The Round 3 counselling process is being conducted for admission to MBBS and BDS programmes under the 15% All India Quota (AIQ) and other categories of seats handled through MCC. The current Round 3 seat matrix includes clear vacancies, virtual vacancies and newly added seats, giving candidates an opportunity to compete for seats that have become available after the earlier counselling rounds.

According to the latest counselling schedule, Round 3 registration and fee payment will remain open until September 27, 2026, while choice filling and locking will continue until September 28, 2026. The Round 3 seat allotment result is scheduled to be announced on September 30, 2026, followed by reporting at the allotted institutes from October 1 to October 9, 2026.

MCC NEET UG Counselling 2026 Round 3: Key Highlights

The schedule is based on the revised MCC UG counselling calendar released for the 2026 admission session.

MCC NEET UG Round 3 Choice Filling 2026 Begins

Candidates who have completed the required Round 3 registration formalities can now enter their college and course preferences through their MCC candidate login.

The choice-filling process allows candidates to create a preference list according to the colleges and courses in which they wish to seek admission. The order in which choices are arranged is important because the allotment process considers the candidate's submitted preferences along with rank, category, seat availability and applicable counselling rules.

Candidates should therefore avoid filling choices randomly or restricting their preference list without first checking the latest Round 3 seat matrix.

The Round 3 choice-filling window will close on September 28, 2026, and candidates must also ensure that their choices are locked within the prescribed time.

MCC NEET UG Round 3 Registration 2026: Important Dates

The Round 3 counselling process began with registration on September 22. Candidates who wish to participate must complete the registration and fee-payment requirements within the prescribed period.

Candidates should not wait until the final hours to complete registration or lock their preferences because the respective windows close at different times.

How to Fill MCC NEET UG Round 3 Choices 2026

Candidates can submit their preferences online through the MCC counselling portal. The general process is as follows:

1.    Visit the official MCC website at mcc.nic.in.

2.    Open the UG Medical Counselling section.

3.    Log in using the required candidate credentials.

4.    Select the Round 3 choice-filling option.

5.    Review the colleges and courses available in the latest seat matrix.

6.    Add the preferred colleges and courses to the choice list.

7.    Arrange the choices in the desired order of preference.

8.    Review the complete list carefully.

9.    Submit and lock the choices within the prescribed deadline.

10.                   Download or retain the confirmation details for future reference.

Candidates should check that all selected colleges and courses are actually available to them under the applicable category and counselling rules before locking the final list.

MCC NEET UG Round 3 Seat Matrix 2026

One of the most important documents for candidates participating in Round 3 is the MCC NEET UG 2026 Round 3 seat matrix.

MCC has released vacancy information covering different categories of seats. The Round 3 matrix includes:

• Clear Vacancy seats

• Virtual Vacancy seats

• Newly Added seats

The clear vacancy list represents seats available for allotment based on the published vacancy position. Virtual vacancies represent seats that may become available depending on the movement of candidates during the counselling process. Newly added seats are seats introduced into the counselling matrix after the earlier rounds.

Candidates should therefore study the latest matrix before preparing their choice list instead of simply reusing the choices submitted during Round 1 or Round 2.

What Are Clear Vacancy, Virtual Vacancy and Newly Added Seats?

Clear Vacancy

Clear vacancy refers to seats that are vacant and available for allotment in the relevant counselling round. Candidates can include eligible seats from this category while preparing their preference list.

Virtual Vacancy

Virtual vacancies are seats that may become available depending on the decisions of candidates who have already received allotments. These seats are therefore not guaranteed to remain vacant throughout the allotment process.

Candidates should understand this distinction before arranging their preferences.

Newly Added Seats

Newly added seats are seats that have been incorporated into the Round 3 counselling matrix after the earlier rounds. These may provide additional opportunities to candidates participating in the current round.

Who Can Participate in MCC NEET UG Round 3 Counselling 2026?

NEET UG 2026 qualified candidates who satisfy the applicable MCC eligibility requirements can participate in the Round 3 counselling process.

The round is relevant to candidates seeking seats under the counselling categories handled by MCC, including the 15% All India Quota, as well as seats in institutions and categories covered by MCC's UG counselling framework.

Candidates who are participating for the first time should complete registration and fee payment within the prescribed deadline. Candidates who participated in previous rounds should also carefully check the rules applicable to their existing allotment status before participating in Round 3.

The MCC counselling framework covers seats such as AIQ seats and seats in institutions including deemed universities, central universities, ESIC institutions and other participating institutions, according to the applicable counselling scheme.

