The Medical Counselling Committee (MCC) has released the Round 3 seat matrix for NEET UG counselling 2026 on its official website, mcc.nic.in. The matrix comes in three separate documents: a clear vacancy list, a virtual vacancy list and a list of 183 newly added MBBS and BDS seats. Candidates taking part in Round 3 of All India Quota (AIQ) counselling should review all three lists before filling their choices, as the choice-filling window closes at 12 noon on September 28, 2026.
Key Highlights
- MCC has published three Round 3 seat documents: Clear Vacancy, Virtual Vacancy and Newly Added Seats.
- 183 new seats have been added for Round 3: 83 MBBS and 100 BDS.
- The clear vacancy list runs to 93 pages and the virtual vacancy list to 142 pages, covering MBBS, BDS and B.Sc Nursing.
- Round 3 registration and payment are open from September 22 to 27, 2026 (payment till 6 pm).
- Choice filling runs from September 23 to 28, 2026, with choice locking from 7 pm on September 27 to 12 noon on September 28.
- The Round 3 seat allotment result is scheduled for September 30, 2026.
- The stray vacancy round will follow from October 12, 2026.
What the Three Round 3 Seat Matrices Mean
MCC has released the Round 3 seat matrix in three parts: newly added seats, clear vacancies and virtual vacancies, covering MBBS, BDS and B.Sc. Nursing. Each is explained below.
Clear Vacancy Seats
The clear vacancy list shows seats that are empty right now. These 6703 seats either stayed unfilled after Round 2 or were vacated when candidates did not join or resigned. The document lists seats state-wise, with institute type, institute name, quota, course and category (OP, BC, SC, ST, EWS and PH sub-categories).
Seats appear under a wide range of quotas, including All India Quota, AIIMS, Central University, Deemed University, ESIC, IP University, Delhi University, NRI, minority quotas, self-financed seats and B.Sc Nursing.
Some of the clear vacancies visible in the list include:
| Institute | Clear Vacancy Seats (Category-wise) |
|---|---|
| AIIMS Guwahati | BC 5, EWS-PwD 1, Open 8, SC 2, ST 1 |
| AIIMS Rajkot | BC 1, EWS 1, Open 4, SC 2 |
| AIIMS Patna | BC 2, SC 2 |
| AIIMS Mangalagiri | BC 1, SC 1, ST 1 |
| AIIMS Raipur | BC 1 |
| UCMS Delhi (MBBS) | BC-PwD 1, EWS 1, Open 2, ST 1 |
| MAMC Delhi (MBBS) | BC 1, ST-PwD 1 |
Virtual Vacancy Seats
Virtual vacancies are seats that are currently occupied but may open up during Round 3. When a candidate who joined a college in Round 2 opts for upgradation and gets a better seat in Round 3, the seat they leave behind goes to the next eligible candidate in the same round.
This is why the virtual vacancy list is the longest of the three documents. Candidates should not ignore colleges that appear only in this list, because a large share of Round 3 allotments usually comes from these upgraded seats.
Newly Added Seats
MCC has added 183 fresh seats for Round 3. Of these, 33 are All India Quota MBBS seats in government medical colleges, and 150 are deemed university seats (50 MBBS and 100 BDS).
| State | Institute | Quota | Course | Seats |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maharashtra | Datta Meghe Dental College, Nagpur | Deemed (Self-Financed) | BDS | 100 |
| Puducherry | Vinayaka Missions Medical College, Karaikal | Deemed (Self-Financed) | MBBS | 50 |
| Maharashtra | Punyashlok Ahilyadevi Holkar Government Medical College, Ahilyanagar | All India | MBBS | 15 |
| Tripura | Agartala Government Medical College | All India | MBBS | 8 |
| Uttarakhand | Late Jagjivan Ram Government Medical College, Pithoragarh | All India | MBBS | 7 |
| Dadra & Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu | NAMO Medical Education and Research Institute | All India | MBBS | 3 |
| Total | 183 |
Download NEET UG Round 3 Counselling 2026 Newly Added Seats List PDF
NEET UG Counselling 2026 Round 3 Schedule
MCC notified the Round 3 dates in its official schedule for Rounds 2, 3 and 4 released on September 14, 2026.
| Activity | Date |
|---|---|
| Seat matrix verification by institutes | September 21, 2026 |
| Registration and payment | September 22 to 27, 2026 (payment till 6 pm) |
| Choice filling | September 23 to 28, 2026 (till 12 noon) |
| Choice locking | 7 pm, September 27 to 12 noon, September 28 |
| Seat processing | September 28 to 29, 2026 |
| Round 3 result | September 30, 2026 |
| Reporting and joining verification | October 1 to 9, 2026 |
| Data sharing by MCC | October 10, 2026 |
MCC has told all participating institutes to treat Saturdays, Sundays and gazetted holidays as working days during counselling.
