OJEE (Odisha Joint Entrance Examination Board), which runs the 85% state quota MBBS/BDS counselling for Odisha, has issued a notice for NEET UG 2026 qualified candidates who want to claim a seat under the Physically Challenged (PC)/PwBD (Persons with Benchmark Disabilities) category. This is not a counselling schedule yet — it is an advance instruction telling PwBD candidates that before they can even see PwD seat choices in counselling, they must personally appear before a Medical Assessment Board set up by OJEE and get an Eligibility Certificate. The notice lists the documents to bring, the affidavits to fill (following new 2026 National Medical Commission guidelines), and the consequences of not appearing or submitting fake papers. The actual counselling schedule and assessment dates will be announced separately on the OJEE website.
Any NEET UG 2026 candidate who wants a PwBD seat in Odisha's 85% state quota MBBS/BDS colleges must personally appear before OJEE's Medical Assessment Board at SCB Medical College, Cuttack, with the specified documents and affidavits — those who skip this step will not be considered under the PwBD category at all, under any circumstances.
Who this notice applies to
This notice is for Odisha-domicile candidates who have qualified NEET UG 2026 and wish to claim admission under the PC/PwBD category for MBBS or BDS seats in Government and Private medical/dental colleges of Odisha, specifically under the 85% State Quota (the share of seats a state fills through its own counselling, as opposed to the 15% All India Quota filled centrally).
It follows new guidelines issued by the National Medical Commission (NMC) — "Guidelines on Assessment of Persons with Benchmark Disabilities (PwBD) for Admission to the MBBS Course, 2026" — which require a proper functional assessment before a PwBD candidate is allotted a seat, not just a disability percentage on paper.
If you plan to apply only through the general category, or you are applying for All India Quota (AIQ) seats, this specific state-board process does not apply to you — AIQ candidates must instead follow the Medical Counselling Committee (MCC) website for PwD-related instructions.
The core requirement: appear before the Medical Assessment Board
Every candidate wanting a PwBD seat must visit OJEE's Medical Assessment Board at LT-II, SCB Medical College, Cuttack, Odisha and get assessed in person. This is the single most important step — without it, you cannot get an Eligibility Certificate, and without that certificate you will not be shown any PwD seat choices during counselling.
The exact dates for this assessment have not been announced in this notice. OJEE says the detailed schedule will be notified later on www.ojee.nic.in, so candidates must keep checking that website.
The notice states in bold, underlined text that candidates who fail to attend the Medical Assessment Board shall not be considered under the PwBD category under any circumstances — there is no mention of a second chance or re-scheduling in this notice.
Documents to carry to the assessment
Candidates must submit the following at the Medical Assessment Board to obtain the Eligibility Certificate. Missing any one of these can stop you from being assessed.
- NEET UG 2026 score card, showing eligibility for the MBBS course
- Permanent UDID (Unique Disability ID) card issued by the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (Divyangjan), Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Government of India — a temporary/provisional UDID card is not what is specified here, only the Permanent UDID card
- A self-certified affidavit declaring your functional abilities, in the format specified in "Schedule-I" — this will be verified by the Board during assessment
- The Self-Certification Affidavit (Appendix-A), plus the affidavit specific to your disability category from Appendix-B, C, D, E or F depending on your type of disability
Which affidavit applies to your disability type
The NMC format uses different affidavits depending on the nature of disability. Appendix-A is filled by every PwBD applicant regardless of disability type. In addition, you must fill the specific appendix that matches your disability, as shown below.
| Appendix | Who fills it | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| Appendix-A | All PwBD applicants | General self-certification of disability type, percentage, assistive devices, and basic functional competencies |
| Appendix-B | Hearing impairment | Hearing loss (right/left/both ears), use of hearing aid/cochlear implant, ability to communicate, understand instructions and use a phone |
| Appendix-C | Locomotor disability — upper extremity | Coordinated activities such as lifting, eating, dressing, holding a glass, buttoning clothes, holding a pen and writing |
| Appendix-D | Locomotor disability — lower extremity | Stability activities such as standing, walking, sitting, climbing stairs, turning |
| Appendix-E | Mental illness / speech disorders / Specific Learning Disorder (SLD) / Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) | Communication, listening and responding to speech, following instructions, understanding medical terminology |
| Appendix-F | Visual impairment | Vision in left/right/both eyes, use of Low Vision Aid, and whether corrected acuity and field of vision meet the mandatory criteria |
What happens after you submit the documents
The Medical Assessment Board reviews the disability details on your UDID card together with the declarations in your affidavit, and generates the Eligibility Certificate — but only if you meet the eligibility criteria. This is not an automatic certificate; the notice explicitly says it is subject to fulfilment of eligibility criteria.
The certificate format itself, attached to the notice, shows how thorough this assessment is. The Board records your functional competency against the Competency Based Medical Education (CBME) Curriculum requirements, considers whether any 'reasonable accommodation' (assistive technology or support measures) can help you complete the MBBS course, and specifically evaluates whether your disability poses any risk to patient safety and whether that risk can be managed.
