Odisha NEET UG 2026 3rd Round Counselling: Dates, Choice Filling & Admission

The Odisha Joint Entrance Examination Board (OJEE) has released the official schedule for the 3rd round of counselling for MBBS and BDS admissions under the state quota (85% seats) for the 2026–27 session. This schedule was revised following changes to the All India Quota counselling timeline announced on 14 September 2026. The 3rd round is a critical opportunity for candidates who did not secure a seat in earlier rounds or wish to upgrade their college or course choice. All key dates—from registration through final admission—are now fixed, and candidates must follow the timeline strictly to avoid losing their seat.

What is the 3rd Round Counselling?

The 3rd round is the third and penultimate phase of Odisha's state quota counselling for MBBS and BDS seats. State quota seats (85% of all seats in Odisha medical colleges) are filled through this process, separate from the All India Quota (15%) which is managed by the Medical Counselling Committee (MCC) nationally.

In the 3rd round, candidates who were not allotted a seat in rounds 1 and 2, or who chose to withdraw and re-enter, get another chance to participate. The round follows a merit-based system: OJEE prepares a state merit list based on NEET UG 2026 scores, candidates fill their college and course choices in order of preference, and seats are allotted algorithmically based on merit and availability.

After the 3rd round, a 4th round (stray round) will be held to fill any remaining vacant seats. The exact schedule for the stray round will be announced later.

Important Dates: Complete Timeline

Below is the complete schedule for all 3rd round activities. Mark these dates in your calendar and set reminders—missing even one deadline can result in losing your seat or being unable to participate in that phase.

Who is Eligible for 3rd Round Counselling?

To participate in the 3rd round, you must have appeared for NEET UG 2026 and obtained a valid score. You must also be eligible under Odisha's state quota rules, which typically means you are an Odisha domicile candidate or meet the state's eligibility criteria for state quota seats.

Candidates who were allotted a seat in rounds 1 or 2 and have already reported for admission are NOT eligible to participate in the 3rd round. However, if you were allotted a seat but chose to withdraw before the deadline (which varies by round), you may be eligible to re-enter the 3rd round—check the OJEE website or contact OJEE directly to confirm your status.

If you did not register for earlier rounds, you must register during the 3rd round registration window (28–29 September) to be included in the state merit list and participate in choice filling.

Registration for State Merit List Preparation

Registration is the first step and is mandatory if you wish to participate in the 3rd round. The registration window is open from 28 September 2026 at 11:30 AM until 29 September 2026 at 11:59 PM—a total of approximately 36 hours. Do not delay; register as early as possible to avoid last-minute technical issues.

During registration, you will need to log in to the OJEE portal (https://ojee.nic.in or www.odishajee.com) using your NEET roll number and password. You will be asked to confirm or update your personal details, category, and other information. Ensure all details are correct, as they will be used to prepare the state merit list.

After registration closes, OJEE will prepare the provisional revised state merit list based on your NEET score and category. This list will be published on 30 September 2026 at 2:00 PM. You should check this list to verify that your name, score, rank, and category are correct.

• Registration window: 28 September 11:30 AM to 29 September 11:59 PM
• Portal: https://ojee.nic.in or www.odishajee.com
• You will need your NEET roll number and password
• Verify all personal details, category, and score information during registration

Checking the Merit List and Raising Queries

On 30 September 2026 at 2:00 PM, OJEE will publish the Provisional Revised State Merit List. This list shows all registered candidates ranked by their NEET score within their category. Check this list immediately to confirm your name, rank, score, and category are correct.

If you find any error—such as a wrong score, wrong category, or your name missing—you must raise a query during the query window. The query invitation period is 1 October 2026 at 11:30 AM. The notice does not specify an end time for queries, but typically such windows close within a few hours; check the OJEE website for the exact deadline.

After queries are resolved, OJEE will publish the final 3rd Round State Merit List on 1 October 2026 at 5:30 PM. This is the list that will be used for allotment. Candidates are ranked on this list, and seats are allotted in order of merit and choice preference.

• Provisional Revised State Merit List published: 30 September 2026, 2:00 PM
• Query window opens: 1 October 2026, 11:30 AM
• Final 3rd Round State Merit List published: 1 October 2026, 5:30 PM
• Check your rank, score, and category carefully

Choice Filling: How to Select Your Colleges and Courses

Choice filling is the process by which you tell OJEE which colleges and courses you are interested in, ranked in order of your preference. This is critical: your allotment will be based on your merit rank and your choice preferences. If you do not fill choices, you cannot be allotted a seat.

