Maharashtra MBBS and BDS counselling is run by the State Common Entrance Test Cell (State CET Cell), Mumbai, through an online Centralized Admission Process (CAP). It fills the 85% state quota in participating government colleges, along with notified seats in private, minority and private university colleges. MCC runs a separate process for All India Quota (AIQ) and other central seats.
Maharashtra NEET UG 2026 update (17 October): CAP Rounds 1, 2 and 3 have ended. Online Stray Vacancy Round 1 choice filling closes 18 October at 11:59 pm. Only previously registered candidates who meet the stray-round eligibility rules can take part; no new registration is allowed. The published final joining date is 26 October 2026.
This guide explains the published 2026 MBBS/BDS rules, how Maharashtra state counselling differs from MCC, the documents and fees to check, and which decisions can affect future rounds.
Who runs MBBS counselling in Maharashtra
Two separate processes fill MBBS seats in Maharashtra:
| Process | Run by | Seats it fills |
|---|---|---|
| All India Quota (AIQ) | Medical Counselling Committee (MCC) | 15% of seats in government colleges, plus deemed universities and central institutions |
| State CAP | State CET Cell, Maharashtra | 85% state quota in government, aided and municipal corporation colleges, and seats in private unaided, minority and private university colleges |
The State CET Cell says registration for state counselling is separate and compulsory. Registering with MCC does not register you for Maharashtra CAP.
The CET Cell calls MBBS and BDS Group A courses. Group B and Group C cover other health science courses, which have their own schedules. This guide covers Group A (MBBS and BDS) only.
Our MCC counselling guide explains the AIQ side. For the list of colleges and their intake, see MBBS colleges in Maharashtra.
Maharashtra stray vacancy rounds 2026
After CAP Round 3, the CET Cell is filling leftover MBBS and BDS seats through up to three Online Stray Vacancy Rounds. Each round has its own fresh choice form.
| Step | Stray Round 1 | Stray Round 2 | Stray Round 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Seat matrix published | 16 Oct 2026 | 21 Oct 2026 | 24 Oct 2026 |
| Choice filling | 17 to 18 Oct, up to 11:59 pm | 21 to 22 Oct, up to 11:00 am | 24 to 25 Oct, up to 11:00 am |
| Selection list | 19 Oct 2026 | 22 Oct 2026 | 25 Oct 2026 |
| Physical joining at college | 20 to 21 Oct, up to 5:30 pm | 23 to 24 Oct, up to 5:30 pm | 26 Oct 2026 |
The revised schedule lists 26 October 2026 as the final joining date. Dates can change, so check the official portal before taking action.
Who can take part: NEET UG 2026 candidates who registered and filled a choice form earlier but did not get a seat up to CAP Round 3. No new registration is allowed.
Who cannot take part:
- Candidates who joined a seat in Round 1 or 2 and held it up to Round 3, or got a fresh seat in Round 3.
- Candidates who joined and held an AIQ seat up to Round 3.
- Candidates allotted a seat in Stray Round 1 (they cannot join Stray Round 2 or 3).
- Candidates allotted a seat in the AIQ stray vacancy round.
Important: Joining a seat allotted in an online stray round is compulsory. A candidate who does not report or join an allotted last-round seat, causing the seat to lapse, is disqualified from admission in that course group for the next two years. Fill only choices you are willing to accept.
For Stray Round 1, the last date to resign the seat without penalty is 21 October 2026, 5:30 pm. Any cancellation after that attracts the penalty in the brochure.
Since there is no betterment after the stray round, check the college’s fee on the Fees Regulating Authority (FRA) list and college website before filling choices. Fees can be paid by DD or NEFT/RTGS during the stray rounds.
