The Odisha Joint Entrance Examination (OJEE) authority has released the Final State Merit List for Odisha NEET UG 2026 counselling for admission to MBBS and BDS courses for the academic session 2026-27. The final merit list has been prepared following the completion of the third phase of registration and is now available for candidates participating in the Odisha state counselling process.

As per the latest update, the final state merit list contains 6,858 candidates and has been prepared primarily on the basis of candidates’ NEET UG 2026 All India Rank (AIR) and the documents submitted during the counselling registration process. Candidates included in the merit list are eligible to participate in the subsequent choice-filling and seat-allotment process, subject to the applicable counselling rules.

The release of the final merit list is an important development for NEET UG aspirants seeking admission to medical and dental colleges in Odisha under the state quota. Candidates should carefully check their state rank, category details, domicile status and other information before proceeding with choice filling.

Odisha NEET UG 2026 Final Merit List: Key Highlights

The publication of the final state merit list marks another significant stage in Odisha's NEET UG counselling process. Candidates whose names appear on the list can now proceed with the counselling activities as per the schedule announced by the authorities.

What Is the Odisha NEET UG 2026 Final State Merit List?

The Odisha NEET UG final state merit list is the state-level ranking document prepared for candidates participating in MBBS and BDS admissions through Odisha's counselling process.

The ranking is based primarily on the candidate's NEET UG 2026 All India Rank, along with the eligibility and information submitted during the counselling registration process. The merit list enables the counselling authority to establish the order in which eligible candidates are considered for seats.

It is important to understand that inclusion in the merit list does not mean that a candidate has been allotted a medical or dental seat. Seat allotment is carried out separately and depends on several factors, including the candidate's merit rank, category, choices submitted, seat availability and applicable reservation rules.

6,858 Candidates Included in the Final Merit List

The latest final state merit list includes 6,858 candidates. The list extends across multiple categories and contains detailed information that candidates can use to verify their counselling status.

The state ranks in the list extend up to 6,217, while newly registered candidates have also been assigned ranks containing decimal points in certain cases.

The candidate placed at State Rank 1 has a NEET UG All India Rank of 80, demonstrating the strong NEET performance of the candidates participating in the Odisha counselling process.

Category-Wise Distribution of Candidates

The final merit list includes candidates belonging to various categories. The category-wise distribution mentioned in the merit list is as follows:

The list also identifies candidates under different special categories wherever applicable. Candidates are advised to carefully verify the category under which they have been considered before proceeding with choice filling.

Odisha Domicile Details

Among the 6,858 candidates included in the final merit list, 6,857 candidates have Odisha domicile, while one candidate has been listed as being from outside Odisha.

Domicile status is an important component of state counselling because eligibility for state quota seats is governed by the applicable Odisha admission and reservation regulations.

Candidates should therefore check the domicile information displayed against their names and immediately follow the counselling authority's instructions if they identify any discrepancy.

Details Mentioned in the Odisha NEET UG Merit List

The final merit list contains several important details for each candidate. Candidates can generally find information such as:

• NEET application number

• Domicile status

• Category

• NEET UG All India Rank

• Odisha State Rank

• Category-wise rank

• Special category rank, wherever applicable

• Applicable special-category flags

The merit list also contains indicators relating to categories and special provisions such as GC, PC, EX, NRI and SG, wherever applicable.

Candidates should carefully cross-check all the information against their counselling application and NEET UG records.

How to Check Odisha NEET UG 2026 Final State Merit List

Candidates can check their final state merit position through the Odisha NEET UG counselling portal by following the steps below:

Step 1: Visit the Official Counselling Portal

Go to the official OJEE website and open the medical counselling section.

Step 2: Select MBBS/BDS Counselling

Navigate to the section related to MBBS and BDS counselling for 2026.

Step 3: Locate the Final State Merit List

Look for the notification titled “Final State Merit List for MBBS/BDS Admission 2026-27 (After 3rd Phase Registration)”.

Step 4: Open the Merit List

Click on the relevant merit-list link to open the PDF/document.

Step 5: Search Your NEET Application Number

Use the search function in the PDF and enter your NEET application number to locate your details.

Step 6: Verify Your Rank and Details

Check your:

• State rank

• NEET AIR

• Category

• Domicile

• Category rank

• Special category status, if applicable

Candidates should save a copy of the merit list and retain it for future counselling-related requirements.

What Candidates Should Do After the Merit List Release?

The release of the final merit list does not conclude the counselling process. Candidates included in the list must participate in the subsequent counselling activities to compete for available MBBS and BDS seats.

The most important next step is choice filling.

Candidates should carefully prepare a list of preferred colleges and courses before submitting their choices. Since the final allotment depends on the candidate's rank, category, preferences and availability of seats, the order in which choices are entered can significantly affect the eventual allotment.

