Chhattisgarh NEET UG 2026 Counselling: Online Application Dates & Fees

The Directorate of Medical Education (DME), Chhattisgarh, has announced the online application process for the first round of NEET UG 2026 counselling for MBBS and BDS seats in government and private medical colleges across the state. Candidates who qualified NEET UG 2026 and wish to secure a seat must apply online during the specified window. The application opens on 09 August 2026 at 11:00 AM and closes on 16 August 2026 at 11:59 PM. After registration, candidates must fill and lock their choice of colleges and courses between 09 August and 17 August 2026. This is the first and critical step toward seat allotment — missing the deadline means losing your chance in this round.

What is this notice about?

This is the official counselling notification for the first round of NEET UG 2026 admissions in Chhattisgarh. It sets out the dates, fees, documents, and process for all candidates — whether you are applying for government medical colleges, private medical colleges, or both. The notice covers MBBS and BDS programmes only.

The counselling is being conducted by the Directorate of Medical Education, Chhattisgarh, in accordance with RULE-503/30/2025/MED and the Chhattisgarh Medical, Dental and Physiotherapy Colleges (Regulation) Norms, 2025. All candidates must follow this process to be considered for seat allotment.

Important dates — do not miss these

The counselling process has four key dates. Mark them in your calendar now, because the portal will not wait and there are no extensions.

Who is eligible to apply?

You are eligible if you have qualified the NEET UG 2026 exam and are applying for MBBS or BDS seats in Chhattisgarh government or private medical colleges. The notice does not restrict eligibility by state domicile or residency — it is open to all NEET UG 2026 qualified candidates.

Before you apply, ensure you have studied and fully understood the Chhattisgarh Medical, Dental and Physiotherapy Colleges (Regulation) Norms, 2025, which are available on the official website www.cgdme.in. These norms contain the complete eligibility criteria, seat distribution, and reservation rules. Ignorance of these rules will not be accepted as a reason for rejection or appeal.

Registration and security deposit fees — what you must pay

Every candidate must pay a registration fee (also called security deposit) to complete their online application. This fee is non-refundable for the first round. However, if you do not get a seat in the first round, you may be eligible to participate in the second round counselling, and the fee you paid in the first round may be adjusted — but this is not guaranteed. If you are allotted a seat in the first round itself, the fee is forfeited. This registration fee is NOT applicable to BDS programmes.

The fee you pay depends on your category and the type of college you are applying to. Read the table below carefully — the fees differ significantly between government and private colleges, and between general and reserved categories.

Documents you must have ready before applying online

Before you start your online application, gather all the documents listed below. The notice requires you to study and fully understand the Chhattisgarh Medical, Dental and Physiotherapy Colleges (Regulation) Norms, 2025 — this is your responsibility. You can download it from www.cgdme.in or https://cgdme.admissions.nic.in/. Do not proceed without reading it.

Have the following documents scanned and ready in digital form (as PDF or image files) before you begin the application:

• NEET UG 2026 admit card and result/score card
• Class 10 and Class 12 mark sheets and certificates
• Caste certificate (if applicable) — must be issued by the competent authority
• Income certificate (if applicable) — must be issued by the competent authority
• Domicile/residence certificate (if applicable)
• Any other document required by the Chhattisgarh Medical, Dental and Physiotherapy Colleges (Regulation) Norms, 2025

How to apply online — step-by-step process

The online application is conducted on two portals. You must use both to complete your counselling registration.

**Step 1: Register on the main counselling portal.** Visit www.cgdme.in or https://cgdme.admissions.nic.in/ and create your online application account. Fill in all required information carefully. Once you have completed and locked your application (by clicking 'Lock & Submit'), you cannot edit it — so review everything before you submit.

**Step 2: Pay your registration fee.** After you submit your application, you will receive a unique mobile number and email ID. Use these to log in and pay your registration fee. You can pay using Internet Banking, Debit Card, or Credit Card. If you face any technical issue during payment, contact the bank's customer support immediately — do not assume the payment failed. If you are eligible for a refund (as per the norms), the refund will be processed to the bank account from which you made the payment.

**Step 3: Fill and lock your choices.** After payment, log back into the portal and fill in your choice of colleges and courses. You can fill choices from 09 August 2026 (11:00 AM) to 17 August 2026 (11:59 PM). Once you lock your choices, you cannot change them — so be absolutely certain before you lock.