Full 2026 counselling timeline
This is the 2026 MBBS/BDS (Group A) timeline, including the extensions that followed MCC schedule changes.
| Round | Key dates (2026) |
|---|---|
| CAP Round 1 registration | 6 to 12 Aug, reopened 20 to 21 Aug |
| Round 1 final merit list and seat matrix | 25 Aug |
| Round 1 choice filling | 26 to 29 Aug, up to 5:30 pm |
| Round 1 result | 30 Aug |
| Round 1 joining | 31 Aug to 4 Sep, up to 5:30 pm |
| Round 2 seat matrix | 7 Sep |
| Round 2 choice filling | 8 Sep to 12 Sep, 10:00 am (after two extensions) |
| Round 2 result | 12 Sep |
| Round 2 joining | 13 to 18 Sep (except 14 Sep) |
| Round 3 fresh registration | 22 to 26 Sep |
| Round 3 combined final merit list | 5 Oct |
| Round 3 choice filling | 7 to 9 Oct |
| Round 3 result | 11 Oct |
| Round 3 joining | 11 Oct to 16 Oct, 3:00 pm (extended) |
| Online Stray Vacancy Rounds | 16 to 26 Oct |
Two points stand out from this timeline:
- Dates moved several times. Several revisions followed MCC schedule changes. Track both authorities, because a published state deadline can move.
- Round 3 allowed new registrations. Candidates who missed registration for Rounds 1 and 2 could register for Round 3 (22 to 26 September). Candidates already holding a seat, or registered but not allotted in Rounds 1 and 2, could not register again.
How the 85% state quota works in Maharashtra?
In participating government, government-aided and municipal corporation medical colleges, the usual distribution is 15% AIQ seats through MCC and 85% state quota seats through Maharashtra CAP. The state seats require the applicable Maharashtra State Candidature eligibility.
Maharashtra State Candidature is the state’s word for domicile eligibility. The 2026 admission rules use “Maharashtra State Domicile” and “Maharashtra State Candidature” for the same eligibility concept. The exact routes that qualify you are set out in the eligibility clause of the Information Brochure. Read the clause that matches your schooling and your parents’ residence before you register. Our guide on state quota counselling explains how to read such clauses.
Private and other colleges use different seat pools:
| College type | How seats are filled in 2026 |
|---|---|
| Government, aided and municipal corporation colleges | Usually 85% state quota through CET Cell and 15% AIQ through MCC |
| Private unaided and minority colleges | Notified State and Institute quotas, with different fees by quota |
| Three private university colleges added in CAP Round 2 | 40% Maharashtra domicile; the remaining 60% All India, including up to 15% of the total intake for NRI candidates |
| Deemed universities | Through MCC, not Maharashtra state CAP |
How the new private-university quota works: When the full NRI portion is reserved, the seat matrix can show 40% Maharashtra, 45% general All India and 15% NRI. The governing rule is 40% Maharashtra plus 60% All India, with the NRI share carved out of that 60%. Unfilled NRI seats may be offered to eligible All India candidates from CAP Round 3 onward. This is not the ordinary private-college Institute quota.
Private university colleges added in 2026: Dr. Vithalrao Vikhe Patil Foundation’s Medical College (Ahilyanagar), N.K.P. Salve Institute of Medical Sciences (Nagpur), and Ranjit Deshmukh Dental College and Research Centre (Nagpur). Maharashtra-domicile candidates could choose the 40% state and 45% All India pools. Candidates from outside Maharashtra could choose the 45% All India pool. Both groups could access NRI seats from Round 3 under the stated eligibility conditions. NRI applicants could choose only NRI seats. The private university’s fee committee sets the fees; government scholarship or fee reimbursement is unavailable for admission to these colleges.
What changed in 2026
Several rules changed in 2026. Check the latest official instructions rather than relying on an older counselling summary.
- No institute-level round in private colleges. Under the 2026 admission rules, private colleges no longer hold their own round at the end. All remaining seats are filled by the State CET Cell through online stray vacancy rounds.
- No compulsory one-year service for MBBS graduates. A government change dated 23 July 2026 means students who pass MBBS from government, municipal corporation, private unaided or minority medical colleges in Maharashtra have no one-year social responsibility service.
- BDS service rule still applies in government colleges. BDS students admitted to government or municipal corporation colleges still sign a one-year service undertaking after internship. They also sign an undertaking not to leave India within five years of getting the degree, failing which they pay a penalty of ₹10,00,000.
