On 4 September 2026, the Centralised Admission Committee (CENTAC) of Puducherry published the final merit list for postgraduate dental (MDS) courses for the 2026-27 academic year. The merit list covers Government, Management, Management (Telugu Minority), and NRI quota seats, and includes special category lists for Puducherry candidates (Meritorious Sports Persons, Persons with Benchmark Disabilities, Freedom Fighters, and Ex-Servicemen). This is a critical moment: candidates who appear on the merit list must now submit their course preferences by 5 September 2026 at 1:00 PM, or they will not be considered for seat allotment in Round 1. Counselling for MDS courses at Sri Venkateshwaraa Dental College has been temporarily withheld pending orders from the state health authority, but preference submission must proceed on schedule.
If your name is on the merit list, you must submit your course preferences by 5 September 2026 at 1:00 PM — if you don't, you will be excluded from Round 1 allotment.
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Unlock My College ListWhat is this notice about?
This notice announces that Puducherry's CENTAC has published the final merit list for MDS (postgraduate dental) admission for 2026-27. The merit list is based on your NEET MDS 2026 score and the cutoff marks set by the authority. It covers all quota categories: Government seats, Management seats, Management (Telugu Minority) seats, and NRI seats.
Alongside the main merit list, CENTAC has also published separate merit lists for Puducherry candidates in special categories: Meritorious Sports Persons, Persons with Benchmark Disabilities, Freedom Fighters, and Ex-Servicemen. If you belong to one of these categories and are a Puducherry resident, you may appear on both the general merit list and a special category list.
The notice also tells you that you can now check your application verification status on your candidate dashboard. This status shows whether your submitted documents were accepted or if there are any issues that need to be resolved.
Who should read this notice?
This notice is for every candidate who applied for MDS admission in Puducherry and is waiting to know if they have qualified. If your name appears on the final merit list published on 4 September 2026, this notice directly affects you.
Even if you are not sure whether you qualified, you should log in to your CENTAC dashboard immediately to check your verification status and see if your name is on any merit list. The notice emphasizes that candidates whose course preferences are empty will not be considered for allotment, so action is required from everyone on the merit list.
Important dates and deadlines
The final merit list was published on 4 September 2026. This is the date the list went live on the CENTAC website.
The critical deadline is 5 September 2026 at 1:00 PM (13:00 hours). By this date and time, you must have submitted your course preferences through the CENTAC portal. This is a hard deadline — preferences submitted after 1:00 PM on 5 September will not be accepted.
- Merit list published: 4 September 2026
- Course preference submission deadline: 5 September 2026, 1:00 PM
What are course preferences and why do they matter?
Course preferences are your ranked list of MDS specialties and colleges you are willing to join. When you submit preferences, you are telling CENTAC which courses and institutions you want to be considered for, in order of your choice. For example, you might prefer Orthodontics at College A as your first choice, Prosthodontics at College B as your second choice, and so on.
Your preferences are crucial because the seat allotment algorithm uses them to match you with a seat. If you do not submit any preferences — if your preference list is empty — CENTAC will have no information about what you want, and you will be excluded from Round 1 allotment entirely. This means you will not receive a seat, even if you are high on the merit list. The notice explicitly states: 'Candidates whose course preferences are empty will not be considered for allotment.'
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You can update or change your preferences on or before 5 September 2026 at 1:00 PM. If you have already submitted preferences and want to change them, you can do so until the deadline. After 1:00 PM on 5 September, the preference window closes and no further changes are allowed.
How to submit or update your course preferences
Log in to the CENTAC portal at www.centacpuducherry.in using your candidate credentials (registration number and password). Once logged in, you will see your candidate dashboard.
On your dashboard, look for the option to submit or update course preferences for Round 1. Select the MDS courses and colleges you wish to apply for, and rank them in order of preference. You can typically add, remove, or reorder preferences until the deadline.
After you have finalized your preference list, save and submit it. Make sure you receive a confirmation message or receipt showing that your preferences have been submitted successfully. Do not assume your preferences are saved unless you see explicit confirmation.
If you face any technical issues or are unsure how to proceed, contact the CENTAC helpline at 0413-2655570 or 0413-2655571. You can also submit a query through the Grievances option in your login dashboard on the CENTAC website.
- Visit www.centacpuducherry.in
- Log in with your registration number and password
- Navigate to the course preferences section for Round 1
- Select and rank your preferred MDS courses and colleges
- Save and submit your preferences
- Confirm receipt of submission before the deadline
Merit list categories and quotas covered
The final merit list includes candidates from all major quota categories: Government quota (seats in government dental colleges), Management quota (seats in private/management colleges), Management (Telugu Minority) quota (seats reserved for Telugu minority institutions), and NRI quota (seats for Non-Resident Indian candidates).
