India NEET medical counselling updates and seat vacancies

The Medical Counselling Committee (MCC) has released the revised provisional seat allotment results for the NEET UG 2026 stray vacancy round. Despite the round being conducted to fill 4,068 vacant MBBS, BDS, and B.Sc. Nursing seats, only 3,108 seats were allotted, leaving over 800 positions unfilled.

In response to these vacancies, Tamil Nadu Rajya Sabha MP P Wilson has urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to intervene by reducing the minimum qualifying percentile for the 2026–27 academic year. The MP noted that the high qualifying cut-off, following an answer sheet leak and subsequent re-conduct of the exam, has led to an unprecedented number of unfilled seats, which could impact the national healthcare system.

Concurrently, the MCC has announced the Round 3 schedule for NEET MDS 2026 counselling. The process includes seat matrix verification on October 21, registration and payment from October 22 to 27, and choice filling through October 28. Seat allotment results are expected on October 31.