Authority: AACCC (Ayush Admissions Central Counselling Committee)
Official Portal: aaccc.gov.in |
For: BAMS, BHMS, BUMS, BSMS students who missed Rounds 1 & 2
What You Need to Know Immediately: The AACCC Mop-Up Round (Round 3) for AYUSH UG counselling 2026 is the third and final general round of centralised AYUSH admissions. It fills government, central university, national institute, and deemed university seats left vacant after Round 1 and Round 2. The official schedule is released on aaccc.gov.in — and if you’re reading this after missing the first two rounds, this is your last realistic shot at a seat through the central counselling process.
Table of Contents
What Is the AYUSH Mop-Up Round?
The AACCC AYUSH UG counselling runs in a structured sequence of four rounds. Here’s how the complete cycle looks:
| Round | What It Does |
|---|---|
| Round 1 | First allotment of seats to all registered candidates |
| Round 2 | Fills vacancies + allows upgradation from Round 1 seats |
| Round 3 — Mop-Up | Fills seats still vacant after Round 2 |
| Stray Vacancy Round (SVR) | Fills any remaining seats after Mop-Up, primarily in Deemed/CU/NI colleges |
The Mop-Up Round is not a consolation round. The allotment is conducted in multiple rounds, including a mop-up round to fill any remaining vacancies. Government AYUSH college seats — including some from National Institute of Ayurveda (NIA) Jaipur, BHU Varanasi, and AIIA Delhi — regularly appear in the mop-up because students allotted in earlier rounds don’t report or take a free exit.
This is why even students with moderate NEET scores should never give up after Round 1 or Round 2.AYUSH Mop-Up Round 2026 — Tentative Dates
AACCC is expected to commence the Undergraduate UG counselling for the academic year 2026–27 in August 2026, following the NEET UG 2026 examination. The exact schedule and dates will be announced on the official AACCC website: aaccc.gov.in.
Based on the AACCC 2025–26 pattern, here is the expected tentative timeline for 2026:
| Event | Expected Date (Tentative) |
|---|---|
| Re-NEET UG 2026 Result | July 2026 |
| AACCC Round 1 Registration Opens | August 2026 |
| AACCC Round 1 Seat Allotment | August–September 2026 |
| AACCC Round 2 Process | September–October 2026 |
| Mop-Up Round (Round 3) Registration | October 2026 |
| Mop-Up Round Choice Filling & Allotment | October–November 2026 |
| Mop-Up Round Reporting to College | November 2026 |
| Stray Vacancy Round(s) | November–December 2026 |
These are expected dates based on past patterns. The official 2026 schedule will be published at aaccc.gov.in once the Re-NEET result is declared in July 2026. Bookmark the portal and check it daily from August 2026 onwards.
Who Can Register for the Mop-Up Round?
Not everyone can participate in Round 3. AACCC specifies clear eligibility categories. You can register for the Mop-Up Round if you fall under any of these:
NEET UG 2026 qualified candidates who have not registered in Round 1 or Round 2. Candidates who have already registered but were not allotted seats in Round 1 or Round 2. Candidates registered in Round 1 or Round 2 and availed of Free Exit. Candidates who joined the Round 1 allotted seat and submitted willingness for upgradation but did not participate in Round 2 of counselling. Candidates who joined the allotted seat in Round 2 and submitted willingness for upgradation in Round 3.
In plain terms:
- You registered but got no seat in Round 1 or 2 → You can enter the Mop-Up Round
- You got a seat but took Free Exit → You can re-enter the Mop-Up Round
- You never registered at all → You can register fresh for Round 3 (new registrations are permitted)
- You joined a Round 2 seat and want to upgrade → You can participate with upgradation intent
One critical rule to note: No upgradation is available from the Mop-Up Round to the Stray Vacancy Round. If you get allotted a seat in Round 3 and report to it, that is final through the central AACCC process. You cannot use the Stray Vacancy Round to change it.
Why the Mop-Up Round Matters More Than You Think
Here’s something most students miss — the Mop-Up Round consistently has lower closing ranks than Round 1.
This happens for a predictable reason. After Round 1 and Round 2, a significant number of allotted students take Free Exit, choose state quota seats instead, or simply don’t report. Those vacated seats re-enter the pool. The candidates competing in Round 3 are fewer, and the available seats (in absolute terms) are a meaningful proportion of the original seat matrix.
For BAMS specifically, General category students who were hovering at 450–480 marks and missed Round 1 cutoffs of 490+ have historically secured seats in government colleges through the Mop-Up Round when the closing rank dropped to the 470 range.
