NEET-SS 2026 Cutoff Reduced to 30 percentile; Check Special Stray Vacancy Round Details

The Union Health Ministry has cut the NEET Super Speciality 2026 qualifying percentile. The cutoff has been reduced from 50 to 30 percentile. The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) placed this decision on record in an affidavit submitted before the Supreme Court of India (SC) on September 17, 2026.

The Medical Counselling Committee (MCC) will conduct a Special Stray Vacancy Round online at mcc.nic.in within two weeks.

Around 6,000 additional candidates will now become eligible to participate. The revised cutoff aims to fill 1,857 vacant Super Speciality seats, which remained vacant after the second counselling round. The Centre also agreed to return 40 in-service seats to Tamil Nadu. These seats will be filled through a state-specific counselling round.

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NEET SS 2026 Cutoff Change Key Details

Who Can Participate in the Special Stray Vacancy Round?

The revised 30 percentile cutoff applies to fresh candidates only. Doctors who have already secured seats in earlier rounds cannot upgrade. Only candidates without a prior seat allotment can register.

This rule aims to protect existing seat holders and prevent cascade vacancies across counselling rounds.

The relaxed cutoff opens access to vacant DM and MCh seats. It also covers vacant DrNB Super Speciality seats. Candidates should check the revised seat matrix carefully and lock their preferences based on branch and college availability.

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NEET SS 2026 Vacant Seat Breakdown

Tamil Nadu In-Service Quota Seats Returned

The Centre will return 40 vacant in-service seats to Tamil Nadu. These seats are reserved for government service doctors in the state.

Tamil Nadu reserves 50% of Super Speciality seats for in-service candidates. The state will conduct a separate counselling round for these seats, which is expected to be completed within one week.

Also Check: AIIMS MSc Open Round Vacancy List 2026 Released at aiimsexams.ac.in

Why Did the Supreme Court Push for the Cutoff Reduction?

The Supreme Court had earlier asked the Centre to reconsider its stance. The bench raised concerns over the large number of unfilled Super Speciality seats every year.

The Centre subsequently agreed to reduce the qualifying percentile to 30. The decision was recorded in a formal affidavit, and the top court directed the authorities to complete the counselling round quickly.

Also Check: AIIMS MSc Open Round 2026 Registration Begins at aiimsexams.ac.in

NEET Cutoff Reduction Historical Trend

The Centre has previously lowered qualifying percentiles to fill vacant medical seats. Similar reductions were made for NEET-PG in 2022 and BDS admissions in 2020. These measures aim to prevent the wastage of postgraduate medical seats.

How to Register for the NEET SS Special Stray Vacancy Round?

The MCC will conduct the round online through its official portal. The complete schedule will be released soon. Candidates must complete registration, choice filling, fee payment, and choice locking within the prescribed deadline.

1. Visit the official MCC portal at mcc.nic.in.
2. Click on the NEET-SS 2026 Special Stray Vacancy Round link.
3. Log in using the NEET-SS 2026 credentials.
4. Pay the registration and security fee online.
5. Fill and lock the seat and college preferences before the deadline.

Action Plan for Candidates

1. Monitor the MCC portal at mcc.nic.in for the schedule.
2. Verify your NEET-SS 2026 score and revised eligibility status.
3. Keep all required documents ready for online verification.
4. Arrange the registration and security fee in advance.
5. Research vacant seats across DM, MCh, and DrNB-SS courses.
6. Lock preferences strategically before the choice-filling window closes.

Also Check

• MCC NEET MDS 2026 Round 2 Choice Filling Opens
• CENTAC NEET MDS 2026 Round 1 Provisional Allotment Out
• Karnataka NEET MDS 2026 Seat Matrix Out at cetonline.karnataka.gov.in
• MP NEET MDS 2026 Round 1 Cutoff Released at dme.mponline.gov.in