The schedule has been issued through Notice No. 18. The CET Cell has stated that the Round 3 process is being conducted in view of the counselling schedule issued by the Medical Counselling Committee (MCC) and the availability of seats after the second round.

Candidates who are eligible to participate in the third round should carefully follow the revised timeline because the registration, fee payment, document upload, verification, merit list, preference filling and admission stages have separate deadlines.

Maharashtra NEET UG 2026 CAP Round 3: Key Highlights

The CET Cell has also clarified that the schedule for subsequent Stray Vacancy Rounds will be announced separately. The Round 3 schedule may also be modified if required in accordance with directions issued by MCC, AACCC, the Central Government, Maharashtra Government or the courts.

Maharashtra NEET UG CAP Round 3 Registration 2026 Begins

Candidates eligible for the third round can submit their online applications from September 22 to September 26, 2026. The registration deadline is 6:00 PM on September 26.

Candidates must also complete the separate payment and document-upload stages within their respective deadlines. The registration fee can be paid until 8:00 PM, while uploading of original documents will remain available until 11:00 PM on September 26.

Candidates should not treat registration alone as completion of the Round 3 process. They must ensure that the application is properly submitted, the applicable fee is paid and all required original documents are uploaded within the prescribed time.

Maharashtra NEET UG 2026 CAP Round 3 Complete Schedule

The complete schedule announced by the Maharashtra CET Cell is as follows:

The dates above are subject to modification if required by the competent authorities.

Why Is Maharashtra Conducting CAP Round 3?

The Maharashtra CET Cell has stated that CAP Round 2 for MBBS and BDS under Group A has been completed. Seats that remain vacant after the second round are now being considered for filling through CAP Round 3.

The third round is being conducted after taking into account the schedule issued by MCC, New Delhi, for All India Quota and related counselling activities.

Candidates therefore need to check the Round 3 seat matrix carefully once it is published on October 6, 2026, as the availability of seats may differ from the previous rounds.

Who Can Register for Maharashtra NEET UG CAP Round 3?

The CET Cell has prescribed specific conditions for candidates wishing to participate in Round 3.

Candidates who already hold a seat or were not allotted a seat in CAP Round 1 or CAP Round 2 cannot simply register again.

However, candidates who cancelled their allotted seat or did not join the seat allotted to them in CAP Round 2 must unlock their application, resubmit it and pay the prescribed fee through their candidate login to participate in Round 3.

Candidates should therefore check their previous counselling status before attempting to register.

Fresh Preferences Required for CAP Round 3

One of the important instructions issued for the third round concerns choice filling.

The CET Cell has clarified that all preferences submitted during CAP Round 2 will become null and void for the purpose of Round 3.

Eligible candidates must therefore submit fresh college and course preferences during the Round 3 choice-filling window scheduled from October 7 to October 9, 2026, up to 11:59 PM.

Candidates should carefully arrange their preferences according to the colleges and courses they wish to consider in Round 3.

Maharashtra NEET UG Round 3 Seat Matrix on October 6

The CAP Round 3 seat matrix will be published on October 6, 2026.

The seat matrix will provide candidates with information about seats available for the third round across participating MBBS and BDS institutions.

Candidates should review the matrix before submitting their preferences because the list of available seats may change following admissions, cancellations, non-joining and upgradation in earlier rounds.

Maharashtra NEET UG 2026 Round 3 Merit List

The CET Cell will first publish the Combined Registered Candidate List and Combined Provisional Merit List on September 29, 2026.

Candidates who notice any discrepancy in the provisional merit list will have an opportunity to submit a grievance from September 30 to October 1, 2026, up to 11:59 PM.

The Combined Final Merit List is scheduled to be published on October 5, 2026.

Candidates should carefully check the provisional merit list rather than waiting for the final list to identify errors.

CAP Round 3 Selection List on October 11

After the final merit list and preference-filling process, the Maharashtra CET Cell will declare the CAP Round 3 Selection List on October 11, 2026.

Candidates will be able to check their allotment status and determine whether they have received an MBBS or BDS seat based on their merit, preferences, eligibility and available seats.

Candidates allotted a seat in Round 3 will then have to complete the prescribed admission formalities within the specified period.

Physical Joining Mandatory for Round 3 Allottees

Physical joining at the allotted institution will take place from October 11 to October 14, 2026, up to 5:30 PM.

Candidates must submit the required original documents and applicable fees and complete the admission formalities at the allotted college.

The CET Cell has specifically stated that joining an allotted CAP Round 3 seat is mandatory. Candidates allotted a seat in this round will not be considered for subsequent counselling rounds, irrespective of whether they join the allotted seat.

This makes it especially important for candidates to understand the consequences of accepting a Round 3 allotment before proceeding with the admission formalities.

Important Instructions for PWD Candidates

Candidates seeking admission under the Persons with Disability (PWD) quota must satisfy the prescribed requirements.

