Odisha OJEE Stray Vacancy Round 2026: Dates, Eligibility & How to Apply

Odisha's Joint Entrance Examination (OJEE) board has announced the Stray Vacancy Round of counselling for MBBS and BDS courses under state quota seats. This is the final opportunity for candidates who did not secure a seat in earlier rounds or who were allotted but did not report. Registration opens on 16 October 2026 at 11:00 AM, with a compressed timeline: applications close on 18 October, allotment is on 20 October, and reporting must happen by 22 October. This round fills leftover seats across Odisha's medical and dental colleges. If you are eligible and have not yet been admitted, this is your last chance to participate in state-quota counselling for 2026.

What is the Stray Vacancy Round?

The Stray Vacancy Round is the final counselling round in Odisha's NEET UG MBBS/BDS admission process. It fills seats that remain empty after the first three regular counselling rounds. These are called 'stray vacancies' — leftover positions across state-quota colleges that no candidate has yet claimed.

This round is open only to candidates who meet specific eligibility criteria (see below). It uses the same state merit list that was used in earlier rounds. Once you are allotted a seat in this round, you cannot resign — the seat is final. This is a one-time, last-chance opportunity.

Who is Eligible for the Stray Vacancy Round?

You are eligible if you fall into one of these categories. Read carefully — if you do not meet at least one of these conditions, you cannot participate.

The notice lists six eligibility conditions. The most common are: (1) you have never held any seat in All India Quota or State Quota counselling, or (2) you registered in an earlier round, did not get allotted, and withdrew before Round 3, or (3) you were allotted in Round 3 but did not report to the college. If you have already been admitted to any college, you are NOT eligible — you cannot participate.

• You have never held any seat in All India Quota or State Quota counselling.
• You registered in an earlier round, did not get allotted, and withdrew before Round 3 — you do NOT need to register again, only fill fresh choices.
• You were allotted in Round 3 but did not report to the college by the deadline.
• You have already admitted to a college — you are NOT eligible and cannot apply.
• You must give an undertaking (a signed declaration) that you will not participate in any other MBBS/BDS stray vacancy counselling at the same time.

Important Dates and Timeline

The entire Stray Vacancy Round happens in just 9 days. Every date is critical — missing even one deadline will disqualify you. Below is the complete schedule.

Note: The notice contains a typographical error in the table — it lists the merit list publication date as '18-08-2026, 5:00 PM', which is in the past. This is almost certainly a typo for '18-10-2026, 5:00 PM' (18 October 2026). We have interpreted it as 18 October based on the logical sequence of events. Verify the exact time on the OJEE website before proceeding.

Step-by-Step: How to Apply

The application process has three main steps: registration with document upload, choice filling, and reporting. You must complete each step by its deadline or you will be disqualified.

Step 1 (17–18 October): Register online on the OJEE portal and upload all required documents for verification. The portal will close at 11:59 AM on 18 October — do not wait until the last minute. Step 2 (18–19 October): After the merit list is published on 18 October at 5:00 PM, log in and fill your choice of colleges and courses. You have until 5:00 PM on 19 October. Step 3 (22 October): Once allotment is published on 20 October at 5:00 PM, check your result and report in person at the OJEE Cell in Gandamunda, Bhubaneswar, by 10:30 AM on 22 October. Bring all original documents and your allotment letter. If you are upgraded on 23 October, you must report again by 10:30 AM on 25 October.

• Register on the OJEE portal (https://ojee.nic.in) between 17 October 11:30 AM and 18 October 11:59 AM.
• Upload all required documents (see 'Documents Required' section below) for online verification during registration.
• Check the provisional merit list on 18 October at 5:00 PM.
• Fill your choice of colleges and courses between 18 October 7:30 PM and 19 October 5:00 PM.
• Check your allotment on 20 October at 5:00 PM.
• Report in person at OJEE Cell, Gandamunda, Bhubaneswar, by 10:30 AM on 22 October with all original documents.
• If upgraded, check the upgradation allotment on 23 October at 5:00 PM and report by 10:30 AM on 25 October if required.

Documents Required

You must upload all required documents during registration (17–18 October). The notice does not provide a detailed list of documents, but standard OJEE counselling requires the following. Verify the complete list on the OJEE website before you apply.

