411 MBBS seats still empty after NEET UG special stray round: fees blamed
By TUF News Desk · Published 11 November 2026 · 3 min read
Fact-checked against 2+ independent sources · Editorial policy
The Medical Counselling Committee ran a special stray vacancy round to fill the MBBS seats left over after the regular rounds of NEET UG 2026 counselling. It did not work as planned. Of the 948 seats on offer, 537 were allotted and 411 stayed empty, according to the allotment data published by the committee.
The round was the last chance to fill those seats in this academic year. The provisional result came out on November 5, two days before the scheduled date of November 7. Candidates had until 11 am on November 6 to raise grievances against the provisional list. Those who got a seat have until November 16 to report to their colleges.
Two seats added at the last minute
The committee had first listed 946 vacant MBBS seats in the round. A notice issued on November 2 added two more. One was an NRI-quota seat at the Hamdard Institute of Medical Sciences and Research in New Delhi, part of Jamia Hamdard. The other was an OBC-PwD seat at Stanley Medical College in Chennai, which is affiliated to The Tamil Nadu Dr M G R Medical University.
The final result published by the committee also covered the fifth round of BDS and BSc Nursing counselling. In that round, 208 BDS seats and 66 BSc Nursing seats were allotted.
Fees are the likely reason
The empty seats have put the cost of private medical education back in focus. Annual tuition at deemed universities in Tamil Nadu and Puducherry runs from Rs 23 lakh to Rs 35 lakh. Government-quota seats in private medical colleges cost nearly Rs 10 lakh a year, while management-quota seats can reach Rs 20 lakh a year. Hostel and mess charges sit on top of that.
The fees are the most likely reason qualified candidates passed up seats they had worked to earn. Reports on the allotment data point to the cost of private medical education, particularly at deemed universities, as the main factor. No official data confirms why individual candidates skipped the seats.
What allotted candidates should do now
Candidates who received a seat in the round should check the provisional allotment list on the official MCC website and report to the allotted college by November 16. Reporting needs the original documents used for verification, so candidates should carry the full set rather than photocopies alone. Our admission documents checklist covers the papers counselling portals commonly ask for.
Frequently asked questions
How many MBBS seats are still vacant after the NEET UG 2026 special stray round?
411 MBBS seats stayed vacant. Of the 948 seats in the round, 537 were allotted and 411 went unclaimed.
When was the NEET UG special stray vacancy round result declared?
The provisional result was declared on November 5, 2026, two days before the scheduled date of November 7. Candidates could raise grievances until 11 am on November 6.
What is the last date to report after the NEET UG special stray round allotment?
November 16, 2026. Allotted candidates must report to their colleges by that date.
Why did so many MBBS seats stay vacant?
High fees are the likely reason. Deemed universities in Tamil Nadu and Puducherry charge Rs 23 lakh to Rs 35 lakh a year, and management-quota seats in private colleges can cost up to Rs 20 lakh a year. No official data confirms why candidates skipped the seats.
Frequently asked questions
How many MBBS seats are still vacant after the NEET UG 2026 special stray round?
411 MBBS seats stayed vacant. Of the 948 seats in the round, 537 were allotted and 411 went unclaimed.
When was the NEET UG special stray vacancy round result declared?
The provisional result was declared on November 5, 2026, two days before the scheduled date of November 7. Candidates could raise grievances until 11 am on November 6.
What is the last date to report after the NEET UG special stray round allotment?
November 16, 2026. Allotted candidates must report to their colleges by that date.
Why did so many MBBS seats stay vacant?
High fees are the likely reason. Deemed universities in Tamil Nadu and Puducherry charge Rs 23 lakh to Rs 35 lakh a year, and management-quota seats in private colleges can cost up to Rs 20 lakh a year. No official data confirms why candidates skipped the seats.
Sources: News18, Times Now