Who Can Participate in Round 3
Candidates who did not register in earlier rounds can register fresh in Round 3. Candidates who did not get a seat in Rounds 1 and 2 must fill fresh choices. Those who joined a seat in Round 2 and chose the upgradation option can also take part, and their Round 2 seat is protected unless they get a better option.
Round 3 Rules Candidates Should Know
Round 3 carries stricter rules than the first two rounds. A candidate who is allotted a seat in Round 3 but does not join it will lose the security deposit and will not be eligible for the stray vacancy round.
The security deposit is Rs 10,000 for general candidates (Rs 5,000 for SC, ST, OBC and PwD candidates) for AIQ, central institute and AIIMS seats. For deemed university seats, the deposit is Rs 2,00,000 for all categories. Candidates should fill choices only for colleges they are ready to join.
How to Check the Round 3 Seat Matrix
- Visit mcc.nic.in and open the UG Medical Counselling section.
- Go to Current Events.
- Click on “Clear Vacancy Round 3”, “Virtual Vacancy Round 3” or “Newly Added Seats Round 3”.
- Download the PDF and search for your preferred state, institute or quota.
Next Step: Stray Vacancy Round
After Round 3, MCC will conduct the stray vacancy round. Registration will run from October 12 to 14, 2026, choice filling till October 15, and the result will be declared on October 17, 2026. Joining verification is scheduled from October 19 to 26, 2026.
Also Read:
Rajasthan NEET UG 2026 Round 3 Seat Matrix – MBBS & BDS College-Wise Vacant Seats
MCC Releases NEET UG 2026 Counselling Round 3 and Stray Vacancy Round Schedule
NTA Releases Exam Calendar 2026-27: JEE Main, UGC NET, CUET PG Dates Announced
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. The Medical Counselling Committee (MCC) has released the NEET UG 2026 Round 3 seat-related updates, including a notice regarding the addition of new undergraduate seats. Candidates should check the latest official MCC seat matrix and notices for the complete MBBS and BDS seat details.
MCC has added 183 new seats for Round 3 of NEET UG Counselling 2026. These include 83 MBBS seats and 100 BDS seats across six participating colleges.
The Round 3 seat data includes 6,703 clear vacancy seats. These seats are available for candidates participating in the counselling process, subject to the applicable eligibility and quota conditions.
Virtual vacancy seats are seats that may become available during the counselling process when candidates occupying those seats are upgraded or otherwise vacate their existing seats according to the applicable counselling rules. Candidates should therefore understand that a virtual vacancy does not necessarily mean the seat is vacant at the start of the round.
The Round 3 seat information includes 10,353 virtual vacancy seats. Candidates should check the latest MCC seat matrix to identify the colleges, courses and categories associated with these seats.
Datta Meghe Dental College, Hospital and Research Centre, Wanadongri, Maharashtra has the largest addition, with 100 new BDS seats. These seats are listed under the Deemed – Self-Financed Merit Seat category.
A total of 33 new MBBS seats have been added across four government medical colleges under the All India Quota (AIQ). These include colleges in Maharashtra, Tripura, Uttarakhand, Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu.
MCC has added 50 new MBBS seats at Vinayaka Missions Medical College, Karaikal, Puducherry. These seats are listed under the Deemed – Self-Financed Merit Seat category.
Yes. Candidates participating in MCC Round 3 should review the updated seat matrix and add eligible colleges and courses that they are genuinely willing to join to their choice list. MCC provides a Candidate User Guide and other counselling resources for the choice-filling process.
Candidates should use the official MCC website and its UG counselling section for the latest seat matrices, notices, participating-institute information and counselling documents.
