Eligibility for Vacant Seats in Maharashtra Medical Counselling 2026

For being eligible for vacant seats during mop-up or stray vacancy rounds in Maharashtra medical counselling, applicants have to be qualified in a valid entrance exam like NEET UG and have registered through State CET Cell, Maharashtra.

The Mop-Up and Stray Vacancy rounds are the last opportunities in Maharashtra to secure an MBBS/BDS seat for NEET UG 2026 admissions. Below, you’ll find detailed information about NEET score cutoffs, domicile requirements, and the counselling eligibility of candidates who may or may not be allowed to apply.

Check:

• Maharashtra Counselling Vacant Seats List 2026
• Maharashtra Counselling 2026: How to Apply for Vacant Seats
• Maharashtra MBBS Vacant Seats 2026: Stray Vacancy Round Explained

Who is Eligible for Vacant Seats for Maharashtra NEET UG 2026?

Candidates who want to apply for vacant MBBS/BDS seats in Mop-Up or Stray Vacancy rounds will have to meet the eligibility criteria, like NEET qualification, age, education, domicile, and counselling status. The details are as follows.

NEET UG 2026 Qualification (Qualified)

The candidate should be qualified for NEET UG 2026 for any kind of counselling round, including Mop-Up and Stray Vacancy. 

Age Criteria

• Minimum Age: Candidate should complete 17 years on or before 31st December 2026.
• Upper Age Limit: No upper age limit is applicable (according to the Supreme Court ruling and as per NMC guidelines).

Educational Qualification (Class 12/ HSC)

The aspirant should have passed Class 12 or equivalent with at least:

(i) Compulsory Subjects for the Class 12 certificate being granted by the Board

• Physics
• Chemistry
• Biology/Biotechnology
• English

Minimum Aggregate Marks in PCB:

Domicile and Stay Requirements

• For 85% State Quota Seats:
• A candidate should have a domicile certificate of Maharashtra.
• Both Class 10 and Class 12 should have been done from a recognized school/board having its jurisdiction in Maharashtra.
• For 15% Institutional/Management/NRI Quota:
• A domicile certificate is NOT necessary.
• Open to outsiders and Foreign Nationals/NRI/OCI/PIO candidates.

Seat Allotment & Registration Status

For Mop-Up & Stray Vacancy rounds, you should:

• Be registered on the Maharashtra CET Cell portal.
• Should NOT be holding any seat that one has joined to any college/Institute which was allotted in Round I or Round II.
• Presence in the Mop-Up counselling process.
• Pay the security deposit as per the rule (only for private colleges, if applicable)

What are vacant seat rounds in Maharashtra NEET UG counselling?

Vacant seat rounds are the final phase of medical counselling conducted by the Maharashtra CET Cell to fill any seats that remain unallocated after the first two rounds. These include the Mop-Up Round and the Stray Vacancy Round, giving candidates one last opportunity to secure admission into MBBS or BDS programs in government or private colleges.

Mop-Up Round

The Mop-Up Round is conducted after Round 2 to allot seats that stand vacant due to:

• Non-joining or resignation of allotted candidates.
• Not joining the allotted college.
• Conversions of seats due to a change in the category of the candidate

Stray Vacancy Round

The stray vacancy round acts as the final attempt to fill seats that may still be remaining after the Mop-Up Round. The important aspects are:

• No fresh registrations are allowed; only those who have already registered but have not been allotted shall be considered.
• Strict allotment on the NEET rank basis.
• Conducted by colleges under the supervision of the CET Cell.
• Mainly applicable for private medical/dental colleges.
• Spot admissions may be conducted, and thus, the students are advised to be alert and ready with their documents.

Documents Required for Mop-Up and Stray Vacancy Rounds

For a smooth verification process during these rounds, candidates must prepare the following originals and photocopies:

• 10th standard mark sheet
• 12th standard pass certificate
• Aadhaar card
• NEET Admit Card 2026
• NEET application form 2026 copy or the confirmation page
• NEET 2026 result or scorecard
• Nationality certificate issued by the District Magistrate or relevant Indian passport or school leaving certificate of Class 10 or Class 12
• Caste validity certificate (if applicable)
• Domicile certificate
• Caste certificate (if applicable)
• Domicile of Maharashtra certificate of Defence person (if applicable)

Eligibility for Vacant Seats in Maharashtra Medical Counselling: Final Tips for Applicants

Getting a seat in Mop-Up and Stray Vacancy rounds requires some tricks and tactics, but more importantly, timing. These tips may give you an added advantage for admission.

Eligibility Thoroughly:

Make sure you satisfy NEET percentile-wise requirements, domicile qualifications, and documents as per the particular round you're applying for.

Prepare Documents in Advance:

Keep all the original documents handy alongside several photocopies and scanned soft copies, just in case you have to upload them within a short timeline. 

Keep One Eye on Daily Announcements:

The authorities will sometimes give important notices almost at the deadline (Spot rounds, Seat Matrix, Merit List, etc.). 

Conclusion

These final rounds are especially important for NEET UG 2026 candidates who may have missed earlier counselling phases or are still waiting for a seat. To make the most of it, stay alert, track CET Cell updates closely, keep all your documents ready, meet the eligibility criteria, and apply on time using your NEET rank. Every step matters, and a missed deadline can cost you a valuable seat.

Eligibility for Vacant Seats in Maharashtra Medical Counselling: FAQs

Ques: What is the lowest NEET UG cutoff for MBBS in Maharashtra?

Ans: The lowest NEET UG cutoff for an MBBS seat in Maharashtra can decrease to around 114 to 115 marks during the time of the stray vacancy round or institutional rounds for particular reserved categories.

Ques: What is free exit in MBBS counselling?

Ans: Free exit in MBBS counselling is that candidates can decline or not join their allotted college in Round 1 without losing their security deposit or experiencing any penalties.

Ques: Do we need to register again for Stray Vacancy Round?

Ans: Whether the candidates require registering again for a stray vacancy round is based on whether they are taking part in All India Quota (MCC) or a State Quota Counselling.

Ques: Can we change the category during Maharashtra NEET Counselling 2026?

Ans: Candidates cannot change their category from General or Unreserved towards a Reserved category during counselling; however, they can switch from a Reserved category towards the General category.

Ques: How many stray vacancy rounds are available in NEET?

Ans: There is normally one main stray vacancy round in standard NEET counselling process, and sometimes it is followed by a special stray vacancy round if significant seats are vacant.