In a significant development bringing renewed hope to medical aspirants across India, the Medical Counselling Committee (MCC) has unveiled the next phase of the NEET UG Counselling 2026 schedule. Released officially on October 30, 2026, the notification outlines three distinct admission tracks: the MBBS Special Stray Vacancy Round, alongside the 5th and 6th Counselling Rounds for BDS and B.Sc Nursing across All India Quota (AIQ), Deemed Universities, Central Universities, AIIMS, and JIPMER. Designed to fill precious seats left vacant in earlier rounds, this phase offers unallotted candidates a crucial opportunity to secure admission.

MBBS Special Stray & BDS/Nursing 5th Round: Unified Timeline

Notably, the MBBS Special Stray Vacancy Round and the 5th Round for BDS and B.Sc Nursing will run concurrently on the same schedule. Aspirants eyeing remaining coveted seats must adhere strictly to these timelines:

  • Registration Window: November 2 to November 4, 2026 (closes sharp at 3:00 PM).

  • Fee Payment Facility: November 2 (10:00 AM) to November 4 (up to 6:00 PM).

  • Choice Filling & Locking: Choice filling runs from November 2 to November 5 (11:00 AM). Choice locking opens on November 4 at 4:00 PM and closes on November 5 at 11:00 AM.

  • Seat Allotment Result: November 7, 2026.

  • College Reporting: November 7 to November 16, 2026 (by 5:00 PM).

BDS & B.Sc Nursing 6th Round: Crucial Deadline Alert

To ensure optimal seat utilisation in dental and nursing courses, MCC has also scheduled a 6th Round—which exclusively covers BDS and B.Sc Nursing and excludes MBBS seats. However, candidates must exercise heightened vigilance regarding a critical date discrepancy in the official PDF:

The Registration Discrepancy: While the schedule mentions the registration window as November 17 to November 19, it simultaneously stipulates the closing time as November 18 at 3:00 PM (with payment open until November 19, 6:00 PM). Until MCC issues a formal corrigendum, aspirants should safely treat November 18 (3:00 PM) as the final registration cut-off.

Allotment & Reporting: Choice filling and locking conclude on November 19 at 9:00 AM. Results will be declared on November 20, followed by physical reporting from November 21 to November 28 (5:00 PM).

Essential Guidelines for Aspirants

As the admission cycle enters its decisive stretch, a smart and cautious approach is paramount. Since the October 30 notification focuses strictly on dates, candidates must check the live vacancy matrix and verify the exact 2026 eligibility norms on the official portal (mcc.nic.in) once registration begins. Historically, special stray rounds are meant for candidates not holding any seat in previous AIQ or State Quota rounds.

Additionally, students must note the staggered deadlines—having a 6:00 PM payment window does not permit fresh registration after 3:00 PM. Lock only those colleges where you genuinely intend to enrol, review Deemed University fee structures beforehand, and keep all original certificates ready, as MCC strictly does not extend physical reporting deadlines. For any technical queries, candidates can also reach out to MCC’s official helpline.