MCC NEET MDS 2026 round 3 registration open; apply by October 7

The Medical Counselling Committee (MCC) has commenced the registration process for NEET MDS 2026 Round 3 counselling. Aspiring candidates for postgraduate dental seats across India can register and pay fees until October 7, 2026, on the official website, mcc.nic.in. This round aims to fill vacant Master of Dental Surgery (MDS) seats following a 10 percentile cutoff reduction by the National Board of Examinations in Medical Sciences (NBEMS).

The registration for Round 3 began after the MCC received the revised NEET MDS 2026 results from NBEMS, which expanded the list of eligible candidates for counselling. The move to reduce the qualifying percentile by 10 for every category is intended to address the issue of vacant MDS seats nationwide. Candidates are advised to check their revised NEET MDS 2026 score on the NBEMS portal.

NEET MDS 2026 Round 3 Counselling Schedule

The registration and fee payment window for NEET MDS 2026 Round 3 is open from October 3 to October 7, 2026. The registration link will close at 3 PM on October 7, 2026, while the payment facility will remain active until 6 PM on the same day. Following registration, candidates can fill their choices from October 3 to October 8, 2026. Choice locking is scheduled from 4 PM on October 7 to 10 AM on October 8, 2026.

The seat allotment processing for Round 3 will take place on October 8 and October 9, 2026. The MCC will release the seat allotment result between October 10 and October 11, 2026. Candidates who are allotted seats must report to their respective colleges from October 12 to October 19, 2026.

Registration Process and Requirements

To register for NEET MDS 2026 Round 3, candidates must visit mcc.nic.in. The registration process requires candidates to enter their NEET MDS roll number and personal details. A non-refundable registration and security fee must be paid online. Candidates are advised to keep their roll number, necessary documents, and bank details ready leading up to starting the registration process.

This matters a lot for candidates to fill their college and course preferences carefully before October 8, 2026. Once choices are filled, they must be locked ahead of 10 AM on October 8, 2026. After locking, candidates should download and save the choice confirmation page for their records.

Subsequent Counselling Rounds

Following the conclusion of Round 3, the MCC will conduct a Stray Vacancy Round to fill any remaining vacant MDS seats. Registration for the Stray Vacancy Round will be open from October 22 to October 26, 2026. Choice filling for this round will run from October 23 to October 27, 2026.

Previously, NEET MDS Counselling 2026 Round 1 registration was held from August 18 to August 29, 2026, with 1,521 candidates provisionally allotted seats. Round 2 registration for NEET MDS 2026 took place from September 3 to September 8, 2026. The current 10 percentile cut in the qualifying percentile aims to further expand the pool of eligible candidates and ensure maximum seat occupancy.

Further reading

• NEET MDS 2026 final phase schedule out: report to colleges by 24 October
• Gujarat NEET MDS Round 2 result out: report to colleges by 30 September
• National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (MDS) exam pattern: sections, marking and duration Next step
• NEET UG 2026: Uttarakhand opens Round 3 NRI quota MBBS registration until 5 October Applications open
• PGIMER Entrance Exam application form: eligibility, dates and how to apply
• National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (MDS): 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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