What is free exit in NEET counselling?

Free exit allows a candidate to leave counselling in certain early rounds without penalty and, where applicable, with a refund of the security deposit. In later rounds, exiting may lead to forfeiture of the deposit.

Can I resign an allotted NEET seat?

Seat resignation is allowed only within the specific window and rules of that round. Resigning outside the allowed period, or in later rounds, can forfeit your deposit and may bar you from further rounds.

NEET UG 2026 · Counselling Guide

NEET UG 2026 Counselling Rounds & Post-Admission

Q: How many rounds are there in NEET UG counselling?

MCC All India Quota counselling usually has four stages — Round 1, Round 2, Round 3 (or Mop-Up) and a Stray Vacancy round. State counsellings run a similar multi-round structure with their own schedules.

Q: Who can participate in the Mop-Up round?

The Mop-Up round is generally open to candidates who are not yet admitted, including those never allotted and those who did not join, plus fresh eligible candidates, as specified in the round's notice. Rules vary between MCC and states.

Q: What is the Stray Vacancy round?

The Stray Vacancy round fills the last remaining seats after earlier rounds. Eligibility is usually restricted (often to already-registered, non-allotted candidates), and joining is typically mandatory once allotted.

Q: When is the security deposit refunded?

The refundable security deposit is returned as per the counselling rules — usually after the counselling concludes — provided you did not violate reporting or exit conditions that trigger forfeiture.

By the Envision Career Counselling Team · Last updated: 31 July 2026

In short: NEET UG counselling runs in multiple rounds — typically Round 1, Round 2, Round 3/Mop-Up and Stray Vacancy. Each round has its own registration, choice filling, allotment and reporting. Later rounds have stricter join rules and deposit forfeiture, so plan your exit/upgrade decisions early.

The NEET UG counselling rounds

Typical round structure (MCC AIQ; states are similar)
Round	Purpose
Round 1	First allotment from all registered candidates' locked choices.
Round 2	Fills vacancies + upgrades from Round 1 (float/upgrade candidates).
Round 3 / Mop-Up	Fills seats still vacant; wider eligibility, fresh choice filling.
Stray Vacancy	Final round for the last remaining seats; restricted eligibility, joining usually mandatory.

Each round repeats the cycle: registration → choice filling & locking → seat allotment → reporting.

Who can participate in each round

Round 1 & 2: registered candidates; Round 2 also processes upgrades from Round 1.
Mop-Up: generally non-admitted candidates and fresh eligible ones, per the notice.
Stray Vacancy: usually only already-registered, non-allotted candidates; check the exact rule each cycle.

Eligibility for Mop-Up and Stray Vacancy changes between cycles and differs for MCC vs states. Always read the current round notice before acting.

Free exit, resignation & forfeiture

Free exit: in certain early rounds you can leave without penalty (and often with deposit refund).
Exit with forfeiture: leaving in later rounds can forfeit your security deposit.
Seat resignation: allowed only within the round's specified window; resigning late can forfeit the deposit and bar you from further rounds.

Understand these rules before you accept or upgrade a seat — they decide whether your deposit comes back.

Post-admission: reporting, joining & fees

Report & verify documentsReport to the allotted college within the deadline with all originals — see the documents guide.
Pay college feesPay the tuition/admission fee as per the college and category to confirm your seat.
Complete joining formalitiesFinish admission, hostel and any bond formalities the college requires.
Know your bond obligationsSome states/colleges require a service bond after MBBS — read it before signing.

One counsellor, every round — till you're admitted

Envision Career tracks each round's deadlines and your upgrade/exit decisions so you never lose a seat or a deposit.

Talk to a counsellor

Counselling rounds — frequently asked questions

How many rounds are there in NEET UG counselling?

Usually four — Round 1, Round 2, Round 3/Mop-Up and Stray Vacancy — for MCC AIQ; states run a similar structure.

Who can participate in the Mop-Up round?

Generally non-admitted candidates and fresh eligible ones, as specified in the round's notice; rules vary by authority.

What is the Stray Vacancy round?

The final round for the last remaining seats, with restricted eligibility and usually mandatory joining once allotted.

What is free exit?

Leaving counselling in certain early rounds without penalty (often with deposit refund); later exits may forfeit the deposit.

Can I resign an allotted seat?

Only within the round's window and rules; late resignation can forfeit the deposit and bar further rounds.

When is the security deposit refunded?

Per the counselling rules, usually after counselling concludes, provided no forfeiture condition was triggered.