In addition to these general quotas, CENTAC has published separate merit lists for Puducherry residents in special categories. These are: Meritorious Sports Persons (candidates who have achieved excellence in sports), Persons with Benchmark Disabilities (candidates with recognized disabilities), Freedom Fighters (candidates or their dependents who participated in India's freedom struggle), and Ex-Servicemen (retired military personnel). If you belong to one of these categories and are a Puducherry resident, you may be ranked on both the general merit list and a special category merit list, and you can compete under whichever category gives you a better rank.
- Government quota
- Management quota
- Management (Telugu Minority) quota
- NRI quota
- Meritorious Sports Persons (Puducherry residents)
- Persons with Benchmark Disabilities (Puducherry residents)
- Freedom Fighters (Puducherry residents)
- Ex-Servicemen (Puducherry residents)
Temporary hold on counselling for Sri Venkateshwaraa Dental College
The notice states that counselling and seat allotment through CENTAC have been temporarily withheld for MDS courses at Sri Venkateshwaraa Dental College. This means that even though the merit list has been published and you can submit preferences, the actual allotment process for this college is on hold pending further orders from the Directorate of Health and Family Welfare Services, Government of Puducherry.
This temporary hold does not affect your ability to submit course preferences now. You should still submit your preferences by the deadline. However, if you have listed Sri Venkateshwaraa Dental College as one of your choices, be aware that allotment to that college may be delayed or may not proceed until the competent authorities issue further orders. Continue to monitor the CENTAC website and your email for updates on when counselling for this college will resume.
How to check your verification status
When you log in to your CENTAC candidate dashboard, you will see the verification status of your submitted application. This status tells you whether your documents (such as your NEET MDS admit card, degree certificate, category certificate, if applicable, and other required documents) have been verified and accepted by CENTAC.
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If your verification status shows 'Verified' or 'Accepted', your application is complete and you are eligible for allotment. If it shows 'Pending' or 'Rejected', there may be an issue with one or more of your documents. If you see a rejection or pending status, contact the CENTAC helpline immediately to understand what is wrong and whether you can submit corrected documents before the preference deadline.
What happens after you submit preferences?
After the preference submission deadline (5 September 2026 at 1:00 PM), CENTAC will run the seat allotment algorithm. This algorithm matches your preferences with available seats based on your merit rank, your category, and the quota you are competing under. The algorithm respects your preference order: it tries to allot you your first choice, and if that is not available, it moves to your second choice, and so on.
Once allotment is complete, CENTAC will publish the allotment result (usually called the 'allotment list' or 'seat allotment result'). You will be able to see which seat, if any, has been allotted to you. The notice does not specify when this allotment result will be published, so watch the CENTAC website and your email for announcements.
If you are allotted a seat, you will then need to report to the allotted college, pay fees, and complete admission formalities. If you are not allotted a seat in Round 1, you may be eligible for subsequent rounds (Round 2, mop-up, etc.), depending on CENTAC's counselling schedule.
Common mistakes that can cost you your seat
The most critical mistake is not submitting any course preferences by the deadline. If your preference list is empty, you will be automatically excluded from allotment, even if you are ranked high on the merit list. This is non-negotiable: the notice explicitly warns that 'Candidates whose course preferences are empty will not be considered for allotment.'
Another common mistake is submitting preferences after the deadline. The deadline is 5 September 2026 at 1:00 PM. If you submit preferences at 1:01 PM or later, they will not be accepted. Do not wait until the last minute — submit well before the deadline to avoid technical delays or last-minute issues.
A third mistake is not checking your verification status before the preference deadline. If your application has been rejected during verification (for example, if a required document is missing or invalid), you may not be eligible for allotment even if you submit preferences. Log in to your dashboard immediately to check your status. If there is a problem, contact CENTAC urgently to see if it can be resolved.
Finally, do not assume that your preferences have been saved unless you see explicit confirmation. After you submit, look for a confirmation message, receipt number, or email acknowledgment. If you do not see confirmation, try submitting again or contact the helpline to verify that your preferences were received.
How to contact CENTAC for help
If you have questions, encounter technical problems, or need to report an issue, CENTAC provides multiple ways to reach them:
Visit the official website: www.centacpuducherry.in. The website has detailed information about the counselling process, FAQs, and links to the portal.
Call the helpline: 0413-2655570 or 0413-2655571. These are the official phone numbers to speak with CENTAC staff.
Use the Grievances option in your login dashboard: Log in to your candidate account and use the Grievances or Support section to submit a query. CENTAC staff will respond to your query.
