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Maharashtra Counselling Vacant Seats List 2025: Where to Check & When

DB
Debanjali Biswas • 6 Mins read • 4 Jun 25
Maharashtra Counselling Vacant Seats ListMaharashtra Counselling Vacant Seats List

For those participating in the Maharashtra NEET 2025  counselling, keeping an eye on the vacant seats list or the seat matrix is a very important step in the process of admission into MBBS or BDS. It helps you make well-informed decisions regarding the available seats in various government and private colleges. Knowing where to check, what it contains, and when it is released will always increase the chances of getting a seat in whichever round the student wishes to appear for. 


Where to Check The Vacant Seats List?

The vacant seats list, also known as the seat matrix, is a key part of the Maharashtra NEET UG 2025 counselling. It helps students check which seats are available, in which colleges, for which courses (MBBS/BDS), and under which categories. It is officially released by the State Common Entrance Test Cell (CET Cell), Maharashtra. 

Official Website to Check: The vacancy data for all rounds of counselling, i.e., Round 1, Round 2, Mop-Up, and Stray Vacancy, will be made available at cetcell.mahacet.org (Click on "NEET-UG" and then go to "Seat Matrix / Vacancy Position").


What Does the Seat Matrix Include?

The seat matrix is a detailed PDF document that is released before every counselling round, keeping in view the candidates to make their choices better. It gives a picture of the seats in colleges, courses, categories, and quotas in the state of Maharashtra. Below pointers show what the seat matrix includes:

  • College-wise seat distribution: See which medical/dental colleges have vacant seats.
  • Course-wise availability: Whether MBBS or BDS seats are offered.
  • Category-wise break-up: Open, SC, ST, OBC, VJ, NT1/2/3, EWS, etc.
  • Quota-wise allocation: Institutional, government, NRI, and management quota.
  • College codes & location: Helps in the accurate filling of choices.
  • Tuition fee details: Depending on whether the government or a private/deemed college.
  • Type of seats: AIQ, State Quota, Institutional Quota.


Importance of the Seat Matrix in Counselling

The seat matrix is essential to plan the counselling. By giving a view of course-wise, category-wise, and college-wise distribution of seats, the seat matrix helps in making decisions in each round of Maharashtra NEET UG 2025 counselling.

  • Informed Choice Filling: You can give preferences as per the availability at present.
  • Trend Analysis: Comparing the seat matrix of different rounds helps the student in identifying trends, for example, colleges that end up having vacant seats after Round 2 or the Mop-Up round.
  • College Research: Compare academic reputation, seat strength, and tuition fees when shortlisting the colleges.


When Does the Vacant Seats List Get Released?

Once you know the dates for release of the Seat Matrix, you can better prepare for choice filling in each counselling session. The table below highlights the tentative dates and details of each stage:

Stage

Tentative Date

Details

NEET UG 2025 Result

Mid June 2025

Check the official result at neet.nta.nic.in

State Merit List

Early July 2025

Prepared and released by Maharashtra CET Cell

Round 1 Seat Matrix Release

July 2025

Published before the start of Round 1 choice filling

Round 1 Choice Filling

Late July 2025

Candidates submit and lock preferences based on the seat matrix

Round 1 Seat Allotment

August 2025

Seat allotments released based on merit and choices

Mop-Up & Stray Vacancy Rounds

September – October 2025

Final rounds to fill leftover seats


How Timely Updates on Vacant Seats Can Help You Secure an MBBS Seat in Maharashtra

The Vacant Seats List is an important part of Maharashtra NEET UG 2025 counselling. It shows which MBBS and BDS seats are still available in different colleges and categories. Checking this list on time helps you make smart choices and increases your chances of getting into a better college.

  • It allows you to plan your choice filling strategy properly.
  • You may identify if fresh openings are created due to withdrawals or candidates not reporting.
  • To increase your chances of grabbing a better college or a more preferred course in the following rounds.


