NEET PG Stray Vacancy Registration Begins Feb 16: Check Schedule & Eligibility

The Medical Counselling Committee (MCC) kicks off the Stray Vacancy Round from Monday, February 16, 2026. This round is critical because it is the last centralized effort to fill remaining MD/MS/DNB seats. Unlike previous rounds, the rules here are strictly punitive to prevent seat blocking.

1. The Schedule (Mark These Dates):

• Registration & Payment: February 16 to February 18 (up to 12:00 PM). New registration is allowed for those who haven’t registered before.

• Choice Filling: February 16 to February 19 (up to 11:55 PM).

• Choice Locking: February 19 (from 4:00 PM onwards).

• Seat Allotment Result: February 21, 2026.

• Reporting to College: February 22 to February 28, 2026.

2. Who is BLOCKED? (The “Weeding Out” Process)

To ensure fairness, the MCC conducted a massive Data Sharing exercise with state authorities on February 14.

• Ineligible: If you are currently holding a seat joined through All India Quota (Round 1, 2, or 3) or any State Quota counseling, you are eliminated from this round.

• Eligible: Only candidates who are holding no seat anywhere in India are allowed to participate.

3. The “Heavy Penalty” Warning

This round comes with high stakes. If you are allotted a seat in the Stray Vacancy Round:

• You MUST Join: If you do not join the allotted seat, your Security Deposit (₹25,000 or ₹2 Lakhs) will be forfeited.

• The Ban: More importantly, you will be DEBARRED from appearing in the NEET PG Examination for the next 1 year. Do not fill choices for colleges you are not willing to physically join.