Assam NEET UG Counselling 2026 Round 1 Choice Filling: Dates, Lock Deadline and Complete Guide

The Directorate of Medical Education (DME), Assam has opened Round 1 choice filling for NEET UG 2026 state-quota admissions to MBBS and BDS courses. After registration closed on 15 August 2026 at 11:55 PM, eligible candidates can now log in at dme.assam.gov.in to arrange and submit their preferred medical and dental colleges before the deadline on 18 August 2026 at 10:00 PM. A separate choice-locking window opens later the same day from 5:00 PM to 11:55 PM.

If you cleared NEET 2026 and meet Assam domicile requirements, this round decides whether you secure a government medical or dental seat in the state. With more than 1,500 MBBS seats and around 176 BDS seats on offer, careful choice filling can make the difference between getting your preferred college and missing out entirely. Read this guide for dates, fees, documents, strategy tips, and what happens after you lock your choices.

What Is Assam NEET UG Counselling 2026?

Assam NEET UG Counselling 2026 is the official online seat allotment process conducted by DME Assam for admission into first-year MBBS and BDS programmes at government medical and dental colleges across the state. The counselling covers the 85% state quota seats reserved for Assam domicile candidates who qualify NEET UG 2026.

The remaining 15% seats fall under the All India Quota (AIQ) and are filled through Medical Counselling Committee (MCC) counselling at the central level. Assam domicile students may apply under both quotas, but they must follow separate registration and choice-filling processes on different portals.

DME Assam has published a provisional state merit list showing that 36,360 candidates are eligible for this counselling cycle. Because Assam has no private MBBS colleges, every state-quota medical seat is in a government institution, making competition intense even for moderate ranks.

Legal Framework and Conducting Authority

The process is governed by The Medical Colleges and Dental Colleges of Assam (Regulation of Admission into 1st Year MBBS/BDS Courses) Rules 2017, as amended up to 2026. DME Assam is the sole authority for state-quota counselling, and the entire Round 1 process—from registration to seat allotment—is conducted online. No offline counselling is held for these seats.

Assam NEET UG Counselling 2026 Round 1: Important Dates

Missing even one deadline can exclude you from Round 1 entirely. Save this schedule and cross-check it against the latest notification on the official portal before acting.

Key alert for candidates: Choice filling and choice locking are two separate steps. You can add and rearrange preferences until 10:00 PM on 18 August, but you must manually lock choices during the evening window on the same day. Choices not locked by 11:55 PM will be auto-locked by the system based on whatever preferences you saved at that moment.

Who Can Participate in Assam NEET UG Counselling 2026?

Only candidates who meet every eligibility condition can register and fill choices. DME Assam verifies documents at later stages, and discrepancies can lead to cancellation of allotted seats.

Basic Eligibility Criteria

• NEET UG 2026 qualification: You must have appeared in and qualified the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (Undergraduate) 2026 conducted by NTA, with a valid scorecard.
• Assam domicile: State-quota counselling is restricted to Assam residents. Candidates typically need a Permanent Resident Certificate (PRC) in the prescribed format, certifying continuous residency requirements as notified.
• Educational qualification: Passed Class 12 or equivalent with Physics, Chemistry, Biology/Biotechnology, and English as compulsory subjects from a recognised board.
• Study in Assam: Many candidates must produce certificates showing they studied from Class VII to XII in Assam institutions. Relaxations exist for children of government employees posted outside the state.
• Minimum age: At least 17 years as on 31 December 2026.
• Merit list inclusion: Your name must appear on the Assam state merit list published by DME Assam.

Reservation Categories

Assam follows state-specific reservation for SC, ST (Plains), ST (Hills), OBC/MOBC, EWS, PwD, and special horizontal quotas as defined in the admission rules. Category certificates must be issued by competent Assam authorities in the format specified in the counselling notification. Central OBC-NCL certificates used for AIQ counselling are not accepted for Assam state quota.

Participating Medical and Dental Colleges in Assam

Choice filling is your opportunity to rank every college you are willing to join. Assam's government medical colleges span major cities and emerging healthcare hubs across the state. While medical admissions are separate from general university admissions, many of these cities also host prominent higher-education institutions such as Assam University Silchar, Assam Agricultural University Jorhat, and Assam Don Bosco University Guwahati.

