The time has finally come for thousands of aspirants waiting from a long time as The Medical Counselling Committee (MCC) has released Round 3 seat matrices for MBBS, BDS, and B.Sc. Nursing, including the clear Vacancy list. This list is the last hope of aspirants that can reward their hardwork, patience and dedication and the number of seats is satisfactory ranging between 6,585 to 6,703. 

What the Clear Vacancy List Shows

MCC's notification lists 6,585 clear vacancy seats across participating institutes, courses, quotas and categories. Some education portals report a slightly different total of 6,703 clear vacant seats across MBBS, BDS and BSc Nursing. Candidates should treat the official PDF on mcc.nic.in as the final word, since third-party tallies can differ. 

 

On the MBBS count, around 5,922 MBBS seats are available under the NEET UG Round 3 clear vacancy matrix, alongside 651 BDS seats. In other words, MBBS accounts for the large majority of the vacant seats. 

Clear, Virtual and Newly Added Seats: What's the Difference?

MCC publishes three separate lists each round, and reading them correctly matters for choice filling.

Clear vacancy: seats where no candidate was allotted in earlier rounds, or where an allotted candidate did not join, resigned in time, or was rejected at document verification. These are fully open for fresh allotment.  

 

Virtual vacancy: seats that may fall vacant as candidates move up the chain. The Round 3 virtual vacancy list is much larger, at 10,353 seats.  

 

Newly added seats: fresh seats approved after the previous round. MCC added 183 seats to Round 3, made up of 83 MBBS seats and 100 BDS seats at Datta Meghe Dental College, Nagpur.  

 

Since virtual vacancy seats depend on other candidates upgrading, they are not guaranteed to open up. Clear vacancy seats are the safest bet for candidates who want certainty.

How This Compares With Earlier Rounds

The pool has shrunk as counselling has progressed, which is normal. Round 2 saw 8,828 seats allotted, including 7,485 MBBS, 1,057 BDS and 286 BSc Nursing seats. With Round 3 offering roughly 6,600 to 6,700 clear vacancies, competition for the better colleges will be tight, and many of the seats left are likely in private or deemed institutions, or in less-preferred categories.  

 

For context, last year's Round 3 offered 4,821 clear vacancy seats, so this year's clear vacancy pool is noticeably bigger.  

Which Seats Are in the List?

The matrix is broken down by institute, course, quota and category. One entry cited as an example is a 32-seat MBBS listing at Bharati Vidyapeeth University Medical College, Pune, under the Non-Resident Indian quota. NRI and management-type seats often carry much higher fees, so candidates should check the fee structure before locking a choice.  

 

MCC counselling itself covers the 15% All India Quota seats, plus 100% of seats in deemed universities, central universities, AFMC, AIIMS and JIPMER. State quota seats are handled separately by state authorities, so state counselling is a parallel route for many candidates. 

Key Dates to Note

Round 3 registration ran until September 27, 2026. The Round 3 seat allotment result is due on September 30, 2026. 

Reporting dates and the joining window will follow the result, and MCC will announce them on its website.

Tips for Candidates

•Read the official PDF. Search your target college, course, quota and category directly rather than relying on summaries.

 

•Prioritise clear vacancy seats when you need a guaranteed option, and treat virtual vacancy seats as a possible bonus.

 

•Check fees and bond terms. Deemed and private seats can cost far more than government seats, and some states have service bonds.

 

•Fill choices strategically. Order your list from most to least preferred, and include realistic options so you aren't left without an allotment.

 

•Know the exit rules. Understand the resignation and forfeiture rules before you accept a seat, especially for the later rounds.

 

•Keep documents ready. Rejection at verification can turn your seat back into a clear vacancy for someone else.

The Bottom Line

With around 6,585 to 6,703 clear vacancy seats, mostly in MBBS, Round 3 still offers a meaningful number of seats. Because the totals reported online don't match exactly, always verify against the MCC notification. Keep an eye on mcc.nic.in  for the September 30 result and the reporting schedule that follows. All the best! May your hard work pay off.