The Odisha Joint Entrance Examination Board (OJEEB) has extended the deadline for Round 1 choice filling in NEET UG Counselling 2026, giving state-quota candidates extra time to finalise their college and course preferences. This matters because choice filling is the step where a candidate's final rank list turns into an actual seat, and any rushed or careless entry can mean losing out on a seat you were otherwise eligible for. The revised timeline has also been synced with the Medical Counselling Committee's (MCC) All India Quota (AIQ) schedule, so candidates registered in both streams don't face clashing deadlines. Round 1 in Odisha covers 2,009 MBBS and BDS seats across government and private colleges under the state quota.
Odisha NEET UG candidates who cleared the state merit list now have until 5:00 PM on August 22, 2026 to fill and lock Round 1 choices — use the extra days to compare against your probable AIQ allotment before locking.
What exactly changed
OJEEB issued a fresh notice on ojee.nic.in revising the Round 1 timeline for state quota NEET UG counselling. The seat count, seat distribution between MBBS and BDS, and every other counselling rule remain the same — only the dates for choice filling, locking, allotment and reporting have moved.
The board has said the extension exists mainly so that candidates who are simultaneously participating in the MCC's 15% All India Quota round (the central pool of seats open to candidates from any state) get enough time to see how both processes are progressing before committing to state-quota preferences.
Revised Round 1 schedule
Candidates should treat the dates below as the operative schedule until any further notice is issued on the portal.
| Activity | Revised Date and Time |
|---|---|
| Choice filling for final state merit-listed candidates | August 14, 2026, 8:30 PM to August 22, 2026, 5:00 PM |
| Choice locking starts | August 22, 2026, 11:30 AM |
| Reconciliation of data | August 23, 2026 |
| Round 1 provisional allotment | August 24, 2026, 2:00 PM |
| Query window on provisional allotment | August 25, 2026, 2:00 PM |
| Publication of Round 1 allotment / allotment letter download | August 26, 2026, 11:30 AM |
| Provisional admission, fee payment and document reporting at OJEE Cell, Gandamunda | August 28 to September 6, 2026 |
Who can participate and what's needed
Only candidates who appear in the final Odisha state merit list — published on August 14, 2026 at 5:00 PM — are eligible to fill choices in this round. Registration and document verification for the state quota must already be complete; this is not a fresh registration window.
- NEET UG 2026 admit card and scorecard
- Class 10 and Class 12 mark sheets and certificates
- Odisha residence or nativity certificate
- Category certificate, where applicable
- A valid government-issued photo ID
How to fill and lock choices correctly
Log in at ojee.nic.in using your NEET UG application number and password, then open the Choice Filling tab on your dashboard. List colleges and courses strictly in the order you actually want them — not in order of perceived difficulty of getting in. The system finalises whatever is saved and locked; if you never lock, the last saved list gets auto-locked when the window closes, so review carefully before the deadline rather than relying on a last-minute save.
Once choices are locked for Round 1, they cannot be edited. Download and keep the confirmation slip — you'll need it as a record if any query arises during allotment.
Why this timing matters for a NEET aspirant
Many Odisha candidates are also eligible for the 15% All India Quota, which is run separately by MCC on a different (and recently revised) timeline. Locking state-quota choices too early — before you know your likely AIQ outcome — can force a difficult choice: accept a state seat you're not fully sure about, or risk it and hope for a better AIQ allotment. The extended window reduces this pressure by letting candidates track both rounds side by side before making a final call.
That said, extended deadlines can also lull students into delaying too long. Treat the extra days as planning time, not idle time — decide your preference order early and use the remaining window mainly to double-check, not to start from scratch.
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See My CollegesFrequently asked questions
What is the new deadline to fill Round 1 choices in Odisha NEET UG counselling 2026?
Choice filling is open until 5:00 PM on August 22, 2026, with choice locking beginning at 11:30 AM the same day, as per OJEEB's revised notice on ojee.nic.in.
Who is eligible to fill choices in this round?
Only candidates who appear in the final Odisha state merit list published on August 14, 2026 and who have already completed OJEE registration and document verification for the state quota.
What happens if I don't lock my choices before the deadline?
The system will auto-lock whatever choices you last saved when the extended window closes, so it's safer to review and lock manually rather than leave it to auto-lock.
How many seats are available in this Round 1?
A total of 2,009 MBBS and BDS seats across government and private colleges under the Odisha state quota, with the MBBS-BDS split unchanged from the original notice.
Why was the deadline extended?
OJEEB has aligned the state quota timeline with MCC's revised All India Quota schedule so candidates counselling in both streams don't face conflicting deadlines.
When will the Round 1 allotment result be declared?
The provisional allotment is expected on August 24, 2026 at 2:00 PM, with the final allotment and allotment letter available from August 26, 2026, 11:30 AM, subject to any further revision.
Where do allotted candidates report for admission?
Allotted candidates must pay admission fees and report with original documents and a signed bond at the OJEE Cell, Gandamunda, between August 28 and September 6, 2026.
If you're on Odisha's final NEET UG merit list, don't wait till the last hour — fill and review your choices now, cross-check against your likely AIQ standing, and lock only once you're confident. Keep checking ojee.nic.in daily for any further schedule changes before the August 22 cutoff.
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