The choice filling window opens on 1 October 2026 at 7:30 PM and closes on 4 October 2026 at 11:59 PM—a window of approximately 3.5 days. You must log into the OJEE portal, view the list of available colleges and courses (MBBS and BDS), and rank them in order of preference. You can add, remove, or reorder choices at any time during this window.

After you have finalized your choices, you must 'lock' them. Locking means you are confirming your choices and they cannot be changed after that point. The portal will allow you to lock your choices anytime during the filling window. Once locked, your choices are final and will be used for allotment. Do not lock too early if you are still considering changes—but do lock before the deadline to ensure your choices are saved.

Strategy tip: Rank colleges and courses realistically. Place your most preferred college/course first, then progressively less preferred options. The allotment algorithm will try to match you to the highest-ranked choice for which you are eligible based on your merit rank and seat availability.

• Choice filling window: 1 October 7:30 PM to 4 October 11:59 PM
• Log in to https://ojee.nic.in or www.odishajee.com
• View available MBBS and BDS colleges and courses
• Rank colleges/courses in order of preference
• You can add, remove, or reorder choices anytime during the window
• Lock your choices before the deadline—locking is final
• If you do not fill and lock choices, you will not be allotted a seat

Allotment: When and How You Will Know Your Seat

After the choice filling window closes, OJEE runs an allotment algorithm that matches candidates to seats based on their merit rank and choice preferences. The algorithm processes candidates in order of their rank and tries to allot them to the highest-ranked choice for which a seat is available.

On 6 October 2026 at 11:30 AM, OJEE will publish the 3rd Round Provisional Allotment. This is a preliminary allotment and may be subject to queries or corrections. Check the provisional allotment to see if you have been allotted a seat, and if so, which college and course.

If you find an error in the provisional allotment (e.g., you were allotted a choice you did not select, or your rank was miscalculated), you can raise a query during the query window on 7 October 2026 at 11:30 AM. Again, the notice does not specify the end time; check the OJEE website.

The final 3rd Round Allotment will be published on 8 October 2026 at 11:30 AM. At this time, you can download your Allotment Letter from the OJEE portal. The allotment letter will state your allotted college, course (MBBS or BDS), and seat category. This is your official confirmation of the seat.

• Provisional Allotment published: 6 October 2026, 11:30 AM
• Query window for Provisional Allotment: 7 October 2026, 11:30 AM
• Final Allotment published: 8 October 2026, 11:30 AM
• Download your Allotment Letter from the portal
• The letter states your college, course, and seat category

Withdrawal or Resignation: Can You Back Out?

If you are allotted a seat in the 3rd round but decide you do not want it (for example, you are waiting for the All India Quota result or you prefer to participate in the stray round), you can withdraw or resign from the counselling process. However, there is a strict deadline: you must withdraw by 7 October 2026 at 9:00 AM.

If you withdraw by this deadline, you will not be required to report for admission, and you will not be bound by your allotment. However, you will also not be eligible to participate in further rounds of Odisha state quota counselling (though you may still be eligible for the stray round if it is held).

If you do not withdraw by the deadline and you are allotted a seat, you are expected to report for admission. Failing to report without a valid reason may result in forfeiture of your seat and possible debarment from future counselling rounds.

• Withdrawal deadline: 7 October 2026, 9:00 AM
• Withdraw only if you are certain you do not want the allotted seat
• If you withdraw, you cannot participate in further Odisha state quota rounds
• If you do not withdraw and are allotted, you must report for admission

Admission: Reporting, Documents & Fees

If you are allotted a seat and do not withdraw, you must complete the admission process by reporting to the OJEE Cell at Gandamunda between 11 October 2026 and 15 October 2026. This is a 5-day window. Reporting means physically visiting the OJEE cell with your original documents and a signed bond to confirm your admission.

The notice states that a college-wise reporting schedule with detailed instructions will be notified separately. This schedule will specify the exact date and time you must report based on your allotted college. Check the OJEE website regularly after 8 October (when allotments are published) to find your college's reporting schedule.

You must bring the following to the OJEE cell: (1) your Allotment Letter (downloaded from the portal), (2) all original documents (NEET admit card, NEET score card, 10th and 12th mark sheets, category certificate if applicable, domicile certificate, and any other documents specified by OJEE), and (3) a signed bond (a legal undertaking that you will comply with the college's rules and regulations). The bond format will be provided by OJEE.

You will also be required to pay the admission fee at the OJEE cell. The notice does not specify the fee amount; check the OJEE website or contact OJEE (odishaojee@gmail.com) for the exact fee. Payment is typically made by demand draft or online transfer. After fee payment and document verification, your admission will be confirmed, and you will be issued a provisional admission confirmation.

