The Medical Counselling Committee (MCC) has officially commenced the reconciliation of vacant seats following the conclusion of the physical reporting phase for Round-3 of the NEET PG 2025 counselling. As the reporting window closed on February 13, 2026, the focus has shifted toward auditing the administrative data provided by participating medical colleges nationwide. This reconciliation phase is a mandatory prerequisite for the final Stray Vacancy Round, ensuring that every unfilled postgraduate seat is accounted for in the upcoming seat matrix.
Post-Reporting Data Verification and Seat Audit
Following the official MCC notification, the period between February 14 and February 15 was dedicated to the "weeding out" process. During this time, the MCC cross-referenced the lists of candidates who successfully joined their allotted institutes with the data from state counselling authorities. This exhaustive reconciliation is designed to eliminate "seat blocking," a situation where a single candidate might hold multiple seats across the All India Quota (AIQ) and State Quota systems. By today, February 16, the committee is expected to release the finalized list of clear vacancies available for the final stage of admission.
- Round-3 Reporting Deadline: February 13, 2026 (5:00 PM)
- Data Sharing with States: February 14, 2026
- Stray Round Registration Start: February 16, 2026
- Vacancy Matrix Publication: Expected February 16, 2026
- Seat Allotment Result (Stray): February 21, 2026
| Allotment Category | Round-3 Statistics | Current Process Status |
| Fresh Allotments | 10,084 | Reporting Concluded |
| Upgradations | 8,589 | Joining Formalities Verified |
| Unallotted/Vacant Seats | 4,578 (Approx.) | Under Reconciliation |
| Total Participating Institutes | 6,102 | Data Upload Complete |
Transition to the Online Stray Vacancy Round
The conclusion of the Round-3 reconciliation signals the immediate start of the Online Stray Vacancy Round. This final phase, which begins its registration process today, is strictly for candidates who do not hold any seat in previous rounds. The National Medical Commission (NMC) has emphasized that this round will have no "free exit" policy. Candidates who are allotted a seat during this stage must complete their admission at the respective institute; failure to do so will result in a significant penalty, including the forfeiture of the security deposit and potential debarment from future entrance cycles.
- Eligibility Check: Only candidates with no joined seats in AIQ or State rounds are eligible.
- Fresh Registration: Available from Feb 16 to Feb 18 (12:00 PM).
- Choice Filling: Must be completed by Feb 19 (11:55 PM).
- Mandatory Joining: Any seat allotted in the stray round must be accepted to prevent seat wastage.
Conclusion
As the 2025-26 academic session for postgraduate medical courses nears its full capacity, the reconciliation efforts by the MCC serve as the final filter for transparency. The upcoming Stray Vacancy Round represents the last opportunity for thousands of doctors to secure their desired specializations. With the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) overseeing the final seat processing, the admission cycle is expected to conclude formally by the end of February. The precise reconciliation of data ensures that the maximum number of specialists can begin their residency on schedule, reinforcing the healthcare workforce across the country.
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