The Odisha Joint Entrance Examination (OJEE) Board has released the official seat vacancy matrix for the state quota stray vacancy round of MBBS and BDS counselling for the 2026-27 academic session. This document shows exactly how many seats are available at each of the five participating colleges, broken down by category (ST, SC, SEBC, UR, EWS) and sub-category. The stray vacancy round is the final opportunity to fill remaining seats after the main counselling rounds, so this matrix is critical for candidates deciding whether to participate and which college to prioritise.
Five Odisha medical colleges have 78 MBBS seats and 65 BDS seats available across all categories in the stray vacancy round — check the matrix to see which colleges and categories have openings in your eligibility.
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Unlock My College ListWhat is the Stray Vacancy Round?
The stray vacancy round is the final counselling phase after the main allotment rounds. It is held to fill any seats that remain vacant after candidates have been allotted in earlier rounds and some have either not joined or have withdrawn. This round gives candidates a second chance to secure a seat if they were not allotted in the main rounds, or if they wish to upgrade to a different college or course.
In Odisha's NEET UG counselling, the stray vacancy round operates under the state quota system, meaning these are the 85% of seats reserved for Odisha domicile candidates. The remaining 15% are NRI/management quota seats, which are not part of this round. Participation in the stray round is optional — you apply only if you wish to try for these remaining seats.
Which Colleges Are Participating?
Five medical and dental colleges in Odisha are offering seats in this stray vacancy round. These include both government and private institutions across the state. The colleges are SCB Medical College (Cuttack), HITECH Medical College (Bhubaneswar), HITECH Medical College (Rourkela), DRIEMS Medical College (Cuttack), and HITECH Dental College (Bhubaneswar).
- SCB Medical College, Cuttack — government MBBS college
- HITECH Medical College, Bhubaneswar — private MBBS college
- HITECH Medical College, Rourkela — private MBBS college
- DRIEMS Medical College, Cuttack — private MBBS college
- HITECH Dental College, Bhubaneswar — private BDS college
Total Seats Available
Across all five colleges and all categories combined, there are 78 MBBS seats and 65 BDS seats available in the stray vacancy round. The MBBS seats are distributed across four colleges (SCB, HITECH Bhubaneswar, HITECH Rourkela, and DRIEMS), while the BDS seats are available only at HITECH Dental College, Bhubaneswar. These numbers represent the final pool of unfilled seats after all previous counselling rounds.
- Total MBBS seats: 78 (across 4 colleges)
- Total BDS seats: 65 (at 1 college)
- Grand total: 143 seats
Understanding the Seat Matrix by Category
The vacancy matrix is organised by category and sub-category. The main categories are ST (Scheduled Tribe), SC (Scheduled Caste), SEBC (Socially and Educationally Backward Class), UR (Unreserved/General), and EWS (Economically Weaker Section). Within each main category, there are further sub-categories: OP (Open), SGS (State Government Servant), GC (Girl Child), PC (Person with Disability), and ES (Ex-Serviceman). Additionally, there is an EB (Economically Backward) category with its own sub-divisions.
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Each cell in the matrix shows the number of vacant seats for that specific category-subcategory combination at each college. For example, if SCB Medical College shows '2' under ST OP (Scheduled Tribe Open), it means 2 seats are available for ST candidates with no other special status. A '0' means no seats are vacant in that category-subcategory at that college.
| College | ST OP | ST SGS | ST GC | ST PC | ST ES | SC OP | SC SGS | SC GC | SC PC | SC ES | SEBC OP | SEBC SGS | SEBC GC | SEBC PC | SEBC ES | UR OP | UR SGS | UR GC | UR PC | UR ES | EWS OP | EWS SGS | EWS GC | EWS PC | EWS ES | NRI | TOTAL |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SCB DC, Cuttack (MBBS) | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 9 |
| HITECH MC, Bhubaneswar (MBBS) | 15 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 30 |
| HITECH MC, Rourkela (MBBS) | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 10 |
| DRIEMS, Cuttack (MBBS) | 16 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 38 |
| HITECH Dental College, Bhubaneswar (BDS) | 11 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 19 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 14 | 65 |
Category-Wise Seat Breakdown
Understanding how seats are distributed across categories helps you assess your chances. The UR (Unreserved) category has the most seats available across colleges — 25 MBBS seats and 19 BDS seats. This is because UR seats are filled last and often remain vacant. ST (Scheduled Tribe) candidates have significant availability — 37 MBBS seats and 11 BDS seats. SC (Scheduled Caste) candidates have 8 MBBS seats and 6 BDS seats. SEBC candidates have 1 MBBS seat and 8 BDS seats. EWS candidates have 0 MBBS seats and 1 BDS seat.
Within each category, sub-categories like SGS (State Government Servant), GC (Girl Child), PC (Person with Disability), and ES (Ex-Serviceman) have very few or no seats in most cases. This is normal — these are special reservations within the main category, and they are filled only if eligible candidates apply. If no candidate qualifies for a sub-category, those seats revert to the main category (e.g., ST OP).