The CET Cell has stated that PWD candidates must have claimed the PWD quota at the time of NEET UG 2026.

They must also submit a valid PWD eligibility certificate issued by an MCC-authorised medical board.

Candidates should ensure that the required certificate is available and valid before completing the counselling process.

EWS Certificate Requirements

Candidates applying under the Economically Weaker Section (EWS) category must ensure that their certificate meets the Maharashtra-specific requirements.

The EWS certificate must be:

• Valid for the 2026-27 academic year

• Issued in the prescribed Maharashtra State Government format

• Submitted in accordance with the counselling requirements

The CET Cell has clarified that Central Government format EWS certificates will not be accepted for this process.

Candidates should therefore verify their certificate format before submitting their application.

Caste Validity Certificate Rules

The CET Cell has also provided updates concerning the submission of Caste Validity Certificates.

For OBC/SEBC candidates, the deadline for submission has been extended up to six months from the CAP registration date, in accordance with the Government Resolution dated July 2, 2026.

For candidates belonging to SC, VJ, DT, NT-B, NT-C, NT-D, OBC and SBC categories, the Caste Validity Certificate deadline has been extended up to three months from the date of the September 4, 2026 circular, subject to the applicable conditions.

Candidates should retain proof of their category documents and comply with all applicable verification requirements.

NRI Candidates: Important Registration Requirement

NRI candidates participating in Maharashtra NEET UG CAP Round 3 must complete registration on the Foreign Candidate Registration Portal by September 25, 2026.

The CET Cell has stated that NRI candidates are eligible only for 15% Institute Quota seats under the applicable counselling framework.

NRI applicants should therefore complete the separate registration requirement before the prescribed deadline.

What Candidates Should Do Before Registering

Before starting the Round 3 application, candidates should keep the following points in mind:

• Check whether they are eligible for CAP Round 3.

• Review their status in CAP Round 1 and Round 2.

• Unlock and resubmit the application if required after cancellation/non-joining in Round 2.

• Pay the registration fee within the prescribed deadline.

• Upload all required original documents.

• Complete online document verification.

• Check the provisional merit list carefully.

• Submit grievances within the prescribed window, if necessary.

• Review the Round 3 seat matrix before preference filling.

• Submit fresh preferences for Round 3.

• Carefully review the final allotment before proceeding with admission.

• Report physically to the allotted college within the specified period if a seat is accepted.

Maharashtra NEET UG CAP Round 3: Step-by-Step Process

Step 1: Online Registration

Complete the Round 3 registration between September 22 and September 26.

Step 2: Fee Payment

Pay the prescribed registration fee by 8:00 PM on September 26.

Step 3: Upload Documents

Upload the required original documents by 11:00 PM on September 26.

Step 4: Document Verification

Newly registered candidates will undergo online document verification between September 22 and September 28.

Step 5: Check Merit List

Review the provisional merit list on September 29 and submit any grievance within the specified period.

Step 6: Check Final Merit List

The final merit list will be published on October 5.

Step 7: Check Seat Matrix

The available seats for Round 3 will be displayed on October 6.

Step 8: Fill Fresh Preferences

Submit and confirm fresh choices between October 7 and October 9.

Step 9: Check Selection List

The CAP Round 3 Selection List will be declared on October 11.

Step 10: Complete Physical Joining

Candidates allotted seats must complete physical joining and submit the required documents and fees by October 14, 2026, up to 5:30 PM.

Maharashtra NEET UG Counselling 2026: What Happens After Round 3?

The CET Cell has stated that the schedule for subsequent Stray Vacancy Rounds will be announced separately.

Therefore, candidates who do not receive a seat in Round 3 should monitor the official Maharashtra CET Cell website for further notifications and eligibility conditions.

At the same time, candidates allotted seats in Round 3 should carefully follow the joining requirements because the CET Cell has specified that a Round 3 allotment carries mandatory joining requirements and affects eligibility for subsequent rounds.

Important Dates at a Glance

Maharashtra NEET UG 2026 CAP Round 3: Key Takeaway

The Maharashtra NEET UG 2026 CAP Round 3 registration process has begun on September 22, 2026, for candidates seeking admission to MBBS and BDS courses under Group A.

Eligible candidates can register until September 26, 2026, up to 6:00 PM. The fee payment deadline is 8:00 PM, while document uploading will remain open until 11:00 PM on the same day. The provisional merit list will be released on September 29, followed by the final merit list on October 5.

The Round 3 seat matrix will be published on October 6, and candidates will be required to submit fresh preferences from October 7 to October 9. The CAP Round 3 Selection List will be announced on October 11, followed by physical joining at the allotted institution until October 14, 2026.

Candidates should carefully review their eligibility, previous-round status, category certificates and other documents before participating. They should also remember that Round 2 preferences will not carry forward, making fresh preference submission necessary for Round 3.

The Maharashtra CET Cell has advised candidates to regularly monitor its official website for any changes to the schedule or further instructions.