NEW DELHI: Bringing a crucial opportunity for dental graduates aiming for postgraduate seats, the Medical Counselling Committee (MCC) has officially commenced the choice-filling process for Round 3 of the NEET MDS Counselling 2026 today, October 23. Qualified candidates can now sign in to the official MCC portal (mcc.nic.in) to pick their favoured institutions and preferred Master of Dental Surgery (MDS) specialisations.

While the registration window opened on October 22, candidates must navigate the upcoming deadlines with extreme caution, as the MCC has stipulated different timings for registration, fee payment, and choice locking.

NEET MDS Round 3: Vital Dates to Keep in Mind

Candidates must adhere strictly to the MCC server time to ensure their applications are processed seamlessly. Here is the official timeline for the All India Quota (AIQ) Round 3:

• Choice Filling Window: October 23 to October 28, 2026 (up to 11:55 PM)

• Registration Deadline: October 27, 2026 (Closes sharply at 3:00 PM)

• Fee Payment Deadline: October 27, 2026 (Closes at 6:00 PM)

• Choice Locking Window: October 28, 2026 (From 2:00 PM to 11:55 PM)

• Seat Allotment Result: October 31, 2026

• Physical Reporting at Colleges: November 1 to November 7, 2026

AIQ vs. State Counselling: A Vital Distinction

A common pitfall for candidates is confusing the MCC schedule with State Quota timelines. The result declared on October 31 will strictly pertain to AIQ, Deemed, and Central Universities. According to the combined schedule released by the MCC, State Counselling for Round 3 will be conducted separately from October 29 to November 9, with the joining deadline set for November 16. Following Round 3, the Stray Vacancy rounds for AIQ and State quotas will commence on November 10 and November 18, respectively.

Eligibility and Stringent Round 3 Rules

Round 3 is a pivotal phase where the rules become significantly stricter.

• Who needs fresh registration? Candidates registering for the first time, those who resigned from their Round 2 seats, or those whose fees were forfeited due to non-joining in Round 2 must register afresh and pay the requisite fee.

• Who is exempted? Candidates who registered earlier but were not allotted any seat in Rounds 1 or 2 can participate directly without paying again.

The 'No-Exit' Penalty: Candidates must fill their choices judiciously. Failure to join an allotted seat in Round 3 will result in the forfeiture of the security deposit and immediate disqualification from subsequent Stray Vacancy rounds. Furthermore, if a candidate's seat is upgraded in Round 3, they automatically lose all claims to their previously allotted seat.

How to Fill and Lock Your Choices

Simply selecting colleges is not enough; locking your preferences is mandatory. Candidates should visit the MCC MDS portal, verify their dashboard status, and arrange their preferred courses in order of priority.

On October 28, after 2:00 PM, aspirants must log in again, authenticate their choices using the OTP sent to their registered mobile number, and download the 'Locked Choice Letter' for future reference. With seat matrix verifications recently concluded, students are advised to rely solely on the live choices visible on their portals rather than unverified vacancy figures.