As the counseling process for MD, MS, and Diploma seats enters its final week, the authorities have outlined strict eligibility criteria and procedural protocols on the official portal, dgme.up.gov.in. This stray round is the absolute last opportunity for medical professionals to secure a seat for the 2025-26 academic session in the state’s government, private, and minority medical colleges.
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UP NEET PG 2025: Stray Vacancy Round Critical Dates
Aspirants must act with extreme urgency, as the reporting and allotment timelines for the stray round are the shortest in the entire counseling calendar.
| Event | Important Date / Deadline |
| Release of Detailed Guidelines | February 26, 2026 (Live Now) |
| Registration and Security Fee Deposit | Feb 27 – March 01, 2026 |
| Merit List for Stray Round | March 02, 2026 |
| On-the-spot Allotment & Reporting | March 04 – March 05, 2026 |
Key Guidelines and Eligibility Criteria
The DGME has implemented specific rules to ensure that seats are not blocked and reach the most deserving candidates:
- Eligibility: Only those candidates who have not been allotted any seat in Round 1, Round 2, or the Mop-up Round of AIQ or State counseling are eligible.
- Security Deposit: Candidates must deposit a fresh security amount (₹30,000 for Government seats and ₹2,00,000 for Private medical seats) if they were not registered in previous rounds or if their previous security was forfeited.
- Mandatory Physical Presence: The stray vacancy round often requires physical presence at the nodal center for document verification and immediate seat acceptance.
- No Resignation: Once a seat is allotted in the stray round, the candidate must join the college. Failure to do so will lead to debarment from the next year's entrance exam.
Document Checklist for UP Medical Admissions
Since this is the final phase, there is zero room for error. Candidates must have original copies of:
- NEET PG 2025 Admit Card & Scorecard.
- MBBS Degree & Final Year Marksheets.
- Internship Completion Certificate (dated on or before the cutoff).
- Permanent/Provisional Registration from MCI/NMC or UP Medical Council.
- Caste/EWS Certificate (if applicable, in the format prescribed by the UP Government).
What After the Final Allotment?
With the conclusion of the stray round on March 5, the 2025 admission cycle in Uttar Pradesh will be formally closed. Any seats remaining vacant after this date will be surrendered back to the respective institutions or closed as per the National Medical Commission (NMC) directives. For those who did not secure a position, the focus now shifts to NEET PG 2026. Early indicators suggest that the next cycle will see a significant increase in the complexity of integrated clinical questions, making it essential to begin "clinical-case" based revision today.
For a specialized list of "Expected Cut-offs for 2026 MD/MS Clinical Branches in Uttar Pradesh," follow Only Education News.