**Step 4: Verify your EWS category (if applicable).** If you have applied under the EWS (Economically Weaker Section) category, the National Testing Agency (NTA) will verify your EWS certificate based on your NEET UG 2026 result. Only candidates whose EWS status is confirmed by NTA will be eligible for EWS seats in the state counselling. If you applied for EWS in NEET UG 2026 but your EWS certificate was not verified by NTA, you will not receive the benefit of EWS seats in Chhattisgarh counselling. Your category eligibility will be determined by NTA's data, not by your own claim. No application for EWS category will be accepted after the choice-locking deadline.

Critical trap: NRI (Non-Resident Indian) candidates and seat forfeiture

If you are an NRI candidate and you are allotted a seat in the first round of counselling under any category (including NRI quota), but you do not report to the college or do not complete admission formalities, your seat will be forfeited. You will lose your registration fee and will not be eligible to participate in the second round of counselling. This is a strict rule — there are no exceptions. If you are unsure whether you can join, do not apply in the first round.

Admission after allotment — what happens next

Once you are allotted a seat, you will receive an admission letter. You must report to the allotted college within the time specified in the letter. At the time of admission, the college will verify all your original documents — your NEET result, educational certificates, caste certificate (if applicable), and any other document required by the norms. If any document is found to be false, forged, or does not meet the requirements, your admission will be cancelled immediately. The college and the Directorate of Medical Education reserve the right to cancel your admission at any stage if documents are found to be incorrect or if you do not meet the eligibility criteria.

If you are allotted a seat in a government medical college, you are eligible for the second round of counselling only if you do not report for admission in the first round. If you are allotted a seat in a private medical college or if you are allotted a seat in a government college but do not join, you may be eligible for the second round — but this depends on the specific rules of the second round, which will be announced separately.

Payment methods and technical issues

You can pay your registration fee using Internet Banking, Debit Card, or Credit Card. The portal accepts payments from all major banks. If you face a technical issue during payment — for example, the payment gateway does not respond or your bank declines the transaction — contact your bank immediately. Do not assume the payment has failed; verify with your bank before you try again.

If you have a refund due (as per the norms), it will be credited to the bank account from which you made the payment. If you have a query about a refund, contact the bank that processed your payment, not the counselling office.

Common mistakes that get applications rejected

Read this section carefully. These are the most common reasons why applications are rejected or admissions are cancelled:

• **Submitting an application after the deadline.** The portal closes at 11:59 PM on 16 August 2026. If you submit even one second after this time, your application will not be accepted. There are no extensions, no exceptions.
• **Failing to pay the registration fee.** If you do not pay the fee by the deadline, your application is incomplete and you will not be eligible for seat allotment.
• **Not locking your choices.** If you fill in your college choices but do not click 'Lock', your choices are not final and will not be considered for allotment. You must lock your choices by 17 August 2026 (11:59 PM).
• **Submitting false or forged documents.** If any document (caste certificate, income certificate, domicile certificate, educational certificate) is found to be false or forged, your application will be rejected and your admission (if allotted) will be cancelled. You may also face legal action.
• **Caste certificate issued by an incompetent authority.** Your caste certificate must be issued by the competent authority as defined in the norms. If it is issued by any other authority, it will not be accepted.
• **Not meeting the eligibility criteria in the norms.** Before you apply, read the Chhattisgarh Medical, Dental and Physiotherapy Colleges (Regulation) Norms, 2025 carefully. If you do not meet the criteria, your application will be rejected.
• **Applying for a category you are not eligible for.** If you apply for SC/ST/OBC or EWS but your certificate is not valid or is not verified by NTA (in the case of EWS), you will be considered under the general category. If your NEET rank does not qualify for the general category, you will not be allotted a seat.
• **Not reporting for admission after allotment.** If you are allotted a seat but do not report to the college, your seat is forfeited and your registration fee is lost. You will not be eligible for the second round.

Where to find more information and get help

All information about the counselling process, seat matrices, college details, and the complete norms are available on the official websites:

**www.cgdme.in** — the main website of the Directorate of Medical Education, Chhattisgarh.

**https://cgdme.admissions.nic.in/** — the online application and counselling portal.

If you have a technical issue with the online application, contact the portal support team through the website. If you have a question about eligibility, documents, or the norms, refer to the Chhattisgarh Medical, Dental and Physiotherapy Colleges (Regulation) Norms, 2025, which is available on both websites. Do not rely on rumors or unofficial sources.

Frequently asked questions

Start your application immediately on www.cgdme.in or https://cgdme.admissions.nic.in/. Read the Chhattisgarh Medical, Dental and Physiotherapy Colleges (Regulation) Norms, 2025 before you begin. Register and pay your fee by 16 August 2026 (11:59 PM), then fill and lock your college choices by 17 August 2026 (11:59 PM). Do not miss these deadlines — there are no extensions, and missing them means losing your seat in this round.