- ST (Scheduled Tribe): 37 MBBS + 11 BDS = 48 seats
- SC (Scheduled Caste): 8 MBBS + 6 BDS = 14 seats
- SEBC: 1 MBBS + 8 BDS = 9 seats
- UR (Unreserved): 25 MBBS + 19 BDS = 44 seats
- EWS: 0 MBBS + 1 BDS = 1 seat
Important Rule: Vacant Seats Revert to UR Category
The notice includes a critical note: 'If sufficient numbers of candidate are not available in any Reserve category, the vacant seats will be filled up by UR category.' This means if there are not enough eligible ST, SC, SEBC, or EWS candidates to fill all reserved seats, those unfilled seats automatically become available to UR (General) candidates. This is a standard rule in Indian medical counselling and protects against seats going completely empty.
For example, if only 5 ST candidates apply in the stray round but 37 ST seats are available, the remaining 32 ST seats will be converted to UR seats and offered to General category candidates. This is why UR candidates often have a better chance in stray rounds — they can access both UR seats and any reserved seats that go unfilled.
College-Wise Seat Distribution
The seat availability varies significantly by college. DRIEMS Medical College, Cuttack has the most MBBS seats (38), followed by HITECH Medical College, Bhubaneswar (30). SCB Medical College, Cuttack (the government college) has only 9 MBBS seats available. HITECH Medical College, Rourkela has the fewest MBBS seats (10). For BDS, only HITECH Dental College, Bhubaneswar is participating, with 65 seats across all categories.
The reason for these differences is that colleges with higher dropout or withdrawal rates in earlier rounds have more stray vacancies. Government colleges typically have fewer stray vacancies because candidates who secure government seats are more likely to join. Private colleges often have more vacancies because some candidates withdraw after securing government seats elsewhere.
- DRIEMS, Cuttack (MBBS): 38 seats
- HITECH MC, Bhubaneswar (MBBS): 30 seats
- HITECH MC, Rourkela (MBBS): 10 seats
- SCB DC, Cuttack (MBBS): 9 seats
- HITECH Dental College, Bhubaneswar (BDS): 65 seats
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What the Sub-Categories Mean
Within each main category (ST, SC, SEBC, UR, EWS), there are five sub-categories. OP (Open) is the standard sub-category for candidates with no special status — this is where most seats are. SGS (State Government Servant) is for children of state government employees. GC (Girl Child) is a reservation for girls within the category. PC (Person with Disability) is for candidates with a disability certificate. ES (Ex-Serviceman) is for children of military personnel.
To apply for a sub-category seat, you must have the required certificate or proof. For example, to apply for SGS, you need a government service certificate from your parent's employer. For GC, you simply need to be a girl. For PC, you need a disability certificate issued by a competent authority. For ES, you need an ex-serviceman certificate. If you do not have the required proof, you cannot apply for that sub-category — you can only apply for OP (Open) within your main category.
- OP (Open): No special status required
- SGS (State Government Servant): Parent must be a state government employee
- GC (Girl Child): Candidate must be female
- PC (Person with Disability): Candidate must have a disability certificate
- ES (Ex-Serviceman): Parent must be an ex-serviceman
NRI Seats Are Separate
The matrix includes an NRI column showing 0, 7, 6, 12, and 14 seats respectively for each college. These are NOT part of the state quota stray vacancy round — they are separate NRI/management quota seats filled through a different process. NRI seats are for Non-Resident Indian candidates and are typically filled at higher fees. Unless you are an NRI candidate, you should ignore the NRI column and focus only on the state quota columns (ST, SC, SEBC, UR, EWS).
How to Use This Matrix When Applying
When the stray vacancy round counselling opens, you will need to fill a choice form listing colleges and courses in your order of preference. Use this matrix to identify which colleges have seats available in your category. For example, if you are an ST candidate, check the ST OP column — you will see that DRIEMS (16 seats), HITECH Bhubaneswar (15 seats), and SCB (2 seats) have ST OP seats available for MBBS. If you are a UR candidate, you have the most options — 25 MBBS seats across all four colleges.
Remember that the numbers in this matrix are the vacancies at the time of publication (18 October 2026). By the time counselling actually begins, some of these seats may have been filled through other processes, or new vacancies may have arisen. Always check the official OJEE portal for the most up-to-date seat status before submitting your choices. The matrix is a guide, not a guarantee of availability.
- Identify your category (ST, SC, SEBC, UR, or EWS)
- Check which colleges have seats in your category
- Note the number of seats at each college
- Prioritise colleges based on your preference and seat availability
- Verify the latest seat status on the OJEE portal before counselling begins
Key Dates and Next Steps
This seat matrix was released on 18 October 2026. The notice does not specify the exact dates for the stray vacancy round counselling (registration, choice filling, allotment), so you must check the official OJEE website (ojee.nic.in) for the counselling schedule. Typically, stray rounds are held within 1-2 weeks of the main allotment, but this can vary.
