The Medical Counselling Committee (MCC) has officially released the counselling schedule for the Stray Vacancy Round of NEET SS 2025. This round serves as the final opportunity for admission into Super Speciality (DM/MCh & DNB SS) courses across India for the academic year 2025. The official notification is now available on the MCC website — mcc.nic.in.
This article outlines the NEET SS 2025 Stray Round schedule, eligibility criteria, and important instructions to help candidates navigate the final stage of the seat allotment process for Super Speciality programs.
About NEET SS Stray Vacancy Round
The NEET SS (National Eligibility cum Entrance Test – Super Specialty) counselling is conducted by MCC for admission to DM/MCh and DNB SS courses across India. The Stray Vacancy Round is introduced to fill remaining seats left unallotted after all regular counselling rounds.
Objective: The primary aim of this round is to ensure optimal utilization of all available super specialty seats by allowing eligible, previously unallotted candidates a final opportunity.
Authority: As per the decision by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW), in consultation with the National Medical Commission (NMC) and MCC of DGHS, the cutoff percentile was lowered to enable this round.
Also Read: FMGE June 2025 Admit Card Released, Download Hall Ticket for Foreign Medical Graduate Examination
Key Highlights of NEET SS 2025 Stray Round Schedule
- Last Chance for Admissions: Candidates who remained unallotted or did not take a seat in previous rounds can participate.
- Eligibility Relaxed: All NEET SS 2025 aspirants with an eligible broad specialty degree (MD/MS/DNB) are allowed.
- No Further Rounds: Once a seat is allotted in this round, there will be no upgrades or additional rounds.
- Strict Timelines: All participating institutes must treat weekends and holidays as working days to meet deadlines.
NEET SS 2025 Stray Round: Counselling Dates
| Event | Date & Time |
|---|---|
| Verification of Seat Matrix | July 23, 2025 |
| Registration starts | July 24, 2025 |
| Registration ends | July 27, 2025 (up to 6:00 PM) |
| Fee payment window | July 24 – July 27, 2025 (up to 8:00 PM) |
| Choice filling begins | July 24, 2025 |
| Choice filling ends | July 28, 2025 (up to 9:00 AM) |
| Choice locking window | July 27 (9:00 PM) – July 28 (9:00 AM), 2025 |
| Seat allotment processing | July 28 – July 29, 2025 |
| Result declaration | July 30, 2025 |
| Reporting to allotted institutes | July 31 – August 5, 2025 |
Steps to Register for NEET SS Stray Vacancy Round
- Visit the official website: mcc.nic.in
- Click on the Super Speciality tab.
- Select the link for Stray Vacancy Round Registration.
- Fill in the required details and submit the form.
- Pay the registration fee.
- Download and print the confirmation page.
Important: Candidates are advised to lock their choices before the deadline to avoid last-minute issues.
Eligibility and Guidelines
- Only those who appeared for NEET SS 2025 and possess a valid MD/MS/DNB degree are eligible.
- Candidates who already took admission or opted out with a seat are not eligible.
- Once a seat is allotted, candidates must report within the stipulated timeframe; otherwise, the seat will be forfeited.
- No additional rounds or seat upgrades will be permitted after this round.