Understanding Counselling Rounds

The counselling for Maharashtra NEET UG is carried out in multiple phases, each providing separate opportunities to join medical or dental courses. The distribution of the opportunities offered in each round can be summed up as follows:

  1. Round 1
  • Seats are allotted mostly to the rankers strictly based on merit and preferences.
  • If anyone was hoping for the government colleges, most of the seats are filled during the first round. 
  • A few vacancies open up post Round 1 for another round.
  1. Round 2
  • Known as the reshuffling round, candidates who didn’t receive a seat or wish to upgrade can participate. 
  • Middle-level rankers have a pretty good shot here because of the vacancies that arise out of the Round I allotments and withdrawals.
  1. Mop-Up Round
  • This fills vacant seats after Round 2.
  • No updation of seats in Mop-Up round. One either accepts the seat allotted or loses the chance.
  1. Stray Vacancy Round
  • The last chance to get admission through direct institutional allotment.
  • Mostly conducted offline at individual colleges to fill remaining seats.


State Quota vs. All India Quota (AIQ)

It is very important to understand the difference between the State Quota and the All India Quota (AIQ) at the time of counselling for NEET UG 2025 in Maharashtra. These two categories define eligibility criteria of who can apply and for which seats; also, they determine the number of seats available in each category and the website where updates can be checked. Here is a quick comparison to help you through the process of seat allotment.

Quota Type

Percentage of Seats

Handled By

Where to Check Vacant Seats

State Quota

85%

CET Cell Maharashtra

cetcell.mahacet.org

AIQ (All India Quota)

15%

Medical Counselling Committee (MCC)

mcc.nic.in

  • State quota seats (85%) are for domicile candidates of Maharashtra, and through the CET Cell of Maharashtra, these seats are allotted.
  • The AIQ seats (15%), constituting a minor area, are open to candidates from all over India and managed centrally by the Medical Counselling Committee (MCC).
  • Each quota possesses its own counselling schedule and updates on vacant seats.


Government vs. Private Colleges: Vacancy Trends

While participating in the counselling for Maharashtra NEET UG 2025, one should be aware of how seat vacancies change across government, private, and deemed universities. The trends of vacant seats differ for each round, and financial planning plays an important part in making the correct choice. Here's quickly what goes into balancing admission options against budget. 

College Type

Round 1

Round 2

Mop-Up Round

Government Colleges

Seats filled quickly

Minor seat upgrades

Very few seats left

Private Colleges

Some seats remain vacant

Good chances to get seats

Many seats remain available

Deemed Universities

Separate counselling process

Vacant seats till later rounds

Usually costlier options


Documents Checklist For Counselling 

Make sure you have the following documents ready and verified before counselling:

  1. NEET UG 2025 Scorecard
  2. Maharashtra Domicile Certificate
  3. 10th & 12th Mark Sheets
  4. Caste/Category Certificate (if applicable)
  5. Non-Creamy Layer Certificate (for OBC candidates)
  6. Valid Photo Identity Card (Aadhaar, PAN, Passport, etc.)
  7. Nationality Certificate


Final Checklist For Maharashtra NEET Aspirants 

Before each counselling round, the following critical steps are recommended to be done:

  • Downloaded and saved your NEET UG Result
  • Registered successfully on the CET Cell counselling portal
  • Verified your State Merit List rank
  • Analyzed the latest Seat Matrix before filling preferences
  • Prioritized your college and course preferences based on rank and seat availability
  • Verified and organized all documents needed for verification


Conclusion

Keeping track of the Maharashtra MBBS Vacant Seats Counselling 2025 through the official CET Cell portal is crucial for securing a seat. With over 11,000 MBBS seats available in government and private colleges across the state, many go unfilled due to delays or lack of awareness. Accessing the seat matrix and vacancy list enables candidates to make informed choices regarding college type, category-wise reservation, and overall course fees.