Dr. NTR University of Health Sciences, Andhra Pradesh has issued a notification regarding the Free Exit facility for candidates who reported to or joined a BDS college allotted in Phase-I counselling under Competent Authority Quota (CAQ) for the academic year 2026-27.
As per the notification dated September 23, 2026, candidates who wish to exit from their Phase-I allotted BDS seat can submit their request to the concerned Principal on or before 4:00 PM on September 23, 2026.
Free Exit Deadline
Candidates who have reported or joined their Phase-I allotted college and want to use the Free Exit facility must submit their request to the Principal within the specified deadline.
The Principals will accept the Free Exit requests and return the candidate’s original certificates, entire tuition fee and other fees, if any. The latest data will be frozen by 5:00 PM on September 23, 2026.
Candidates Using Free Exit Cannot Participate in Further CAQ Rounds
The university has clarified that candidates who use the Free Exit facility will not be eligible for further rounds of Competent Authority Quota counselling. However, such candidates can participate in MQ Phase-I of Dr. NTR UHS, Vijayawada, if a seat is allotted to them. Candidates have therefore been advised to take an informed decision before opting for Free Exit.
What Happens to Candidates Who Do Not Opt for Free Exit?
Candidates who have reported or joined their Phase-I allotted college but do not opt for Free Exit will become part of Phase-II counselling, and the Phase-II rules will apply to them.
Such candidates can exercise Web Options for Phase-II according to the notified counselling procedure and their order of preference.
Candidates who were allotted a Phase-I seat but did not report to the allotted college can also exercise Web Options in Phase-II for all colleges except the college where they did not join.
Seats Vacated Through Free Exit
Candidates who resign from their Phase-I reported/joined seat before the 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.
Discontinuation From the BDS Course
The university has also stated that candidates who have reported/joined but do not use the Free Exit facility within the specified schedule cannot resign from the seat during the course of admissions, from Phase-II counselling until the closure of admissions. The notification also states that all public holidays will be treated as working days. The notification was issued by the Registrar, Dr. NTR University of Health Sciences, Vijayawada, on September 23, 2026.
Key Points at a Glance
| Particular | Details |
|---|---|
| Counselling | AP NEET UG BDS Counselling 2026 |
| Course | BDS |
| Category | Competent Authority Quota |
| Free Exit Deadline | September 23, 2026, up to 4:00 PM |
| Data Freeze | September 23, 2026, by 5:00 PM |
| Request Submitted To | Concerned Principal |
| Fee Refund | Entire tuition fee and other fees, if applicable |
| Further CAQ Rounds After Free Exit | Not eligible |
| MQ Phase-I | Eligible if a seat is allotted |
| Phase-II | Applicable to candidates who do not opt for Free Exit |
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