Check your SMS: CENTAC has sent SMS notifications to all candidates with important information. Check your registered mobile number for updates.
- Website: www.centacpuducherry.in
- Helpline: 0413-2655570 or 0413-2655571
- Grievances option in your login dashboard
- SMS notifications to your registered mobile number
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See My CollegesFrequently asked questions
I see my name on the merit list. What do I do now?
Congratulations. You must now log in to the CENTAC portal (www.centacpuducherry.in) and submit your course preferences for Round 1 by 5 September 2026 at 1:00 PM. Select the MDS courses and colleges you wish to join, rank them in order of preference, and submit. If you do not submit preferences by the deadline, you will not be considered for seat allotment.
What is the deadline for submitting course preferences?
The deadline is 5 September 2026 at 1:00 PM (13:00 hours). You must submit your preferences on or before this date and time. Preferences submitted after 1:00 PM will not be accepted. Do not wait until the last minute — submit well in advance to avoid technical issues.
What happens if I don't submit any course preferences?
If your course preference list is empty, you will be automatically excluded from Round 1 allotment. This means you will not receive a seat, even if you are ranked high on the merit list. The notice explicitly states that candidates with empty preferences will not be considered for allotment. You must submit at least one preference to be eligible.
Can I change my course preferences after I submit them?
Yes, you can update or change your preferences on or before 5 September 2026 at 1:00 PM. Log in to your dashboard, modify your preference list, and save the changes. However, once the deadline passes at 1:00 PM, you will not be able to make any further changes.
I don't see my name on the merit list. What does this mean?
If your name does not appear on the merit list, it means you did not qualify based on the NEET MDS 2026 cutoff marks set by CENTAC. You may still be eligible for subsequent counselling rounds (Round 2, mop-up, etc.) if CENTAC conducts them. Check the CENTAC website regularly for announcements about future rounds.
What is the temporary hold on Sri Venkateshwaraa Dental College?
Counselling and seat allotment for MDS courses at Sri Venkateshwaraa Dental College have been temporarily withheld pending orders from the Directorate of Health and Family Welfare Services. This means that if you list this college as a preference, allotment to it may be delayed. You can still submit this college as a preference, but be aware that the allotment process for it is on hold. Monitor the CENTAC website for updates.
How do I check my application verification status?
Log in to your CENTAC candidate dashboard using your registration number and password. Your verification status will be displayed on the dashboard. It will show whether your submitted documents have been verified and accepted. If you see a rejection or pending status, contact the CENTAC helpline immediately to resolve the issue.
What quota categories are included in this merit list?
The merit list includes Government quota, Management quota, Management (Telugu Minority) quota, and NRI quota. Additionally, separate merit lists have been published for Puducherry residents in special categories: Meritorious Sports Persons, Persons with Benchmark Disabilities, Freedom Fighters, and Ex-Servicemen. If you belong to a special category, you may compete under that category.
When will the seat allotment result be published?
The notice does not specify the exact date for the allotment result. After the preference submission deadline (5 September 2026 at 1:00 PM), CENTAC will run the allotment algorithm and publish the result. Watch the CENTAC website (www.centacpuducherry.in) and check your email for announcements about when the allotment result will be released.
What should I do if I face technical problems while submitting preferences?
If you encounter technical issues, contact the CENTAC helpline at 0413-2655570 or 0413-2655571. You can also submit a query through the Grievances option in your login dashboard. CENTAC staff will help you resolve the issue. Try to contact them as soon as possible to ensure your preferences are submitted before the deadline.
Can I submit preferences for colleges outside Puducherry?
The notice covers MDS admission in Puducherry through CENTAC. The specific colleges and courses available for preference will be listed on the CENTAC portal. You can only submit preferences for the MDS courses and colleges that are part of the Puducherry counselling process. Check the portal for the complete list of available options.
What if I don't receive the SMS notification?
CENTAC has sent SMS notifications to all candidates' registered mobile numbers. If you did not receive an SMS, ensure that your mobile number is correctly registered with CENTAC. You can also visit the website www.centacpuducherry.in or call the helpline 0413-2655570/2655571 to get the latest information. Do not rely solely on SMS — check the website and your email regularly for updates.
If your name is on the merit list published on 4 September 2026, your next and most urgent action is to log in to www.centacpuducherry.in and submit your course preferences by 5 September 2026 at 1:00 PM. Do not delay — this is a hard deadline, and preferences submitted after 1:00 PM will not be accepted. Check your application verification status on your dashboard to ensure all your documents are in order. If you have any questions or face technical issues, contact the CENTAC helpline at 0413-2655570 or 0413-2655571 immediately. After you submit preferences, watch the CENTAC website for the allotment result announcement.
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