At the time of in-person reporting (22 October), bring all original documents along with photocopies. The OJEE Cell will verify them against the uploaded versions. If there is a mismatch or a document is missing, your admission may be cancelled.

• NEET UG 2026 admit card and score card
• Class 10 and Class 12 mark sheets and certificates
• NEET UG 2026 rank letter / merit list printout
• Caste certificate (if applicable) — must be issued by the competent authority
• Income certificate (if applicable)
• PwD certificate (if applicable)
• Domicile certificate for Odisha (if claiming state quota)
• Passport-size photographs (as per OJEE specifications)
• Identity proof (Aadhaar, PAN, or passport)

Critical Trap: The Undertaking Requirement

Before you register, you must understand one non-negotiable rule: you must give a signed undertaking (a legal declaration) that you will NOT participate in any other MBBS/BDS stray vacancy counselling at the same time. This means you cannot apply to stray vacancy rounds in other states (such as NEET Counselling, state counselling in other states, or private counselling) while participating in Odisha's stray round.

If you violate this undertaking — that is, if you participate in another stray vacancy counselling simultaneously — you will be disqualified from Odisha's round and may face legal consequences. This is a binding commitment. Do not register unless you are certain you will not apply elsewhere.

No Resignation After Allotment

Once you are allotted a seat in the Stray Vacancy Round, you cannot resign or withdraw. The seat is final and binding. You must report on the specified date and join the college. This is different from earlier rounds, where some candidates could resign.

If you are unsure about a college or course, think carefully before filling your choices. Once allotted, you are committed.

If You Already Registered in Earlier Rounds

If you registered in Round 1, 2, or 3 and did not get allotted (or withdrew before Round 3), you do NOT need to register again. You can directly log in with your existing credentials and fill fresh choices based on the available stray vacancy seats.

However, if you were allotted in Round 3 but did not report, you ARE eligible to participate in the stray round. You will need to register again and fill new choices.

Merit List and Seat Allocation

The Stray Vacancy Round uses the same State Rank list that was used in earlier counselling rounds. Your rank does not change. Seats are allocated based on your rank, your choices, and the availability of stray vacancies.

Only candidates who appear on the provisional merit list published on 18 October at 5:00 PM are eligible to fill choices. If your name does not appear, you are not eligible for this round.

Reporting and Admission

After allotment is published on 20 October at 5:00 PM, you must report in person at the OJEE Cell, Gandamunda, Bhubaneswar, by 10:30 AM on 22 October. Bring all original documents, your allotment letter, and photocopies of all documents you uploaded.

The OJEE Cell will verify your documents and issue a provisional admission letter. You will then report to your allotted college with this letter and complete the college-level admission process (fee payment, hostel registration, etc.). If you do not report by 10:30 AM on 22 October, your allotment will be cancelled and the seat will be forfeited.

Upgradation Round (If Applicable)

After the initial allotment on 20 October, if additional seats become available due to candidates not reporting or withdrawing, an upgradation allotment may be published on 23 October at 5:00 PM. This is not guaranteed — it happens only if there are stray vacancies left.

If you are upgraded to a better college or course, you must report at the OJEE Cell by 10:30 AM on 25 October. If you do not report, your upgraded allotment will be cancelled and you will retain your original allotment (if you reported on 22 October).

Where to Find More Information

All official updates, the online portal, and detailed instructions will be available on the OJEE website: https://ojee.nic.in. Check this site regularly for any changes or clarifications.

The notice explicitly states that no individual invitation or information will be sent to candidates by email or post. You are responsible for monitoring the website and meeting all deadlines. Do not rely on phone calls or messages — only the official OJEE website is authoritative.

Frequently asked questions

Register immediately on https://ojee.nic.in between 17 October 11:30 AM and 18 October 11:59 AM. Upload all required documents during registration. Fill your choices between 18 October 7:30 PM and 19 October 5:00 PM. Check your allotment on 20 October at 5:00 PM and report in person at the OJEE Cell, Gandamunda, Bhubaneswar, by 10:30 AM on 22 October with all original documents. This is your final opportunity — do not miss any deadline.