The Jharkhand Combined Entrance Competitive Examination Board (JCECEB) has scheduled the release of two important documents today, 25 September 2026 — the Round 3 State Merit List and the Round 3 Vacant Seat Matrix for Jharkhand NEET UG Counselling 2026. This is part of JCECEB's revised counselling schedule (Advt. No. 84, dated 17 September 2026).
That said, here's a quick reality check: when we looked at JCECEB's official Download page on 25 September, some Round 3 AIQ/NRI merit-list documents were already visible, but the State Quota Round 3 Merit List and Vacant Seat Matrix hadn't appeared yet. So, while these documents are officially scheduled for today, it would be premature to say they've already been published — candidates should keep checking the portal rather than assume they're live.
What documents are candidates waiting for?
For Round 3 (State Quota), two documents matter most:
- State Merit List (Round 3) – ranks eligible candidates based on their NEET UG 2026 score and counselling data. This ranking decides how seats get allotted.
- Vacant Seat Matrix (Round 3) – shows which seats are still open, course-wise and category-wise, after Round 2. This helps candidates plan their choices.
Together, these two documents decide how Round 3 allotment plays out, since it depends on a candidate's merit rank, category, the seats actually available, and the choices they fill in.
Key dates for Round 3
Here is the full revised timeline candidates should keep track of:
- New candidate applications: 20–24 September 2026 (till 6:00 PM)
- Editing window: 24 September, 6:01 PM to midnight
- State Merit List & Vacant Seat Matrix (scheduled): 25 September 2026
- Choice filling starts: 28 September 2026
- Last date for choice filling: 7 October 2026 (till 6:00 PM)
- Choice editing window: 7 October, 6:01 PM to midnight
- Provisional seat allotment letter: 9–14 October 2026
- Document verification & admission: 10–14 October 2026
One more thing to watch for: around 5 October 2026, JCECEB may release a revised vacant seat matrix if seats open up due to upgradation or movement between rounds.
Don't mix up State Quota with AIQ/NRI
JCECEB handles more than one counselling stream, so it's easy to get confused:
- State Quota counselling covers MBBS, BDS and BHMS seats.
- AIQ/NRI seats are handled separately, for certain colleges.
Just because AIQ/NRI documents are uploaded doesn't mean the State Quota Round 3 merit list or vacancy matrix is out too — make sure you're checking updates for the right counselling stream.
Where to check for updates
Keep an eye on these official sources:
- JCECEB's official Download page (for PDFs and notifications)
- The NEET UG counselling portal used for state counselling
Once the State Quota merit list and vacant seat matrix go live, candidates should immediately:
- Check their state merit rank
- Go through category-wise vacancies in the matrix
- Get ready for choice filling starting 28 September