Government MBBS Colleges

• Assam Medical College, Dibrugarh
• Gauhati Medical College, Guwahati
• Silchar Medical College, Silchar
• Jorhat Medical College, Jorhat
• Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed Medical College, Barpeta
• Tezpur Medical College, Tezpur
• Diphu Medical College, Diphu
• Lakhimpur Medical College, North Lakhimpur
• Dhubri Medical College, Dhubri
• Nalbari Medical College, Nalbari
• Kokrajhar Medical College, Kokrajhar
• Nagaon Medical College, Nagaon
• Tinsukia Medical College, Tinsukia
• Additional newly notified government medical colleges as per the official seat matrix

Government BDS Colleges

BDS seats are limited compared to MBBS, with roughly 176 seats across Assam's dental colleges. Candidates interested in dentistry should fill both MBBS and BDS choices only if they are genuinely open to either course, since seat allotment is based on your preference order and merit rank.

Guwahati, the state's largest education hub, is also home to institutions like Assam Science And Technology University, The Assam Royal Global University Guwahati District Kamrup Metro, and Assam Down Town University. Students pursuing medical careers in Assam often consider location, hostel facilities, and travel distance when ranking colleges during choice filling.

Registration and Counselling Fees

Before choice filling, candidates who registered between 13 and 15 August 2026 paid a non-refundable registration fee of Rs 1,000. At the choice-filling stage, an additional refundable security deposit may be required depending on the type of colleges you select.

• Government colleges only: Security deposit of approximately Rs 10,000 (refundable as per counselling rules).
• Private or mixed choices: Higher deposit may apply where private dental or allied seats are included; check the live fee schedule on dme.assam.gov.in.

The security deposit ensures candidates report to allotted colleges and reduces seat blocking. Refund rules apply when you surrender a seat within the prescribed timeline or complete admission formalities as directed.

Documents Required for Assam NEET UG Counselling 2026

Keep scanned copies ready in PDF format (typically under 250 KB per file) before you begin choice filling. You will need these during registration verification and physical reporting after seat allotment.

• NEET UG 2026 scorecard and admit card
• Class 10 certificate and mark sheet (date of birth proof)
• Class 12 mark sheet and pass certificate
• Permanent Resident Certificate (PRC) / domicile certificate
• Study certificate from Class VII to XII (if applicable)
• Category certificate (SC/ST/OBC-MOBC/EWS/PwD) in Assam format
• Identity proof (Aadhaar, passport, or voter ID)
• Recent passport-size photograph
• Character certificate from school/college
• Any annexures specified in MBBS/BDS Admission Rules 2017 (Amended 2026)

Candidates claiming reservation benefits must ensure certificate validity dates and issuing authority match DME Assam requirements exactly. Incorrect documents are a leading cause of admission cancellation after allotment.

How to Fill and Lock Choices on dme.assam.gov.in

Choice filling is the most consequential step in Round 1 counselling. The order in which you rank colleges directly determines which seat you receive based on your merit rank and category.

Step-by-Step Choice Filling Process

1. Visit the official portal at www.dme.assam.gov.in.
2. Click the NEET UG Counselling 2026 / Round 1 link on the homepage.
3. Log in using the credentials created during registration (NEET roll number, password, and security code).
4. Navigate to the Choice Filling section from the candidate dashboard.
5. Browse the list of available MBBS and BDS colleges with seat matrix details.
6. Add colleges to your preference list by selecting course andinstitute.
7. Drag and reorder preferences from most preferred (top) to least preferred (bottom).
8. Fill the maximum number of choices allowed to improve allotment chances.
9. Review the entire list carefully—check course (MBBS vs BDS) and college name for each entry.
10. Save preferences before the 10:00 PM deadline on 18 August 2026.
11. Return between 5:00 PM and 11:55 PM on 18 August to manually lock your choices.
12. Download and print the locked choice confirmation page for your records.

Understanding Choice Locking vs Auto-Locking

Manual locking is strongly recommended even though the system auto-locks unfilled choices at 11:55 PM on 18 August. Auto-locking uses whatever draft preferences you last saved—it does not verify whether your list is complete or strategically ordered. Candidates who forget to add backup colleges often receive no seat in Round 1 because their incomplete list exhausted all options at higher ranks.