- More time for Caste Validity Certificates. OBC and SEBC candidates got six months from CAP registration to submit the Caste Validity Certificate (CVC), under a Government Resolution of 2 July 2026. If they miss it, the admission is cancelled and a penalty can apply. Later, SC, VJ/DT, NT, OBC and SBC candidates who had applied for a CVC were also allowed to be considered in their category from Round 2.
Our MBBS bond checklist explains what to check in any service or seat-leaving bond.
MBBS admission process in Maharashtra, step by step
The MBBS admission process in Maharashtra in 2026 followed these steps for each CAP round:
- Register on the CAP portal and pay the registration fee online. You count as registered only after the payment goes through.
- Upload colour scans of all original documents and click Submit. If you upload but do not submit, the form is rejected.
- Document verification happens online, or at a scrutiny centre for those who choose physical verification.
- Check the provisional merit list and raise a grievance, with proof, within the window. In 2026, candidates who had a grievance window and missed it were not given another one.
- Final merit list and seat matrix are published.
- Fill and lock your choice form. You can unlock and edit it with an OTP until the deadline. If you do not lock it, your last saved choices are taken automatically.
- Check the selection list. It is provisional until the college verifies your documents.
- Join the allotted college in person with original documents and the required fee. In regular CAP rounds, the published payment instructions generally called for a demand draft (DD), with temporary cheque acceptance on bank holidays subject to replacement the next working day. Complete any Status Retention Form required for that round only after checking what it does to your options. For stray-round joining, DD or NEFT/RTGS payments are accepted under the published instructions.
Choice filling tips
- You can fill from 1 college up to all colleges.
- In private colleges, pick the correct quota. State quota and Institute quota seats in the same college have different fees.
- Some colleges offer both MBBS and BDS. Check the course on every row.
- Put your most preferred college and quota at the top.
- Do not share your login. Choices filled through your login count as yours.
Is there a free exit in Maharashtra NEET UG counselling?
“Free exit” is an MCC term. It means you can leave a seat allotted in an early AIQ round without losing your fee or your chance in later rounds. Maharashtra’s state CAP does not use the words “free exit”. Instead, its rules depend on the round.
| Round | What you need to know |
|---|---|
| CAP Round 1 and 2 | Joining, cancellation, seat retention and later-round eligibility depend on the round and seat status. A candidate who cancelled or did not join a Round 2 seat had to unlock and resubmit the application and pay again to participate in Round 3. Do not assume an MCC-style free exit applies. |
| CAP Round 3 | Joining an allotted seat is compulsory. Allotted candidates are excluded from subsequent rounds whether they join or not. |
| Stray rounds | Joining is compulsory. A last-round no-show that causes the seat to lapse can bring a two-year disqualification for that course group. Late cancellation may also bring a penalty. |
Should you submit the Status Retention Form?
The answer depends on your allotment and the current round. Do not treat this form as a routine document to sign without checking its effect on betterment. In 2026, the form was part of joining in CAP Rounds 2 and 3. Before signing, confirm whether it means keeping your present seat and whether you remain eligible for any later preference or betterment process. Read the 2026 Information Brochure and instructions for your allotted round, and keep a copy of what you submit.
Worked example. For example, suppose a candidate holds a private college seat from Maharashtra Round 2 and then joins an AIQ seat in MCC Round 3. In this case, the State CET Cell removes the candidate from Maharashtra Round 3 and all later rounds. As a result, the candidate can no longer switch to a Maharashtra state seat. Therefore, compare both counselling options carefully and decide which one you prefer before Round 3 begins.
Our MCC counselling guide explains the separate AIQ process, including its joining choices. Do not use MCC’s Freeze/Float labels to decide what to do in Maharashtra CAP.
How AIQ and state counselling affect each other
- Maharashtra has revised its state counselling schedule several times to match MCC schedule changes. Check both schedules regularly.
- In Round 3, the State CET Cell removed candidates who had joined an AIQ Round 3 seat from the state selection list, even if they had already filled in their choices.
