MAH NEET UG 2026 stray round schedule released; choice filling begins October 15

The State Common Entrance Test Cell Maharashtra released the Stray Round schedule for MAH NEET UG 2026 on October 12, 2026. This schedule outlines the process for admissions to MBBS and BDS courses, with the stray vacancy rounds commencing on October 14, 2026, and concluding on October 26, 2026.

These rounds are being conducted to fill seats that remained vacant after the completion of earlier counselling phases, specifically CAP Rounds 1, 2, and 3. The entire process, detailed in Notice No. 23, will be conducted online via cetcell.mahacet.org and medical2026.mahacet.org, affecting eligible candidates who qualified NEET UG 2026 and participated in previous counselling rounds but were not allotted a seat.

Stray Round Counselling Timeline

The stray vacancy rounds for MAH NEET UG 2026 are scheduled to run for 13 days, from October 14 to October 26, 2026. Colleges have been instructed to consider Saturdays, Sundays, and public holidays as working days during this period to support the timely completion of admissions. The schedule is subject to change based on directives from various authorities including the Medical Counselling Committee (MCC) or the State Government.

The first round of choice filling for the stray vacancy round begins on October 15, 2026, with the selection list for Round 1 expected on October 17, 2026. Subsequent rounds will follow a tight schedule, with the final joining deadline set for October 26, 2026.

Mandatory Requirements for Candidates

Candidates participating in the stray vacancy rounds must register afresh and submit new preferences for each round. The Maharashtra CET Cell has stated, “It is mandatory to fill the choice for online stray vacancy round 1 (Choice filled during CAP-3 will be null & Void).” This means choices submitted in previous CAP rounds are no longer valid for the stray rounds.

Also, joining an allotted seat in any stray vacancy round is mandatory. Candidates who joined a seat in CAP Round 1, 2, or 3 of state counselling or All India Quota (AIQ) up to Round 3 are ineligible to participate in these stray vacancy rounds.

Eligibility and Next Steps

The stray vacancy rounds are open to candidates who qualified NEET UG 2026, registered for counselling, filled preferences, but were not allotted a seat in CAP Rounds 1, 2, or 3. The Maharashtra NEET UG Counselling 2026 process aims to support admissions to MBBS and BDS courses across the state.

Prospective students are advised to check the full schedule on the Maharashtra Medical Counselling Portal. For Round 1, candidates must fill college choices online between October 15 and 16, 2026. Those allotted a seat in Round 1 are required to report to their respective colleges in person with original documents and fees between October 18 and 20, 2026. Fresh choices must be filled for each subsequent stray vacancy round if a candidate is not allotted a seat in the previous round.

Further reading

• NEET UG 2026 Round 3 admissions conclude for MBBS at Medical College, Kolkata
• WB AYUSH UG round 2 merit list released: admission based on NEET UG 2026 scores
• NEET cutoff: previous closing ranks and marks Next step
• CUET 2027 law course admissions: UG registration in January, PG exams in March
• AIIMS Paramedical application form: eligibility, dates and how to apply
• NEET: complete exam guide

Written by Nishit Kumar

Nishit Kumar is a senior EdTech industry leader with over a decade of experience in building and scaling education platforms, shaping their product, content, and growth strategy. At FindMyCollege, Nishit oversees content and editorial strategy, guiding topic selection and content frameworks to ensure accuracy, relevance, and student-first value across the website.

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