Smart Choice Filling Strategy for Assam NEET UG 2026

Successful counselling is part merit and part planning. Use these actionable tips while arranging your preference list.

Research Cut-Off Trends

Study previous-year closing ranks for each college under your category. Gauhati Medical College and Assam Medical College, Dibrugarh typically close at the highest ranks, while newer colleges in Dhubri, Nalbari, Kokrajhar, and Tinsukia may have relatively lower cut-offs. Place dream colleges at the top, realistic options in the middle, and safe backups at the bottom.

Do Not Leave Preferences Empty

DME Assam advises filling the maximum number of choices. A candidate ranked 2,000 who lists only three top colleges risks zero allotment, while the same candidate listing 15 to 20 colleges across rank ranges may secure a seat at a newer institution.

Separate MBBS and BDS Preferences Carefully

If you rank a BDS college above an MBBS college you would accept, you may be allotted BDS even when an MBBS seat was available at a lower preference. Order choices strictly by what you would actually join.

Factor in Service Bond and Location

Government MBBS seats in Assam may carry a service bond obligation (reported at approximately Rs 30 lakh for MBBS on government seats). Consider travel, hostel availability, and family support when ranking colleges in distant districts such as Diphu or North Lakhimpur versus Guwahati or Jorhat.

Avoid Last-Minute Portal Rush

Server load peaks in the final hours before deadlines. Complete choice filling at least one day before 18 August and use the locking window early in the evening to avoid connectivity issues.

Assam State Quota vs All India Quota: Key Differences

You may register for both processes simultaneously, but accept only one seat finally. Always check the latest MCC and DME Assam guidelines on seat surrender and withdrawal to avoid penalties or debarment.

What Happens After Round 1 Choice Locking?

Once choices are locked on 18 August 2026, DME Assam processes seat allotment from 19 to 21 August 2026 using merit rank, category reservation, and your preference order. The Round 1 result will be published on 22 August 2026 on dme.assam.gov.in.

After Result Declaration

• Download the allotment letter from the counselling portal.
• Report to the allotted college within the specified timeline with original documents.
• Pay admission fees and complete enrollment formalities.
• Candidates who do not report may forfeit the seat and security deposit as per rules.
• Candidates not allotted any seat can participate in Round 2, mop-up, and stray vacancy rounds.

Students who complete MBBS in Assam and wish to pursue specialisation later will need to clear NEET PG for postgraduate medical admissions at the national level.

Common Mistakes to Avoid During Choice Filling

• Skipping manual locking: Relying on auto-lock without reviewing your final preference list.
• Too few choices: Listing only top-tier colleges without safe options.
• Wrong course order: Ranking BDS above acceptable MBBS options unintentionally.
• Ignoring category cut-offs: Using general-category trends when you belong to a reserved category.
• Outdated documents: Uploading expired or incorrectly formatted category certificates.
• Multiple device logins: Session conflicts from logging in on multiple browsers simultaneously.
• Missing deadlines: Assuming choice filling and locking end at the same time—they do not.

Broader Higher Education Landscape in Assam

While NEET UG counselling leads to medical and dental careers, Assam offers diverse academic pathways across its universities. Institutions such as Assam Veterinary And Fishery University, Assam Womens University, Assam Skill University Assam, The Assam Kaziranga University, and National Institute Of Design Assam serve students in agriculture, veterinary science, skill development, design, and other fields. Siblings or peers of NEET aspirants exploring alternative courses can research these institutions alongside medical admissions.

Conclusion

Assam NEET UG Counselling 2026 Round 1 choice filling is a time-bound, high-stakes process that requires careful planning and timely action. With the choice-filling window open until 18 August 2026 at 10:00 PM and manual locking available from 5:00 PM to 11:55 PM on the same day, every eligible candidate should log in to dme.assam.gov.in, fill maximum preferences, and lock choices well before the deadline. Round 1 results on 22 August 2026 will determine provisional seat allotments for over 1,500 MBBS and 176 BDS state-quota seats. Treat your preference list as a ranked priority plan—not a wish list—and keep all documents ready for verification. Stay tuned to the official DME Assam portal for any schedule updates, Round 2 announcements, and admission modalities.