MCC NEET UG Round 3 Seat Allotment Result 2026

After the completion of choice filling and locking, MCC will process the submitted preferences and conduct the Round 3 seat allotment.

The MCC NEET UG Round 3 allotment result is scheduled to be released on September 30, 2026.

Candidates should log in to the MCC portal after the result is published and check whether they have received a seat. The allotment result will contain details regarding the institution and course allotted to the candidate.

Candidates who receive an allotment should carefully follow the instructions issued by MCC regarding reporting, document verification, admission and joining.

MCC NEET UG Round 3 Reporting Dates 2026

Candidates allotted seats in Round 3 will have to report to their respective institutions between October 1 and October 9, 2026.

Candidates should carry the required original documents and other admission-related materials while reporting to the allotted college.

They should also verify the fee requirements, joining instructions and document requirements of the allotted institution before travelling for admission.

Documents Required for MCC NEET UG Counselling

Candidates should keep the following documents ready for counselling and admission:

• NEET UG 2026 admit card

• NEET UG 2026 scorecard/rank card

• Class 10 certificate

• Class 12 marksheet and certificate

• Valid government-issued identity proof

• Passport-size photographs

• Category certificate, wherever applicable

• PwD certificate, wherever applicable

• MCC allotment letter, if a seat is allotted

• Other documents prescribed by MCC or the allotted institution

Candidates should ensure that category and other special-status certificates comply with the applicable requirements and are valid for the admission process.

Important Points While Filling MCC NEET UG Round 3 Choices

Choice filling is one of the most important stages of the counselling process. Candidates should consider the following points before locking their preferences:

Check the latest seat matrix: The Round 3 matrix contains updated vacancy information, including newly added seats. Candidates should review it before filling choices.

Arrange choices carefully: Colleges and courses should be arranged in the order in which the candidate genuinely prefers them.

Do not rely only on previous-round vacancies: Seat availability can change substantially between counselling rounds.

Add eligible choices: Candidates should select only those courses and institutions for which they satisfy the applicable eligibility conditions.

Review before locking: Once choices are locked, changes may not be possible after the prescribed deadline.

Remember the locking deadline: The choice-locking facility is scheduled from 7 PM on September 27 to 12 noon on September 28, 2026.

Why the Round 3 Seat Matrix Is Important

The Round 3 seat matrix can significantly influence the preference strategy of candidates because it reflects the vacancies available after the first two counselling rounds and includes additional seats introduced for the current round.

The availability of newly added seats means candidates should not assume that the Round 3 options are identical to those available in earlier rounds. Reviewing the updated matrix can help candidates identify institutions and courses that were not available or were not vacant during previous stages.

MCC NEET UG Counselling 2026: What Candidates Should Do Now

Candidates participating in Round 3 should complete the following tasks within the prescribed deadlines:

• Complete Round 3 registration, if required.

• Pay the applicable counselling fee and security deposit.

• Review the latest Round 3 seat matrix.

• Check clear, virtual and newly added vacancies.

• Prepare a comprehensive list of preferred colleges.

• Arrange choices in the desired order.

• Submit choices before September 28.

• Lock choices between September 27 and September 28 within the specified time.

• Check the allotment result on September 30.

• Report to the allotted institution between October 1 and October 9, if allotted a seat.

Candidates should regularly monitor the MCC portal for any revised notification or change in schedule.

MCC NEET UG Round 3 Counselling 2026: Important Caution

Candidates should remember that filling choices does not guarantee seat allotment. Allocation depends on several factors, including NEET UG rank, category, eligibility, available seats and the preferences submitted by the candidate.

Similarly, a virtual vacancy should not be treated as a confirmed vacant seat. Candidates should understand the nature of each vacancy category before finalising their choices.

Candidates should also carefully read the applicable rules governing participation in Round 3, particularly if they already hold a seat from an earlier round.

Conclusion

The MCC NEET UG Counselling 2026 Round 3 choice-filling process has started, providing another opportunity for eligible NEET UG candidates to seek admission to MBBS and BDS programmes through MCC's counselling system. Registration and fee payment are scheduled to continue until September 27, 2026, while choice filling will remain open until September 28.

The updated Round 3 seat matrix contains clear vacancies, virtual vacancies and newly added seats, making it important for candidates to review the latest availability before preparing their preference list. The choice-locking window will run from 7 PM on September 27 to 12 noon on September 28.

The Round 3 seat allotment result is scheduled for September 30, 2026, and candidates receiving seats will be required to report to their allotted institutions from October 1 to October 9, 2026. Candidates should complete every stage within the prescribed deadline and regularly check the official MCC portal for the latest instructions and updates.