Based on all this, the Board gives one of three final outcomes: Eligible, Eligible with Reasonable Accommodation (with the specific accommodation named), or Ineligible (with reasons recorded). The certificate is signed by a Chairperson and multiple members and carries the Board's official seal.
Only candidates recommended by the Board will be shown PwD seat choices in the counselling software. If the Board finds you ineligible, you will not get PwD-category choices — the decision is described as final and binding.
Traps that can cost you a PwBD seat
The notice highlights strict consequences for two situations that candidates must take very seriously.
- ⚠️ Fake documents: if the UDID Card or any affidavit you submit is found to be fake, your seat will be cancelled and legal action will be taken against you — this is not a minor deficiency, it is treated as fraud.
- ⚠️ Not showing up: if you do not attend the Medical Assessment Board, you will not be considered under the PwBD category under any circumstances — there is no exception mentioned in this notice.
- ⚠️ Wrong UDID type: the notice specifically asks for the Permanent UDID card, not a provisional one — check which one you hold before the assessment date.
- ⚠️ One-year validity: the Eligibility Certificate is valid only for this academic session (2026-27). It cannot be reused in a future year's counselling.
- ✅ Carry originals plus notarised affidavits: every affidavit format (Appendix A through F) requires a deponent signature and notarisation — an affidavit that is not notarised is incomplete.
State quota vs All India Quota — don't get confused
This entire process — the Cuttack assessment, the affidavits, the Eligibility Certificate — applies only to Odisha's 85% State Quota MBBS/BDS seats, filled through OJEE's own counselling.
If you are competing for All India Quota (AIQ) seats — the 15% of seats filled centrally for all states — you must instead check the Medical Counselling Committee (MCC) website (mcc.nic.in/ug-medical-counselling) for that quota's own PwD assessment process and public notices. OJEE's Cuttack board does not cover AIQ seats.
What is still pending
This notice does not give exact dates for the Medical Assessment Board sittings, nor the overall counselling schedule for Odisha MBBS/BDS 2026. OJEE has said this detailed schedule will be announced later on www.ojee.nic.in. PwBD candidates should not wait for the counselling registration to open before planning their Cuttack visit — the assessment and the Eligibility Certificate need to be arranged before choices can be filled, so watch the website closely for the assessment dates.
2 minute · Free preview
Which MBBS colleges can your NEET rank actually get?
See the real colleges your rank can reach — every state and All India Quota — with official closing ranks and the exact fee for each seat.
See My CollegesFrequently asked questions
Do I need to attend the Medical Assessment Board even if I already have a UDID card showing my disability percentage?
Yes. The notice makes clear that a valid UDID card alone is not enough — you must personally appear before OJEE's Medical Assessment Board at SCB Medical College, Cuttack, along with your UDID card, NEET scorecard and the required affidavits, to be assessed and get the Eligibility Certificate.
What if I don't attend the Medical Assessment Board sitting?
You will not be considered under the PwBD category under any circumstances, as per this notice. There is no provision mentioned for a missed sitting to be rescheduled.
Which affidavit should I fill — Appendix A alone, or A plus another appendix?
Every PwBD applicant fills Appendix-A. In addition, you fill the appendix matching your specific disability: Appendix-B for hearing impairment, Appendix-C and/or D for locomotor disability (upper or lower extremity), Appendix-E for mental illness/speech disorders/SLD/ASD, and Appendix-F for visual impairment. Candidates with benchmark disabilities other than these listed types (for example blood disorders like haemophilia, thalassemia, sickle cell disease, or chronic neurological conditions) submit only Appendix-A.
Does this apply to All India Quota (AIQ) seats too?
No. This process is only for Odisha's 85% State Quota MBBS/BDS seats. For AIQ seats, candidates should check the MCC website (mcc.nic.in/ug-medical-counselling) for the relevant PwD notices.
Is the Eligibility Certificate valid for future years too?
No. The notice states the Eligibility Certificate will be valid for this academic session only, so it cannot be carried forward to a later counselling year.
What outcomes can the Medical Assessment Board give?
Based on the Eligibility Certificate format shared in the notice, the Board can certify a candidate as Eligible, Eligible with Reasonable Accommodation (naming the specific accommodation), or Ineligible with reasons recorded. Only those recommended (Eligible or Eligible with accommodation) will be shown PwD seat choices.
What happens if my UDID card or affidavit turns out to be fake?
The notice states clearly: your seat will be cancelled, and legal action will be taken against you. This is a serious warning, not a minor formality.
Where can I find the exact date for the Medical Assessment Board sitting?
The notice says the detailed schedule will be announced later on www.ojee.nic.in. This particular notice only explains the process and documents — not the dates.
If you are a NEET UG 2026 qualified candidate planning to claim a PwBD seat in Odisha's state quota, start preparing your Permanent UDID card and the correct affidavits (Appendix-A plus the one matching your disability) right away, and keep checking www.ojee.nic.in for the Medical Assessment Board schedule at SCB Medical College, Cuttack. Do not skip this appearance — it is the only way to become eligible for PwD seat choices in the counselling that follows.
Plan your admission with free AI tools
Turn your NEET score into a rank, then into the exact colleges you can get.