- Candidates cannot participate in Maharashtra’s stray vacancy rounds if they joined and retained an AIQ seat through Round 3 or received an allotment in the AIQ stray vacancy round.
- MCC and Maharashtra charge separate counselling fees and security deposits. Our MCC security deposit guide explains how the MCC deposit works.
Documents required
The State CET Cell published the following documents list for NEET UG 2026 admissions. Upload colour scans of originals at registration, and carry the originals when you join.
| Document | Who needs it |
|---|---|
| NEET UG 2026 admit card and scorecard | All |
| SSC (Class 10) passing certificate | All |
| HSC (Class 12) mark sheet | All |
| Nationality certificate | All |
| Domicile certificate | Candidates claiming Maharashtra State Candidature |
| Medical fitness certificate (brochure format) | All |
| Leaving certificate / transfer certificate | All |
| Aadhaar card, PAN card or passport | All |
| Caste certificate and Caste Validity Certificate | SC, ST, VJ/DT-NT(A), NT(B), NT(C), NT(D), SEBC, OBC, SBC |
| Non-Creamy Layer certificate | VJ/DT-NT(A) to NT(D), SEBC, OBC, SBC |
| EWS certificate in Maharashtra State format only | EWS candidates (Central Government format not accepted) |
| PwBD certificate from an MCC-authorised medical board | PwBD candidates who claimed PwBD in NEET 2026 |
| Defence, orphan, hilly area or Maharashtra–Karnataka border certificates | Only if you claim that category |
| Minority proof (leaving certificate or religious certificate plus affidavit) | Minority quota candidates |
The EWS rule catches many families out. A central government EWS certificate is not valid for Maharashtra CAP. PwBD candidates can find authorised boards in our PwBD certificate centres list.
MBBS tuition fees in Maharashtra (2026–27)
| Fee | 2026–27 amount |
|---|---|
| MBBS tuition, government, aided and corporation colleges | ₹1,67,300 per year |
| Private and minority colleges | Set college-wise by the Fees Regulating Authority (FRA) |
| Private university colleges | Set by the private university’s fee committee |
Tuition is only one part of the bill. Hostel, mess and other college charges are extra. In private colleges, the state quota and institute quota fees differ, so check the FRA fee for the exact quota before you fill choices.
NRI candidates
NRI candidates had to register first on the CET Cell’s Foreign Candidate Registration portal and pay a non-refundable eligibility fee of USD 50. Eligible candidates then paid a one-time processing fee of USD 1,150 before taking part in CAP.
Eligible NRI candidates can seek merit-based admission through the 15% Institute quota of private colleges; this does not mean ordinary private-college Institute seats have a separate reserved NRI pool. The three newly included private university colleges follow different rules. They can allocate up to 15% of their total seats to NRI candidates as part of their 60% All India quota.
An applicant can qualify through their own NRI status, an NRI parent, or as the legally defined ward of an NRI. Proof may include an NRI certificate from an Indian Mission abroad, relevant passports, guardianship documents where needed, and six months of foreign bank account entries.
Common questions
You can get an MBBS seat in Maharashtra in 2026 only through the online stray vacancy rounds. To qualify, you must have registered and filled in your choices earlier without receiving a seat through Round 3. The CET Cell is not accepting new registrations. Colleges must complete admissions by 26 October 2026.
The 85% state quota is for candidates with Maharashtra State Candidature. Candidates from outside Maharashtra could seek eligible All India seats in the three new private university colleges. Unfilled NRI seats could become available to other All India candidates from Round 3 onward under the 2026 admission rules. NRI applicants themselves had separate eligibility rules.
Yes. State CAP registration is separate and compulsory, whatever you did in AIQ counselling.
For 2026–27 admissions, Maharashtra no longer requires MBBS graduates from government, municipal corporation, private unaided and minority colleges to complete one year of social responsibility service. However, BDS students in government and municipal corporation colleges must still complete the required service.
You may be disqualified from admission in that course group for two years, under the admission rules. Fill only seats you will join.
Official information
For the latest schedules, seat matrices, eligibility rules and admission instructions, check the official Maharashtra State CET Cell website.
Last checked: 17 October 2026.
