Maharashtra NEET UG 2026 Counselling: Special Stray Vacancy Round 3 Schedule Announced for MBBS and BDS Admissions

MUMBAI, Nov 14: The Maharashtra State Common Entrance Test (CET) Cell has advanced the medical admission process for the 2026–27 academic session by opening the third special stray vacancy round for undergraduate medical and dental courses.

The counselling process is being conducted to fill vacant seats in MBBS and Bachelor of Dental Surgery (BDS) programmes across participating medical and dental institutions in Maharashtra.

According to the revised counselling schedule, the display of the seat matrix and online preference-filling facility for the third special stray vacancy round began on November 13 and will remain available until November 14.

The selection list for the third round is scheduled to be published on November 14, following which candidates allotted seats will have to report physically to their respective institutions with original documents and the prescribed admission fees.

The physical reporting period has been scheduled for November 15 and 16. Candidates must complete the admission formalities within the specified deadline to secure their allotted seats.

The latest round provides another opportunity for eligible NEET UG 2026 candidates who have not secured admission through the earlier counselling stages.

The state counselling authority has advised applicants to follow the official schedule carefully and regularly check the admission portal for updates regarding seat allotment and reporting requirements.
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Third special stray vacancy round begins
The third special stray vacancy round forms part of Maharashtra’s extended admission process for MBBS and BDS programmes.

The state has been conducting additional counselling rounds after the completion of the regular Centralised Admission Process (CAP) and earlier online stray vacancy rounds.

These additional rounds are intended to fill seats that remain vacant after the earlier admission stages.

Medical admission authorities generally conduct such rounds to ensure that available seats are utilised before the conclusion of the academic admission cycle.

For the current session, Maharashtra introduced three special stray vacancy rounds after identifying vacant positions in medical and dental institutions.

The process has involved publishing updated seat matrices, inviting candidates to submit their preferences and releasing selection lists based on the applicable counselling rules.

The third round began with the publication of the seat matrix and the opening of the online choice-filling facility on November 13.

Candidates participating in this stage must submit their preferences within the prescribed period.

The selection list is expected to determine which applicants receive allotments against the remaining vacancies.

Students should carefully review their college choices before submitting the preference form because the allotment process may result in admission to an institution they have selected.
Important dates for Round 3 counselling
The counselling authority has provided a short window for candidates to complete the necessary online and offline procedures.

The important dates are as follows:
Admission activity Schedule
Seat matrix and choice filling November 13–14, 2026
Round 3 selection list November 14, 2026
Physical reporting and admission November 15–16, 2026
Final joining deadline November 16, 2026

Candidates should ensure that they complete online preference submission and physical reporting within the specified dates.

Failure to follow the admission schedule could result in the loss of an allotted seat, subject to the applicable counselling rules.

Students are also advised to keep checking the official Maharashtra CET Cell website, mahacet.org, for any revised instructions or additional notices.
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Earlier rounds aimed to fill 138 vacant medical seats
The special counselling exercise was initiated after the state identified 138 vacant MBBS and BDS seats following the completion of earlier admission rounds.

According to the seat information published for the special stray vacancy process, the vacancies included 84 MBBS seats and 54 BDS seats.

The distribution showed that the remaining MBBS vacancies were concentrated in private medical colleges and private medical universities, while the available BDS positions were spread across different institutional categories.

The seat distribution was reported as follows:
Institution category MBBS vacancies BDS vacancies
Government medical colleges 0 2
Private medical colleges 39 22
Private medical universities 45 30
Total 84 54

The figures highlighted the difference in seat availability between government and private institutions.

While government medical colleges had filled their MBBS seats by the relevant stage of counselling, vacancies remained in private institutions.

The special rounds were therefore intended to provide eligible candidates with additional opportunities to secure admission against these available positions.

The number of seats available in subsequent rounds may change depending on admissions, cancellations and the counselling authority’s updated seat matrix.

Candidates should consequently rely on the latest published vacancy list rather than older figures while making their choices.
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Eligibility requirements for participating candidates
Participation in the special stray vacancy process is governed by the eligibility conditions specified by the Maharashtra CET Cell.

Candidates must have qualified NEET UG 2026 and satisfy the applicable state counselling registration requirements.

Applicants who participated in the admission process but did not secure a seat through the earlier eligible rounds may be considered, subject to the provisions of the admission information brochure.