• Reporting window: 11 October to 15 October 2026
• Location: OJEE Cell, Gandamunda
• College-wise reporting schedule will be published separately—check the OJEE website
• Bring: Allotment Letter, original documents, and signed bond
• Pay admission fee (amount to be confirmed by OJEE)
• After verification and payment, you will receive provisional admission confirmation

Documents You Must Bring for Admission

The notice specifies that you must bring 'original documents' to the OJEE cell but does not provide a detailed list. Based on standard NEET counselling practice in Odisha, the following documents are typically required. However, you must verify the exact list on the OJEE website or by contacting OJEE, as the notice does not explicitly list them.

Essential documents typically include: (1) NEET UG 2026 Admit Card, (2) NEET UG 2026 Score Card / Result, (3) 10th standard mark sheet and certificate, (4) 12th standard mark sheet and certificate, (5) Category Certificate (if you have applied under SC/ST/OBC category), (6) Domicile Certificate (proof of Odisha residency), (7) Aadhar Card or other government-issued ID, and (8) any other document specified in the OJEE guidelines.

The notice also mentions a 'signed bond'—a legal document in which you undertake to follow the college's rules and regulations. The format of this bond will be provided by OJEE; you will need to sign it in front of OJEE officials at the reporting center.

⚠️ TRAP: Do not assume the list above is complete. The notice does not provide the full list. Visit https://ojee.nic.in or www.odishajee.com immediately after your allotment is published (8 October) to download the complete document checklist. Missing even one document can result in your admission being rejected or delayed.

• NEET Admit Card and Score Card (original)
• 10th and 12th mark sheets and certificates (original)
• Category Certificate (if applicable)
• Domicile Certificate (proof of Odisha residency)
• Government-issued ID (Aadhar, passport, etc.)
• Signed bond (format to be provided by OJEE)
• Any other documents specified by OJEE
• ⚠️ Check the OJEE website for the complete list—do not rely on this article alone

The 4th Round (Stray Round): What Comes Next?

After the 3rd round, OJEE will conduct a 4th round, also called the stray round. This round is held to fill any seats that remain vacant after the 3rd round. The stray round typically has a more relaxed process and may allow candidates to apply even if they were not part of earlier rounds.

The notice states that the 4th round schedule 'will be published in due course of time.' This means the dates and process for the stray round have not yet been finalized. Check the OJEE website regularly after 15 October 2026 (when 3rd round admissions conclude) for the stray round announcement.

If you do not secure a seat in the 3rd round, or if you withdraw from the 3rd round, you may be eligible for the stray round. However, eligibility and the process may differ from the 3rd round, so wait for the official stray round notification before making any decisions.

• 4th round (stray round) schedule will be announced later
• Stray round is held to fill remaining vacant seats
• Check OJEE website after 15 October for stray round details
• Eligibility and process for stray round may differ from 3rd round

Where to Find More Information & How to Contact OJEE

All official information about the 3rd round counselling, including detailed guidelines, instructions, and updates, is available on the OJEE website. You should bookmark these links and check them regularly, especially after key dates (e.g., after allotments are published).

Official OJEE websites: https://ojee.nic.in and www.odishajee.com. Both sites have the same information; use whichever is more convenient.

If you have questions or encounter technical issues, contact OJEE directly: Email: odishaojee@gmail.com. The notice does not provide a phone number, so email is the primary contact method. Response times may vary, so contact OJEE as early as possible if you have urgent questions.

The notice also mentions that candidates should follow all instructions provided by OJEE before registering for each round. This means that before you register on 28 September, check the OJEE website for any additional guidelines or instructions that may have been published.

• Official websites: https://ojee.nic.in and www.odishajee.com
• Email: odishaojee@gmail.com
• Check the website regularly for updates and guidelines
• Contact OJEE early if you have questions or technical issues

Frequently asked questions

Mark all dates in your calendar starting with registration (28–29 September). Register on the OJEE portal as soon as the window opens to avoid technical delays. After the merit list is published (30 September), verify your details immediately. Fill and lock your college choices between 1–4 October, ranking them carefully in order of preference. Check your allotment on 8 October, and if you are allotted a seat and do not wish to withdraw, report to the OJEE Cell, Gandamunda between 11–15 October with all original documents and a signed bond. For the complete document checklist and college-wise reporting schedule, visit https://ojee.nic.in or www.odishajee.com after your allotment is published. If you have any questions, email odishaojee@gmail.com.