NEET UG Mop-Up Round Explained: 2026 Counselling

NEET UG Mop-Up Round Explained: 2026 Counselling

Introduction

The NEET UG Mop-Up Round is a crucial opportunity for students who could not secure a seat in earlier counseling rounds. Every year, thousands of MBBS, BDS, AYUSH, and B.Sc. Nursing seats remain vacant after Round 1 and Round 2. These seats are filled through the Mop-Up Round.

Understanding how the mop-up round works can significantly increase your chances of getting a medical seat, even with a borderline NEET score.

NEET UG Mop-Up Round Explained: 2026 Counselling

What Is NEET UG Mop-Up Round?

The Mop-Up Round is the final centralized counseling round conducted to fill vacant seats left after:

• Round 1

• Round 2

It is conducted separately for:

• All India Quota (AIQ)

• State Quota

  
  

Who Conducts the Mop-Up Round?

• AIQ Mop-Up Round: Conducted by MCC (Medical Counselling Committee)

• State Mop-Up Round: Conducted by State Counseling Authorities

  
  

Who Is Eligible for NEET UG Mop-Up Round?

You are eligible if:

• You did not get any seat in Round 1 & 2

• You did not join any allotted seat

• You resigned from Round 2 seat within the deadline

• You registered for counseling but were not allotted a seat

Not Eligible If:

• You joined a seat in Round 2 (AIQ)

• You were allotted and joined MBBS/BDS seat in State Round 2

  
  

NEET UG Mop-Up Round Process (Step-by-Step)

1. Fresh registration on MCC / State portal

2. Choice filling & locking

3. Seat allotment based on:

   • NEET rank

   • Preferences

   • Vacant seats

4. Result declaration

5. Reporting to allotted college

   
   

Types of Seats Filled in Mop-Up Round

• MBBS

• BDS

• AYUSH (BAMS, BHMS, BUMS)

• Deemed Universities

• Private Medical Colleges

Government MBBS seats are very limited in mop-up rounds.

NEET UG Mop-Up Round Cut-Off Trends

• Cut-offs usually drop compared to Round 1 & 2

• Private & deemed colleges see maximum drop

• Category-wise cut-offs vary by state

  
  

Mop-Up Round vs Stray Vacancy Round

Feature	Mop-Up Round	Stray Vacancy
Registration	Online	Offline
Conducted By	MCC / State	Colleges
Choice Filling	Yes	No
Final Round	No	Yes

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Not registering again

Poor choice filling

Ignoring private colleges

Missing deadlines

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q1. Can fresh candidates register for mop-up round?

Yes, fresh registration is allowed.

Q2. Do government seats come in mop-up round?

Very few; mostly private and deemed seats.

Q3. Is security deposit refundable?

Depends on counseling authority rules.

Q4. Can I upgrade my seat in mop-up round?

No upgradation is allowed after mop-up.

Conclusion

The NEET UG Mop-Up Round plays a vital role in medical admissions by ensuring no seat goes vacant. Students who stay alert, understand eligibility rules, and make smart choices can successfully secure MBBS, BDS, or AYUSH seats—even at the final stages of counseling. Proper planning and timely action are the keys to success.

Comprehensive Process & Rules on NEET UG Mop-Up Round Explained: 2026 Counselling

• NEET Stray Vacancy & Mop-Up Round Explained: This video by Sparkup Classes provides a detailed breakdown of the All India Quota (AIQ) counseling process, focusing on eligibility, rules, and whether the rounds are online or offline.

• NEET UG Counselling: Stray Vacancy Round Rules: Bharti Ma'am from Doctor's Adda247 explains the critical strategies and rules for the final rounds, which is essential for students who haven't secured a seat in earlier rounds.

• NEET Counselling | Complete Step-by-Step Process: A concise overview from Quality Speaks Kota that covers the general flow of counseling, which helps in understanding how the Mop-Up round fits into the overall timeline.