For BUMS and BHMS, the Mop-Up Round is often even more accessible — government BUMS seats are frequently available in Round 3 for students who couldn’t get them in earlier rounds.
Registration Process for AYUSH Mop-Up Round 2026
For participation in AACCC UG Counselling, candidates are required to register on the official website of AACCC (https://aaccc.gov.in).
Step 1: Visit aaccc.gov.in and click on “UG Counselling — Round 3 (Mop-Up)”
Step 2: Enter your NEET UG 2026 Roll Number, Application Number, and Date of Birth
Step 3: If registering fresh (didn’t register in Rounds 1 or 2), fill in your complete application form using the same email ID and mobile number used during NEET registration
Step 4: Pay the registration and security fees:
| Category | Non-Refundable Registration Fee | Refundable Security Deposit |
|---|---|---|
| UR / EWS / OBC-NCL (Govt. colleges) | ₹1,000 | ₹20,000 |
| SC / ST / PwBD (Govt. colleges) | ₹500 | ₹20,000 |
| All candidates (Deemed Universities) | ₹5,000 | ₹50,000 |
Step 5: Fill in your college and course preferences in priority order — place your most-preferred options first. Fill as many choices as possible.
Step 6: Lock your choices before the deadline. Unlocked choices are treated as non-participation.
Step 7: Check the Mop-Up Round allotment result on the portal and download your allotment letter if allotted.
Step 8: Report to the allotted college with all original documents within the reporting deadline.
Mop-Up Round vs Stray Vacancy Round — Know the Difference
Students often confuse these two. They are different in a critical way:
| Feature | Mop-Up Round (Round 3) | Stray Vacancy Round |
|---|---|---|
| Conducted by | AACCC | AACCC (for CU/NI) + Deemed Universities separately |
| Seats covered | All remaining AIQ + Deemed + CU/NI | Only remaining CU/NI and Deemed seats |
| Upgradation allowed? | Yes (from Round 1/2) | No |
| New registration | Allowed | Only for those already registered with AACCC |
| Who conducts Deemed SVR? | Deemed Universities (directly) | Deemed Universities (directly) |
The Stray Vacancy Round is a narrower, more restricted process. The Mop-Up Round is broader and your better opportunity if you haven’t secured a seat yet.
Documents to Keep Ready Before Mop-Up Round
The moment you get a Mop-Up Round allotment, you must report to the allotted college within the deadline — typically 3–5 days. Prepare these in advance:
- Class 10 Marksheet + Certificate
- Class 12 Marksheet + Certificate (PCB subjects)
- NEET UG 2026 Admit Card and Scorecard
- Aadhaar Card
- Domicile Certificate (for state quota seats — not required for AIQ through AACCC)
- Category Certificate — SC/ST/OBC/EWS (recent, issued by competent authority)
- Passport-sized photographs
- Allotment letter (downloaded from AACCC portal)
- Medical fitness certificate
Make five sets of self-attested photocopies of everything before you travel. Colleges ask for multiple copies during admission formalities.
The One Thing Students Get Wrong About the Mop-Up Round
The most common mistake is treating the Mop-Up Round as a “lesser” round where only poor-quality seats are left.
That’s not accurate. Quality government AYUSH seats — including in central universities and national institutes — re-appear in Round 3 every year when earlier allottees don’t show up. The AACCC’s 2025–26 data showed meaningful vacancies at institutions like ITRA Jamnagar, AIIA Delhi, and BHU even in the Mop-Up stage.
Fill your choices broadly. Don’t limit yourself to one or two preferred colleges. Fill 15–20 preferences across states and course types. The student who fills the most thoughtful choices wins the Mop-Up Round.
Summary
If you missed Rounds 1 and 2 — whether because you didn’t register, got a Free Exit, or were simply not allotted — the Mop-Up Round is your best remaining opportunity through central AACCC counselling.
Watch the official portal: aaccc.gov.in. The moment the Round 3 schedule is posted, register on Day 1. Do not wait.
- Which are the top government BAMS colleges in India? What are their exact NEET cutoffs?
- Are AYUSH jobs available in railway hospitals and armed forces?
- Is it easier to get AYUSH admission compared to MBBS with the same NEET score?
- Can I Participate in Both MBBS and AYUSH Counselling Simultaneously?
- How Many AYUSH Colleges Should You Include in Your Choice List During Counselling?
- Should I Include Private and Deemed AYUSH Colleges in My Choice List?