Dr. NTR University of Health Sciences (NTRUHS), Andhra Pradesh, has issued a notification allowing candidates who reported or joined their MBBS seat during Phase-I counselling under the Competent Authority Quota to avail the “Free Exit” facility.

According to the notification dated September 10, 2026, eligible candidates can exit from their Phase-I reported/joined seat on or before 2:00 PM on September 12, 2026. Candidates wishing to use the facility must submit their request to the Principal of the concerned medical college.

Key Points

• Counselling: AP NEET UG 2026
• Course: MBBS
• Quota: Competent Authority Quota
• Authority: Dr. NTR University of Health Sciences
• Free Exit available for: Phase-I reported/joined candidates
• Last date: September 12, 2026
• Deadline: 2:00 PM
• Application submitted to: Principal of the concerned medical college
• Fees: Tuition fee and other fees to be returned as applicable
• After Free Exit: No eligibility for further Competent Authority Quota counselling rounds
• Vacated seats: To be filled in Phase-II counselling as per rules

Candidates Will Not Be Eligible for Further Competent Authority Quota Counselling

NTRUHS has clearly stated that candidates who avail themselves of the Free Exit facility will not be eligible to participate in further rounds of Competent Authority Quota counselling for 2026-27.

However, such candidates may join MQ Phase-I of Dr. NTR UHS, Vijayawada, if a seat is allotted to them.

The university has advised candidates to take an informed and calculated decision before opting for Free Exit because exiting the Phase-I seat will affect their eligibility for subsequent Competent Authority Quota counselling rounds.

Tuition Fee and Original Certificates to Be Returned

Medical college Principals have been instructed to accept Free Exit requests in the prescribed format and return the candidate's original certificates along with the entire tuition fee and other fees, if any, immediately.

Colleges must also freeze the latest admission data by 2:00 PM on September 12, 2026. 

What Happens to Candidates Who Exit Before the Deadline?

Candidates who have already resigned from their Phase-I reported/joined seat before the specified deadline will be treated as not reported/not joined. The seats vacated by such candidates will be filled during Phase-II counselling as per the applicable rules.

Phase-II Counselling Rules for Candidates Who Continue

Candidates who remain in their Phase-I joined seats after the Free Exit deadline will become part of Phase-II counselling, and the applicable Phase-II rules will apply to them.

Phase-I reported candidates who do not opt for Free Exit will be eligible to exercise Web Options for Phase-II counselling according to their preferred order of priority and the notified counselling procedure.

Candidates who were allotted a Phase-I seat but did not report to the allotted college can exercise Web Options in Phase-II for other colleges, except the college they did not join.

No Resignation Later During Admission Process

The notification also contains an important provision regarding discontinuation from the course. Candidates who reported to a seat but do not utilise the Free Exit facility within the prescribed schedule cannot resign the seat during the course of admissions, from Phase-III counselling until the closure of admissions.

The university has also clarified that all public holidays will be treated as working days for this purpose.

Free Exit Application Form

NTRUHS has provided a prescribed application format for candidates seeking Free Exit from their Phase-I joined MBBS seat. The application requires details including the candidate's name, registration ID, NEET UG 2026 rank, NEET roll number, phone number, address, allotted medical college and reason for seeking Free Exit.

By signing the application, candidates acknowledge that after availing Free Exit, they will have no claim over their Phase-I joined seat and will not be eligible to participate in future MBBS counselling phases under the Competent Authority Quota.