The Medical Counselling Committee (MCC) under the Directorate General of Health Services has commenced the stray vacancy round registration for NEET PG 2026 on the official portal mcc.nic.in. This round offers candidates another opportunity to secure admission to postgraduate medical seats that remained unfilled after the first and second counselling rounds. The stray vacancy round is the final phase of counselling, where leftover seats including those returned or not allotted earlier are offered to eligible NEET PG 2026 qualifiers across India. This round follows the conclusion of earlier MCC counselling procedures such as round 1, round 2 and mop-up rounds.
How to Register for the NEET PG 2026 Stray Vacancy Round?
Candidates interested in participating in the NEET PG 2026 stray vacancy round should complete the online registration and choice filling before the deadline. Follow these steps on mcc.nic.in:
- Visit the official website mcc.nic.in.
- Click on the NEET PG 2026 Stray Vacancy Round registration link.
- Log in using your NEET PG application number and date of birth.
- Complete the registration form and verify your details.
- Fill choices of colleges and courses as per preference.
- Lock your choices before the deadline.
- Download and save the confirmation page for future reference.
Applicants should ensure all entries are accurate and complete, as changes after locking may not be permitted. It is advised to review preferences carefully before final submission.
NEET PG 2026: Importance of the Stray Vacancy Round
The stray vacancy round is crucial for candidates who could not secure a seat in earlier counselling phases. It helps fill remaining PG seats in MD/MS/PG Diploma programmes in medical colleges across India. Seats that remain unallotted after the mop-up round due to withdrawals, non-joining or other reasons are included in this round, offering a last chance to aspirants. After the stray vacancy round, the committee will publish a seat allotment list based on candidate choices and merit. Candidates allotted seats must complete required formalities, such as fee payment, document verification and reporting at allotted institutes within the specified schedule.
NEET PG 2026 Key Points for Candidates
- Registration and choice filling must be completed before the stray vacancy deadline.
- Only eligible NEET PG 2026 qualifiers can participate in this round.
- No further rounds are expected after the stray vacancy round.
- All allotment decisions will be based on seat availability, preferences and merit rank.
This phase represents one of the final opportunities for postgraduate medical aspirants to secure a seat for the 2026–27 academic year in India.