Candidates should consider the following factors while filling choices:

• NEET UG 2026 rank

• Odisha state rank

• Category and reservation status

• Previous-year admission trends

• College preference

• Course preference

• Availability of MBBS and BDS seats

• Government and private college options

• Location and other practical considerations

Candidates should avoid filling choices randomly and should include sufficient options to improve their chances of receiving a seat.

Merit List Does Not Guarantee Admission

One of the most important points for candidates to remember is that being included in the Odisha NEET UG 2026 final state merit list does not guarantee admission.

The merit list only establishes the candidate's position in the counselling process. Seat allotment will subsequently depend on the candidate's rank, choices, category, seat availability and applicable counselling rules.

Therefore, candidates should not consider their inclusion in the merit list as confirmation of an MBBS or BDS seat.

Document Verification and Admission

Candidates who receive a seat during the counselling process will be required to complete the prescribed admission and reporting formalities.

Original documents are expected to be verified at the time of reporting. Candidates should therefore keep all required certificates and academic documents ready in advance.

Depending on the candidate's circumstances, documents may include:

• NEET UG 2026 admit card

• NEET UG 2026 scorecard/result

• NEET application details

• Odisha counselling registration documents

• Class 10 certificate

• Class 12 certificate and marksheet

• Date-of-birth proof

• Domicile certificate, wherever applicable

• Category certificate, wherever applicable

• PwBD certificate, if applicable

• NRI-related documents, where applicable

• Recent passport-size photographs

• Valid identity proof

• Other documents specified by the counselling authority

Candidates should check the latest counselling instructions before reporting because the exact document requirements may vary according to category and admission stage.

Special Category Candidates

The merit list also provides information concerning candidates covered under certain special categories.

Candidates claiming PwBD/PC status should pay particular attention to their eligibility and rank details. The counselling authority has stated that eligible candidates are assigned the applicable PC rank, while candidates found ineligible under the relevant assessment process may be considered under the General category.

Similarly, candidates under NRI and other special categories should carefully follow the separate documentation and verification requirements applicable to them.

Choice Filling Is a Crucial Stage

Once the merit list is released, choice filling becomes one of the most important activities for candidates.

A candidate may have a good NEET rank but still receive an unexpected allotment if the preferred colleges and courses are not arranged appropriately. Candidates should therefore prepare their preferences carefully rather than waiting until the last moment.

A practical strategy is to divide choices into three groups:

High-preference choices: Colleges and courses that the candidate strongly wants to join.

Realistic choices: Institutions where the candidate has a reasonable chance of obtaining a seat based on rank and category.

Safety choices: Additional eligible colleges and courses that can improve the possibility of securing an allotment.

Candidates should also remember that the availability of seats can change from one counselling round to another because of upgrades, resignations and other candidate movements.

What If There Is an Error in the Merit List?

Candidates should carefully inspect the information displayed against their names.

If there is an apparent discrepancy involving the candidate's category, domicile, NEET rank, special-category status or other important details, the candidate should follow the correction or grievance mechanism specified by the counselling authority.

Candidates should not ignore errors because incorrect information may affect subsequent counselling and seat allotment.

Odisha NEET UG 2026 Counselling: What Happens Next?

The final state merit list is an important foundation for the next stage of the Odisha MBBS/BDS counselling process.

The counselling process generally progresses through activities such as:

Final Merit List → Choice Filling → Seat Allotment → Seat Acceptance/Reporting → Document Verification → Admission

Candidates should closely monitor the counselling portal for the latest dates and instructions relating to choice filling, allotment and reporting.

The OJEE medical counselling portal has also indicated that Round 3 choice-filling activities have commenced, making the final merit list particularly important for candidates seeking participation in the current phase of counselling.

Important Advice for Odisha NEET UG 2026 Candidates

Candidates should keep the following points in mind:

1.    Check the final merit list using the NEET application number.

2.    Verify the state rank and NEET All India Rank.

3.    Check domicile and category details carefully.

4.    Confirm special-category information, wherever applicable.

5.    Do not assume that merit-list inclusion guarantees a seat.

6.    Fill college and course preferences carefully.

7.    Include an adequate number of eligible choices.

8.    Keep original documents ready for verification.

9.    Follow the prescribed reporting and admission schedule.

10.                   Regularly monitor the official counselling portal for fresh notices.

Conclusion

The release of the Odisha NEET UG 2026 Final State Merit List is a significant milestone for candidates seeking MBBS and BDS admission in the state for the 2026-27 academic session. With 6,858 candidates included in the final list, aspirants now have a clearer picture of their position in the state counselling process.

Candidates should remember that the merit list establishes eligibility and ranking but does not itself constitute a seat allotment. The next stages, particularly choice filling and seat allotment, will determine the college and course offered to each candidate.

Aspirants are advised to carefully verify their details, make informed choices based on their NEET rank and preferences, keep all original documents ready and follow every counselling instruction within the prescribed deadlines. Timely action at this stage can help candidates make the most of the available MBBS and BDS admission opportunities in Odisha.