026, at 3 pm, and the fee payment window stays open until 6 pm the same day on the MCC portal.
Who cannot take part in the MCC stray vacancy round?
Candidates who already hold or have joined a seat, and candidates allotted a seat in Round 3 who did not report to the college, are not eligible for this round.
When will the NEET UG stray vacancy round result be declared?
The seat allotment result is scheduled for October 17, 2026. Allotted candidates must report to their colleges between October 19 and 26.
Do I need to fill fresh choices for the stray vacancy round?
Yes. Fresh registration and fresh choice filling are both compulsory. Choices filled in earlier rounds will not carry over.
Sources: NDTV, Jagran Josh, Shiksha