The Odisha Joint Entrance Examination (OJEE) Cell has published the final state merit list for NEET UG 2026 counselling on August 14, 2026, at 5:00 PM. The list determines eligibility for MBBS and BDS seats under the 85% state quota for the 2026-27 academic session.
Merit-listed candidates can now participate in the ongoing choice-filling process, which remains open from August 14 at 8:30 PM until August 17 at 11:59 PM. This is a critical window for candidates to submit their college preferences before Round 1 seat allotment.
Key Important Dates
| Event | Date & Time |
|---|---|
| Final State Merit List Release | August 14, 2026 at 5:00 PM |
| Choice Filling Window | August 14 (8:30 PM) to August 17 (11:59 PM) |
| Round 1 Provisional Seat Allotment | August 19, 2026 |
| Round 1 Final Seat Allotment | August 22, 2026 |
Merit List Overview
The final merit list is based on candidates’ All India Rank (AIR) from NEET UG 2026 and their uploaded documents. The Odisha NEET merit list follows rank-wise allocation, with state-specific category reservations. Only candidates who registered during the first phase (August 6-10, 2026) and passed document verification are included in the final list.
A merit list notice from OJEE states: “The merit list published is purely provisional. Allotment will be based on rank, choice filled, and seat availability as per rank/category. During reporting and admission, all original documents will be verified. Any deviation, tampering, or forged documents found during verification will lead to cancellation of allotment and may also lead to cancellation of candidature.”
Seat Matrix and Availability
OJEE has released the Round 1 seat matrix comprising 2,009 total seats, 1,870 MBBS and 139 BDS seats. Seats are distributed across government medical colleges, government dental colleges, and private medical and dental colleges participating in state counselling. The exact college-wise and course-wise breakdown is available on the official OJEE portal.
Category-Wise Reservation
Odisha’s state counselling follows the revised reservation matrix for 2026-27:
| Category | Reservation |
|---|---|
| General (GN) | Unreserved |
| Scheduled Caste (SC) | 16.25% |
| Scheduled Tribe (ST) | 22.5% |
| Socially and Educationally Backward Classes (SEBC) | 11.25% (New for 2026) |
| Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) | Applicable |
| Persons with Disability (PWD) | 5% horizontal |
| Ex-Servicemen (ES) | Horizontal across categories |
Note: The SEBC category is new for 2026, requiring eligible candidates to choose between General-EWS or SEBC at the time of registration, not during choice filling.
How to Access the Merit List?
- Visit the official OJEE website: ojee.nic.in
- Navigate to the MBBS and BDS Counselling section
- Click on the “Final State Merit List” link
- Download the PDF document
- Use Ctrl+F (or Cmd+F on Mac) to search for your NEET application number or name
- Check your All India Rank, state rank, category, and eligibility status
- Save and print the list for future counselling stages
Choice Filling Instructions
Candidates must log in to the OJEE portal using their NEET UG application number and password. The process involves:
- Reviewing available colleges and courses in the seat matrix
- Arranging colleges in order of preference (most preferred at top)
- Saving choices regularly to prevent loss of entered data
- Locking choices before the deadline (no changes allowed after locking)
NRI Candidate Requirements
All NRI candidates listed in the merit list must submit original documents as per the latest MCC notice during reporting and admission. NRI-quota seats follow separate norms and are part of the state counselling process.
Document Verification Alert
Candidates are required to appear in person at designated verification centres before the choice-filling deadline. Failure to verify documents on time may result in cancellation of candidature even if merit-listed. Ex-Servicemen candidates must report to the Rajya Sainik Board, Nayapalli, Bhubaneswar, to claim reservation benefits.
What Happens Next
- August 19: Provisional Round 1 seat allotment result announced
- August 22: Final Round 1 seat allotment result published
- Candidates allotted seats must report to respective colleges for admission within notified timelines
Important Notice on Document Verification
The OJEE official notice states: “If any deviation, tampering, or forged documents are found during verification, it will lead to cancellation of allotment and may also lead to cancellation of candidature.” Candidates must ensure all submitted documents are authentic and match official records.
Official Resources
- Official OJEE Portal: ojee.nic.in
- NEET App Number: Required for merit list access
- Query Contact: odishaojee.mbbsquerry@gmail.com
- Registration Portal: admissions.nic.in (OJEE NEET UG 2026)
