Maharashtra NEET UG 2026 Stray Vacancy Round Rules
The Maharashtra State Common Entrance Test (CET) Cell, Mumbai, has issued Notice No. 24 dated 12 October 2026, outlining important instructions for candidates and colleges participating in the NEET UG 2026 Stray Vacancy Rounds for MBBS and BDS admissions under Group A for the 2026–27 academic year.
According to the notice, the institute-level admission round in private colleges has been cancelled under the 2026 admission rules. Admissions to vacant seats will instead be conducted online by the State CET Cell through Stray Vacancy Rounds. Multiple rounds may be held to prevent seats from remaining vacant.
Candidates must fill fresh college and course preferences for every Stray Vacancy Round. Allotment will be based on merit and preference order. Choices can be edited multiple times through OTP verification within the notified schedule, but no changes will be permitted after the deadline.
The notice makes joining an allotted seat mandatory. Candidates are advised to select only those colleges where they are willing to take admission. Under Clause 20 of the NEET UG 2026 Information Brochure, selected candidates who fail to report to or join their allotted seat in the final round, resulting in the seat remaining vacant, may be disqualified from admission to that group for the next two years.
Candidates must check the applicable fees prescribed by the Fees Regulating Authority (FRA) and the respective college websites before filling their choices. Colleges are required to publish quota-wise fee structures and bank account details and permit NEFT/RTGS payments during the round.
Candidates should regularly visit the official Maharashtra CET Cell website for the detailed Stray Vacancy Round schedule, choice-filling deadlines, allotment updates and reporting instructions.
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