NEET MDS 2026 Stray Vacancy Round: Eligibility, Colleges and How to Register

The NEET MDS 2026 Stray Vacancy Round opens on July 15, 2026, giving eligible dental graduates one final opportunity to secure a seat in MDS programmes across government, central university, and deemed dental colleges in India.

Conducted by the Medical Counselling Committee (MCC), this round fills seats that remained vacant after Round 1, Round 2, and the Mop-up Round of NEET MDS 2026 counselling. Registration and choice filling happen online, and seat allotment is based on NEET MDS 2026 rank, category, and preferences submitted during this window. The round is the last stage of centralised MDS admissions for the 2026-27 session.

• Stray vacancy round registration starts July 15, 2026 — complete registration and lock choices within the official window.
• Only seats left vacant after all earlier counselling rounds appear in this round’s seat matrix.
• Students who did not get allotment or resigned before the MCC cutoff date are typically eligible.
• Allotment in this round is final and non-upgradeable — not joining by the reporting deadline forfeits the seat and security deposit.
• Both AIQ seats in government colleges and seats in deemed and central universities are included.

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What is NEET MDS 2026 Stray Vacancy Round?

The stray vacancy round is the last stage of NEET MDS 2026 centralised counselling. After Rounds 1, 2, and the Mop-up Round conclude, some seats remain unfilled because allotted students did not report or vacated after joining. MCC collects these leftover seats from all participating institutions and conducts one final allotment to fill them.

This is your last opportunity to join an MDS programme for the 2026-27 academic session. No further counselling rounds are held after this. Allotment is compulsory to act on — any student who does not report to the allotted college by the joining deadline loses both the seat and their security deposit with no recourse.

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NEET MDS 2026 Stray Vacancy Round — Important Dates

The schedule below reflects the MCC calendar anchored to the July 15 registration opening. Verify exact dates on natboard.edu.in as MCC may issue revised notices.

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Who Can Apply: Eligibility Criteria

Not every NEET MDS 2026 qualified student can register for the stray vacancy round. MCC defines eligibility clearly in the official information bulletin and round-specific notice. The categories generally eligible are:

• Students who registered for NEET MDS 2026 AIQ counselling but did not receive any seat allotment in Round 1, Round 2, or the Mop-up Round.
• Students who were allotted a seat in an earlier round but resigned before the MCC-specified resignation cutoff date — check the official resignation notice for that exact date.
• Students who did not participate in any earlier round and wish to try in the stray vacancy round, subject to MCC’s fresh registration guidelines for this cycle.

Who is NOT eligible:

• Students currently enrolled at a college from an earlier round who did not resign within the permitted window.
• Students who forfeited their security deposit due to non-joining in a previous round — check the MCC eligibility notice before applying.
• Students whose NEET MDS 2026 rank falls below the cutoff applicable to any available seat in the stray vacancy matrix.

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Participating Colleges in NEET MDS 2026 Stray Vacancy Round

The stray vacancy round covers all institution types in MCC’s NEET MDS AIQ counselling. MCC releases the exact seat matrix on the day registration opens, listing available seats by college, speciality, and category. Not every institution will have vacant seats — only genuine vacancies from earlier rounds appear.

High-demand specialities — Orthodontics, Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, and Prosthodontics — typically fill in Round 1 or 2. Stray vacancies are more common in Public Health Dentistry, Oral Pathology and Microbiology, and Oral Medicine and Radiology. Download the seat matrix on July 15 to know exact availability before filling choices.

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Documents Required for NEET MDS 2026 Stray Vacancy Round

Keep originals and self-attested photocopies ready before you start registration. You will need digital scans for online submission and originals when you report to the allotted college.

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How to Register for NEET MDS 2026 Stray Vacancy Round Step by Step

Registration is entirely online and the window is short — typically 48 to 72 hours — with no extensions. Follow every step carefully.

1. Visit the official portal: Go to natboard.edu.in and click the NEET MDS 2026 Counselling link, or navigate to the MCC counselling portal directly.
2. Log in: Enter your NEET MDS 2026 application number and password. Use the "Forgot Password" option if needed — the OTP goes to your registered mobile or email.
3. Verify your eligibility status: Your dashboard will display whether you are eligible for the stray vacancy round. If it shows "Not Eligible", check the MCC eligibility notice or call the MCC helpdesk before the window closes.
4. Pay the registration fee (if applicable): Some students must pay a fresh registration fee for this round. Pay via net banking, UPI, or debit or credit card as prompted. Save the payment receipt.
5. Download and study the seat matrix: MCC releases the stray vacancy seat matrix PDF on the registration opening date. Review available seats by institution, speciality, and category before filling choices.
6. Fill your choices: Enter college-speciality-category combinations in order of priority. You can edit your choices any number of times before the window closes.
7. Lock your choices before the deadline: Unlocked choices are not processed for allotment. Lock them well before the cutoff — do not wait until the last hour.
8. Download your acknowledgement: Save and print the choice-locking acknowledgement as proof of submission.
9. Check the allotment result: Log in on the result date to view your allotment. Download the allotment letter immediately if a seat is offered.
10. Report to your allotted college: Carry all original documents and report within the joining window. Late reporting or non-reporting leads to seat cancellation and security deposit forfeiture.