The Centralised Admission Committee (CENTAC) in Puducherry has begun Round 1 course preference entry for NEET-PG MD and MS admissions in the 2026-27 academic year. Registered candidates must now log into the CENTAC portal and rank their preferred specialities and colleges in order of priority. This is a critical step: candidates who do not submit preferences will not receive any seat allotment, regardless of their merit rank. The preference window remains open until a deadline specified in the official press release, and once submitted, choices cannot be edited for that round.
You must submit your ranked course preferences on the CENTAC portal before the Round 1 deadline, or you will not be considered for any seat allotment.
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Unlock My College ListWhat is CENTAC and why does it matter for your NEET-PG admission?
CENTAC is the centralised admission authority for postgraduate medical programmes in Puducherry. It conducts counselling for MD and MS seats across government and private medical colleges in the union territory. If you have qualified NEET-PG and wish to pursue a postgraduate medical degree in Puducherry, your admission will be processed through CENTAC's counselling rounds.
CENTAC's counselling process mirrors the structure used by other state and national PG admission bodies: candidates are ranked on a merit list, they submit course preferences, and seats are allotted based on merit rank and preference order. Understanding CENTAC's timeline and rules is essential if Puducherry colleges are among your target institutions.
Round 1 choice filling: what you need to do right now
CENTAC has opened the online preference submission portal on its official website (centacpuducherry.in). You must log in with your registered credentials and navigate to the course preference section on your candidate dashboard. From there, you will select MD and MS specialities offered by colleges in Puducherry and arrange them in descending order of preference — your first choice should be your top priority.
The process is entirely online and self-service. You review the full list of available courses, rank them according to your interest and eligibility, and then submit. Once you submit, your preferences are locked for Round 1 and cannot be changed. If you wish to modify your choices in a later round, you will need to fill fresh preferences at that time.
- Visit centacpuducherry.in and open the PG Medical Admission 2026 portal
- Log in with your registered username and password
- Click on the course preference option in your dashboard
- Select and rank MD and MS courses in order of priority (highest preference first)
- Review your entire preference list carefully before final submission
- Submit and save a copy of your preference confirmation page for your records
Merit list objections: how to flag errors in your rank or details
On 6 November 2026, CENTAC released a draft merit list along with the seat matrix for 2026-27. This draft list shows your rank and category placement. You should immediately check that your name, score, category, and quota assignment are correct. If you spot any error — such as an incorrect score, wrong category, or quota mismatch — you must raise an objection through the dashboard.
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The objection window closes on 9 November 2026 at 5:00 PM. After this deadline, the draft list becomes final, and errors cannot be corrected. Do not assume your details are correct; verify them carefully. If you switched from Government Quota to Management Quota during the extended application period, confirm that your current quota is reflected accurately in the merit list.
- Check your rank, score, name, and category in the draft merit list
- Verify that your quota assignment (Government or Management) is correct
- If you switched quotas during the application window, confirm the change is recorded
- Raise any objection via the dashboard objection option before 5:00 PM on 9 November 2026
- Keep a screenshot or copy of your objection submission for reference
Understanding the seat matrix and quota structure
CENTAC has released the 2026-27 seat matrix, which lists all available MD and MS seats across colleges in Puducherry, broken down by quota and category. The matrix shows Government Quota seats (GQ-ALL, FF, PWD, ESM categories) and Management Quota seats (MQ-ALL, MQT categories). A separate overall list of all applicants is also available. You should study this matrix carefully to understand which specialities and colleges have seats in your quota category.
The seat matrix is your roadmap for preference filling. It tells you exactly which courses exist, how many seats are available, and which colleges offer them. Use it alongside college fee structures (also posted on the CENTAC portal) to make informed choices. Remember: you can only be allotted a seat in a course and college that appears in the matrix for your quota.
- Download and review the 2026-27 seat matrix from the CENTAC portal
- Identify available MD and MS specialities in your quota category
- Note the number of seats per speciality and college
- Cross-reference with college fee structures to understand financial commitment
- Prioritise courses and colleges that align with your career goals and financial capacity
Key rules for preference submission you must follow
CENTAC's information brochure sets strict rules for how preferences are treated and how seats are allotted. First, preferences must be arranged in descending order, with your top choice listed first. Second, no seat will be allotted to any candidate who does not submit preferences — this is non-negotiable. Third, once the Round 1 deadline passes, preferences cannot be edited; they are treated as final for that round.
Allotment strictly follows the order you have entered. If you rank a course first and your merit rank qualifies for it, you will be allotted that course. If you rank a course second, you will only be considered for it if you are not allotted your first choice. This is why the order of your preferences is critical. For any subsequent counselling round, you will need to fill fresh preferences; your Round 1 choices do not carry forward.
- Arrange courses in descending order of preference (top choice first)
- Submitting preferences is mandatory; skipping this step means no seat allotment
- Preferences cannot be edited after the Round 1 deadline
- Submitted preferences are final for Round 1
- Seat allotment strictly follows your preference order
- Each future round requires fresh preference submission
Important dates and deadlines for Round 1
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The CENTAC counselling timeline for 2026-27 began with the release of the information brochure and admission notification on 20 October 2026. The application window was originally set to close on 27 October but was extended to 29 October 2026 at 5:00 PM. On 6 November 2026, CENTAC released the draft merit list and seat matrix and simultaneously opened Round 1 choice filling. The objection window for the merit list closes on 9 November 2026 at 5:00 PM.
