Maharashtra State Common Entrance Test Cell has revised the NEET UG 2026 online stray vacancy schedule for MBBS and BDS admissions. Eligible candidates must submit fresh choices for Round 1 between October 17 and October 18, 2026, by 11:59 PM. Choices filled during CAP Round 3 will not be used.

The notice creates three short stray-vacancy rounds, with selection lists on October 19, October 22 and October 25. It applies only to Group A MBBS and BDS seats for the 2026-27 academic year.

What the Maharashtra CET Cell changed

Notice No. 27, dated October 16, replaces the earlier timing with a compressed three-round process that ends on October 26. The CET Cell said the revision was needed to align state counselling with the Medical Counselling Committee schedule and complete admissions within the available time.

The process covers vacant MBBS and BDS seats in government, corporation, government-aided, private unaided and minority colleges in Maharashtra. It does not apply to AYUSH or other health-science groups.

Maharashtra NEET UG 2026 stray round schedule

For Round 1, the last time to resign an allotted seat without penalty is October 21 at 5:30 PM. A cancellation after that point will attract the penalty prescribed in the information brochure.

Who is eligible for the Maharashtra stray rounds?

A candidate must have qualified NEET UG 2026, completed Maharashtra counselling registration earlier and filled an online preference form. The candidate must also have remained without a seat allotment through CAP Round 3 and satisfy Clause 4 of the state information brochure.

No new registration will be accepted for these stray rounds. A NEET-qualified candidate who did not register for Maharashtra counselling earlier cannot enter the process now.

Who cannot participate?

The state notice excludes candidates whose existing or recent allotments conflict with the stray-round rules. The following candidates cannot participate:

• Candidates who joined a state seat in Round 1 or Round 2 and continued to hold it through Round 3.
• Candidates newly allotted a seat in Maharashtra CAP Round 3.
• Candidates who joined and hold an All India Quota seat through Round 3.
• Candidates allotted a seat in the All India Quota stray vacancy round.
• Candidates allotted a seat in Maharashtra Stray Round 1, who become ineligible for later Maharashtra stray rounds.

These state-specific exclusions answer the immediate seat-holding question for this process. Candidates should not apply a rule from another state or an earlier counselling round to Maharashtra's current schedule.

Fresh choices are required in every round

CAP Round 3 choices are null and void for Stray Round 1. If a candidate remains eligible for Round 2, the Round 1 choices will not carry forward. The same reset applies before Round 3, when choices from both earlier stray rounds become invalid.

Candidates may edit their choices more than once while the relevant window remains open. No change is permitted after the deadline. The CET Cell has advised candidates to list only colleges they are prepared to join if allotted.

What selected candidates must do at the college

Joining is physical. A selected candidate must report to the allotted college within the round-specific deadline with all original documents and the requisite admission fee. The notice allows fee payment by demand draft or by NEFT/RTGS.

Notice No. 27 does not give one common fee amount or an itemised document checklist. Candidates should therefore check the applicable information brochure, the allotted college's instructions and the live counselling portal before travelling. The amount should not be inferred from an application or counselling charge.

What candidates should check before each deadline

1. Open the NEET UG 2026 section of the Maharashtra CET Cell portal at medical2026.mahacet.org and confirm that the current seat matrix is visible.
2. Submit a fresh choice form for the active round even if choices were entered in CAP Round 3 or an earlier stray round.
3. Save proof of the final submitted choices before the window closes.
4. If allotted, confirm the college's document and payment instructions before reporting with the originals.
5. Recheck the official portal because the schedule remains subject to directions from MCC, NDC, the central or state government and courts.

Participating colleges have been directed to treat Saturdays, Sundays and gazetted holidays as working days during this compressed schedule. Candidates should not assume that a weekend or holiday shifts a published deadline.