If you're a NEET UG 2026 candidate hoping for an MBBS or BDS seat in Puducherry, there's a new document you need to check: the Union Territory's state merit list, now live on the Department of Health and Family Welfare Services website. This list ranks candidates by their NEET score for admission to Puducherry's state quota medical seats, separate from the All India Quota process run by the MCC. Along with the list, Puducherry has also indicated its counselling dates for this year. For aspirants targeting Puducherry's government and private medical colleges, this is the moment to move from waiting to acting.
Appearing on Puducherry's state merit list is only the first step — you must register and participate in the state counselling rounds between August 13 and 28, 2026, to actually secure and confirm an MBBS/BDS seat.
What the Puducherry state merit list actually is
Every state and Union Territory that runs its own medical counselling prepares a 'state merit list' by ranking NEET UG qualified candidates who are eligible for that region's state quota seats — usually based on domicile or residency criteria specific to Puducherry.
This list is different from your All India Rank (AIR). Your position here reflects only your standing among candidates competing for Puducherry's state-quota MBBS and BDS seats, and it is generated from your NEET UG 2026 score.
According to the published list, the top rank holder scored 670, with the next several candidates clustered in the 620–650 range — giving a rough sense of where competitive cutoffs for top colleges are likely to fall this year, though actual closing ranks will depend on category, seat availability, and how many candidates choose to join at each round.
| Rank | Total NEET Score |
|---|---|
| 1 | 670 |
| 2 | 646 |
| 3 | 646 |
| 4 | 633 |
| 5 | 631 |
| 10 | 616 |
Being on the list does not mean you have a seat
This is the single most important thing to understand: inclusion in the merit list only makes you eligible to take part in Puducherry's counselling process. It is not an admission offer, and it does not reserve a seat for you.
You still need to register for counselling, fill in your choices of college and course, and go through seat allotment. Many eligible candidates each year miss this step or miss deadlines, and lose their chance despite having a good rank.
Counselling dates you cannot afford to miss
Puducherry's counselling schedule has now been indicated alongside the merit list, and the dates are tight, so aspirants should mark them clearly.
Once round 1 seat allotment happens, candidates who are allotted seats must report and complete admission formalities at their allotted college by the joining deadline, or risk losing the seat to the next round.
- Counselling process window: August 13 to August 22, 2026
- Last date to complete joining formalities for round 1: August 28, 2026
- Verification of joined candidates' data by state authorities: by August 29, 2026
How to check your name and download the list
The process is straightforward but should be done carefully — verify your name, roll number, and score against your NEET UG scorecard to catch any discrepancy early, rather than after counselling has started.
- Go to the official website of Puducherry's Department of Health and Family Welfare Services (health.py.gov.in)
- Locate and click the link for the UT State Merit List PDF
- Search for your name or roll number in the displayed list
- Download and save the PDF for reference during counselling registration
What this means if you're applying from outside Puducherry
State quota seats in Puducherry are typically reserved for candidates who meet the UT's domicile or residency requirements, so this particular list will matter most to local candidates. If you're applying from another state, your route into Puducherry's medical colleges — if any non-domicile seats exist — or into colleges elsewhere would run through the All India Quota counselling conducted by the Medical Counselling Committee (MCC), which follows its own separate schedule and merit list.
Do not confuse the two processes. Registering only for the state list when you should also be tracking All India Quota rounds (or vice versa) is a common and costly mistake during this period of the admission cycle.
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
Where can I check the Puducherry NEET UG 2026 state merit list?
It is available as a PDF on the official website of Puducherry's Department of Health and Family Welfare Services, health.py.gov.in.
Does being on this list guarantee me an MBBS or BDS seat?
No. It only makes you eligible to participate in Puducherry's state counselling process. You still need to register, choose colleges, and go through seat allotment and joining formalities.
When does Puducherry's NEET UG counselling process run?
The counselling process is scheduled from August 13 to August 22, 2026, with the last date for round 1 joining formalities set for August 28, 2026, and data verification by state authorities by August 29, 2026.
What happens if I miss the round 1 joining deadline?
If you are allotted a seat but fail to complete joining formalities by the stated deadline, you risk forfeiting that seat, which would then be considered for allotment in a later round.
Is the Puducherry state merit list the same as my NEET All India Rank?
No. Your All India Rank (AIR) is your overall national ranking. The state merit list ranks you specifically among candidates eligible for Puducherry's state quota seats, based on your NEET score.
I'm not from Puducherry — does this list apply to me?
State quota seats are generally reserved for candidates meeting Puducherry's domicile criteria. If you are from another state, your admission route to colleges nationwide, including any open seats, would typically be through the MCC's All India Quota counselling, which has its own schedule.
If your name appears on the Puducherry state merit list, the next real step is registering for counselling and submitting your college and course choices before the window closes on August 22. Keep your NEET scorecard, ID proof, and category/domicile certificates ready now, so you aren't scrambling when allotment results are announced.
Plan your admission with free AI tools
Turn your NEET score into a rank, then into the exact colleges you can get.