However, certain candidates are excluded from participating in the special counselling exercise.

Students who have already joined MBBS or BDS programmes under the relevant Group A admission process are not eligible to participate in the special stray vacancy rounds.

Similarly, candidates who have secured admission through the All India Quota or received allotments covered by the exclusion conditions cannot seek another seat through the state-level process.

Candidates who received an allotment in an earlier stray vacancy round but failed to join may also face restrictions under the applicable rules.

The eligibility provisions are intended to ensure that the additional counselling process is available to candidates who meet the prescribed requirements.

Applicants should therefore examine the official information brochure before submitting their preferences.

Submitting an application or participating in an earlier round does not automatically guarantee eligibility for the next stage.
Fresh preferences important for seat allotment
One of the important aspects of the stray vacancy counselling process is the requirement to submit fresh college preferences.

Candidates should not assume that choices entered during an earlier round will automatically remain valid for the subsequent stage.

The preference list for each round must be completed according to the instructions issued by the CET Cell.

Students should consider several factors before selecting their preferred institutions, including available courses, college infrastructure, location, tuition fees and other admission requirements.

For MBBS aspirants, the choice of medical college can have long-term academic and professional implications.

Similarly, students seeking BDS admission should review the available dental institutions and their respective facilities before making a final decision.

Candidates should select only those institutions where they are genuinely willing to accept admission if allotted a seat.

The special stray vacancy process follows specific admission and cancellation rules, making it important for applicants to understand the consequences of accepting or failing to join an allotted institution.

Students should also avoid submitting preferences without checking whether they satisfy the admission requirements of the selected colleges.
Documents required during physical reporting
Candidates who receive an allotment in the third special stray vacancy round must complete the prescribed admission formalities at the allotted institution.

Physical reporting requires applicants to carry their original documents and pay the applicable admission fees within the reporting period.

The necessary documents may include:
– NEET UG 2026 scorecard and admit card.
– Class 10 certificate and mark sheet.
– Class 12 mark sheet and passing certificate.
– Government-issued identity proof.
– Domicile certificate, wherever applicable.
– Category certificate, if applicable.
– Allotment letter issued through the counselling process.
– Other documents specified in the official admission brochure.
Candidates should verify the institution-specific requirements before visiting the allotted college.

The admission authorities may require original certificates for verification and confirmation of eligibility.

Payment of the prescribed fees is also an essential part of completing the admission process.

The counselling instructions have specified accepted payment arrangements, including demand draft, NEFT or RTGS, according to the applicable admission requirements.

Applicants should retain payment receipts and other admission-related documents for future reference.
Why the special counselling rounds matter
Medical entrance examinations attract a large number of applicants every year, while the number of available seats remains limited.

Even candidates with qualifying NEET scores may find it difficult to secure admission to their preferred institutions during the initial counselling stages.

Special stray vacancy rounds provide an additional mechanism for filling seats that remain available after the regular admission process.

For students who have not obtained a seat through previous rounds, these stages can offer another opportunity to pursue medical or dental education during the current academic session.

At the same time, the process requires candidates to make timely decisions because the available window for submitting preferences and completing admission formalities is limited.

The Maharashtra counselling process also highlights the importance of coordinated admission procedures between state authorities, medical institutions and the national counselling framework.

The Medical Counselling Committee’s schedule and the state-level admission arrangements must be considered while determining the final joining deadlines.

Candidates participating in the special rounds should therefore avoid relying on unofficial information circulating through social media or other platforms.
Candidates advised to follow official notifications
With the third special stray vacancy round approaching its selection and reporting stages, eligible applicants are advised to remain attentive to announcements issued by the Maharashtra CET Cell.

The selection list scheduled for November 14 will be particularly important for candidates seeking admission through the final special round.

Those allotted seats must complete physical joining between November 15 and 16, carrying all required documents and fulfilling the prescribed fee conditions.

Candidates who fail to complete the necessary formalities within the stipulated period may lose their opportunity to secure admission under the relevant rules.

The admission process is intended to ensure that remaining medical and dental seats are filled while maintaining compliance with eligibility and counselling regulations.

For students seeking MBBS and BDS admissions in Maharashtra, the latest round represents an important stage in the 2026–27 admission cycle.

Applicants should visit the official website, mahacet.org, to access the latest seat matrix, selection list and detailed instructions.