NEET MDS 2026 Round 3 Choice Filling Ongoing @mcc.nic.in: Preference Locking Rules; Seat Upgradation Risk Analysis

NEET MDS 2026 Round 3 Choice Filling: The Medical Counselling Committee (MCC) has started the online choice-filling process for NEET MDS 2026 Round 3 Counselling on the official website of the candidate at mcc.nic.in. In addition, eligible Master of Dental Surgery (MDS) candidates can also choose, prioritize, and lock their choices for specialties and colleges under All India Quota (AIQ), Central Universities, and Deemed Institutions until October 8, 2026. Candidates are required to be very accurate while submitting choice, choices need to be explicitly saved to avoid losing preferences, and they need to be ranked in order of actual priority. As the Round 3 seats are associated with the joining rule and previously held seats, if upgraded, they will be automatically forfeited, avoid adding colleges that you are not willing to join.

NEET MDS 2026 Round 3: Official Counselling Schedule

Choice Locking Rules & Guidelines

• Candidates can lock their choices manually from 4 PM on October 7 to 11.55 PM on October 8, 2026.
• In case a candidate has saved choices on the portal but has not locked these choices by clicking "Lock Choices" before the deadline, the system will automatically lock the last saved choices at 11:55 PM on October 8.
• Selections made but not saved by clicking the Save & Continue button before the session expires or before the deadline of closure has been issued shall not be considered for allotment.
• After the preferences are locked (manually or automatically), they cannot be changed or unlocked under any circumstances.

Round 3 Candidate Seat Upgradation Risk Analysis

Taking part in Round 3 as an upgraded candidate is governed by certain regulatory and financial risks according to MCC counselling rules:

Automatic Loss of Current Seat: In case a candidate having a seat through Round 1 or Round 2 gets an upgraded seat allocation in Round 3 through a modified choice list, he/she automatically loses his/her previous seat, which gets immediately allocated to some other candidate in Round 3.

Joining Mandatory Requirement: Candidates who get a new or upgraded seat in Round 3 are required to join in the newly allocated institute. Non-joining of a Round 3 seat leads to a loss of security deposit and makes candidates ineligible for future counselling rounds both at State/central level.

Ineligible for Online Stray Vacancy Round: Candidates getting a Round 3 seat allocation, whether joining or not joining, become ineligible to participate in the subsequent Online Stray Vacancy Round.

Option Prioritization: Candidates having seats must select those options that are definitely superior to their existing allocation. Unwanted and inferior options selected in Round 3 will force them to leave their better seats.

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