To stay updated, visit the OJEE official portal regularly, enable notifications, and check your registered email and phone number for counselling announcements. Do not rely on this matrix alone — it is a snapshot of vacancies as of 18 October. The actual counselling process, eligibility criteria, and document requirements will be detailed in a separate counselling notification that OJEE will release before the stray round begins.
- Matrix released: 18 October 2026
- Counselling dates: Check OJEE portal (ojee.nic.in) for announcement
- Keep your NEET UG 2026 admit card and score card ready
- Prepare all required documents (category certificate, domicile, etc.)
- Monitor OJEE email and portal for counselling schedule
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See My CollegesFrequently asked questions
What is the stray vacancy round in Odisha NEET UG counselling?
The stray vacancy round is the final counselling phase held after the main allotment rounds to fill any remaining vacant seats. It gives candidates who were not allotted in earlier rounds, or who wish to upgrade, a chance to secure a seat. In Odisha, this round operates under the state quota system (85% of seats reserved for Odisha domicile candidates).
How many total seats are available in this stray vacancy round?
There are 78 MBBS seats and 65 BDS seats available across five colleges in the stray vacancy round, for a total of 143 seats. The MBBS seats are at SCB Medical College, HITECH Bhubaneswar, HITECH Rourkela, and DRIEMS Cuttack. The BDS seats are only at HITECH Dental College, Bhubaneswar.
Which college has the most seats available?
DRIEMS Medical College, Cuttack has the most MBBS seats (38), followed by HITECH Medical College, Bhubaneswar (30). For BDS, HITECH Dental College, Bhubaneswar has 65 seats. SCB Medical College, Cuttack (the government college) has only 9 MBBS seats available.
I am an ST candidate. How many seats are available for me?
ST candidates have 37 MBBS seats and 11 BDS seats available across all colleges. The most ST MBBS seats are at DRIEMS (16) and HITECH Bhubaneswar (15). However, if there are not enough ST candidates to fill all ST seats, the remaining seats will be converted to UR (General) seats.
What does the note 'vacant seats will be filled up by UR category' mean?
This means if there are not enough eligible candidates in a reserved category (ST, SC, SEBC, EWS) to fill all the seats reserved for that category, the unfilled seats automatically become available to UR (General) candidates. This ensures no seats go completely empty and gives UR candidates more opportunities in the stray round.
What is the difference between OP, SGS, GC, PC, and ES sub-categories?
OP (Open) is for candidates with no special status. SGS (State Government Servant) is for children of state government employees. GC (Girl Child) is for girls. PC (Person with Disability) is for candidates with a disability certificate. ES (Ex-Serviceman) is for children of military personnel. To apply for a sub-category, you must have the required certificate or proof.
Are NRI seats part of the state quota stray vacancy round?
No. NRI seats shown in the matrix (0, 7, 6, 12, 14 across colleges) are separate from the state quota round. They are filled through a different process for Non-Resident Indian candidates. Unless you are an NRI, focus only on the ST, SC, SEBC, UR, and EWS columns.
When will the stray vacancy round counselling actually begin?
The notice does not specify the exact dates. You must check the official OJEE website (ojee.nic.in) for the counselling schedule. Typically, stray rounds are held within 1-2 weeks of the main allotment, but this can vary. Monitor the OJEE portal and your registered email for announcements.
Can the seat numbers in this matrix change before counselling begins?
Yes. This matrix is a snapshot of vacancies as of 18 October 2026. By the time counselling actually begins, some seats may have been filled through other processes, or new vacancies may have arisen. Always check the official OJEE portal for the most up-to-date seat status before submitting your choices.
I am a UR candidate. Which college should I choose?
UR candidates have 25 MBBS seats and 19 BDS seats available. For MBBS, HITECH Bhubaneswar has the most UR seats (1 OP + 1 SGS + 1 GC = 3 total), followed by DRIEMS (1 OP + 2 SGS = 3 total). For BDS, HITECH Dental College has 19 UR OP seats. Choose based on your preference and the college's location and reputation.
What documents do I need to apply for the stray vacancy round?
The notice does not list the required documents. You must check the official counselling notification that OJEE will release before the stray round begins. Typically, you will need your NEET UG admit card, score card, category certificate (if applicable), domicile certificate, and other documents as specified by OJEE.
Is participation in the stray vacancy round mandatory?
No. Participation is optional. You apply only if you wish to try for the remaining seats. If you have already been allotted a seat in an earlier round and are satisfied with it, you do not need to participate in the stray round.
This seat matrix is your guide to what is available in Odisha's state quota stray vacancy round. Check which colleges and categories have seats matching your eligibility, but remember that these numbers are as of 18 October 2026 and may change. Visit the official OJEE website (ojee.nic.in) immediately to find the exact dates for stray round registration and choice filling — do not wait until the last moment. Prepare all required documents (category certificate, domicile, NEET score card) now so you are ready to apply as soon as counselling opens.
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