The Round 1 provisional seat allotment date has not yet been announced. You should confirm the exact preference submission deadline by checking the official press release on the CENTAC portal, as the source does not specify the exact closing time for preferences. After allotment results are published, further rounds may follow, each with its own timeline.
- Information brochure and admission notification: 20 October 2026
- Original application deadline: 27 October 2026
- Extended application deadline: 29 October 2026 at 5:00 PM
- Draft merit list and seat matrix release: 6 November 2026
- Round 1 choice filling opens: 6 November 2026
- Merit list objection deadline: 9 November 2026 at 5:00 PM
- Round 1 provisional seat allotment: Date not yet announced
How to contact CENTAC if you face technical or procedural issues
If you encounter any technical problems while filling preferences, cannot log into the portal, or have questions about the counselling process, CENTAC operates a helpdesk during business hours. You can reach them at telephone numbers 0413 2655570 or 0413 2655571 between 10:00 AM and 5:00 PM. The helpdesk staff can assist with login issues, preference submission problems, merit list queries, and general counselling guidance.
Do not wait until the last moment to contact the helpdesk if you face issues. If the deadline is approaching and you are unable to submit preferences due to a technical problem, reach out immediately so that CENTAC can help resolve it or potentially grant an extension if warranted.
- Helpdesk phone numbers: 0413 2655570 and 0413 2655571
- Helpdesk hours: 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM
- Contact them for login issues, preference submission problems, or merit list queries
- Do not delay; reach out early if you face any technical difficulty
What happens after you submit preferences: the allotment process
Once you submit your Round 1 preferences, CENTAC will process all submitted preferences against the merit list and seat matrix. The algorithm will allot seats based on your merit rank and the order of your preferences. If your rank qualifies for your first choice, you will be allotted that seat. If not, the system will check your second choice, and so on. The provisional allotment result will be published on the CENTAC portal on a date yet to be announced.
After provisional allotment, you will typically have a window to accept or reject your allotted seat. If you accept, you proceed to document verification and admission. If you reject, you may be considered for a subsequent round (if available) based on your remaining preferences or fresh preferences. It is important to monitor the CENTAC portal regularly for allotment results and any further instructions.
- CENTAC will process preferences against merit rank and seat availability
- Allotment follows your preference order strictly
- Provisional allotment results will be published on the portal (date TBA)
- You will have a window to accept or reject your allotted seat
- Acceptance leads to document verification and admission
- Rejection may allow participation in subsequent rounds
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See My CollegesFrequently asked questions
What happens if I do not submit my course preferences for CENTAC Round 1?
If you do not submit preferences, you will not receive any seat allotment, even if your merit rank qualifies for available seats. Preference submission is mandatory. No seat is allotted to candidates who skip this step.
Can I change my preferences after I submit them for Round 1?
No. Once you submit your preferences and the Round 1 deadline passes, your choices are locked and cannot be edited. They are treated as final for that round. If you wish to modify your choices, you will need to fill fresh preferences in a subsequent counselling round (if one is conducted).
How do I know if my merit rank and category are correct in the draft merit list?
You should check the draft merit list published on 6 November 2026 on the CENTAC portal. Verify your name, score, category, and quota assignment. If you spot any error, raise an objection through the dashboard before 5:00 PM on 9 November 2026. After this deadline, the list becomes final.
What should I do if I switched from Government Quota to Management Quota during the application window?
Check the draft merit list to confirm that your current quota (Management Quota) is correctly recorded. Your merit rank will be based on the quota you are currently assigned. If the quota is incorrect, raise an objection before 9 November 2026 at 5:00 PM.
How should I arrange my course preferences — in what order?
Arrange your preferences in descending order of priority, with your most preferred course and college listed first. The allotment algorithm will check your preferences in the order you have entered them. If you qualify for your first choice, you will be allotted it; if not, your second choice will be considered, and so on.
Where can I find the list of available MD and MS seats for 2026-27?
The 2026-27 seat matrix has been released by CENTAC and is available on the centacpuducherry.in portal. It lists all available MD and MS specialities, the number of seats per speciality and college, and the quota breakdown (Government and Management). You should review this matrix before filling your preferences.
What should I do if I face a technical problem while submitting preferences?
Contact the CENTAC helpdesk at 0413 2655570 or 0413 2655571 between 10:00 AM and 5:00 PM. They can help resolve login issues, preference submission problems, or other technical difficulties. Do not wait until the last moment; reach out early if you face any issue.
When will the Round 1 provisional seat allotment results be announced?
The exact date for Round 1 provisional seat allotment has not yet been announced by CENTAC. You should monitor the official CENTAC portal regularly for updates. The allotment will be published after all preferences are processed and seats are assigned based on merit rank and preference order.
If Puducherry colleges are part of your NEET-PG target list, act immediately: verify your merit list details, study the seat matrix, and submit your ranked preferences before the Round 1 deadline. Monitor the CENTAC portal for the allotment result announcement and any further counselling rounds.
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