Category: NEET Guides

Odisha’s NEET category list for medical admissions has a distinctive feature: SEBC (OBC equivalent) reservation did not exist in medical education until April 2026. Through 2025-26, OBC candidates competed in the General (unreserved) category. The Odisha cabinet introduced 11.25% SEBC reservation from 2026-27 (cabinet approved; implementation pending confirmation).

Vertical category codes (through 2025-26)

Code	Category	Reservation %
GN	General (Unreserved)	70% (open merit)
SC	Scheduled Caste	8%
ST	Scheduled Tribe	12%
EW	Economically Weaker Section	10%

These codes appear in the “CATEGORY” column of OJEE allotment lists. EWS is treated as a separate vertical category in Odisha (with its own quota codes like EWNO, EWGC, EWPH), not as a horizontal overlay.

New reservation percentages (from 2026-27)

The Odisha cabinet approved revised reservation in April 2026:

Category	Old %	New %
ST	12%	22.50%
SC	8%	16.25%
SEBC (OBC equivalent)	0% (none)	11.25% (newly introduced)
EWS	10%	10% (unchanged)

The total reserved percentage rises from 30% to 60% with this revision, assuming EWS continues at 10% (awaiting confirmation). SEBC candidates who previously competed as General will now have a dedicated quota from 2026-27 onwards (cabinet approved April 2026; implementation timeline pending confirmation).

Horizontal reservations (applied within each vertical category)

These quotas cut across all vertical categories. A candidate benefits from horizontal reservation while being counted against their vertical category:

Code	Quota	Percentage	Eligibility
GC	Green Card	5%	Families holding valid Green Cards from the Family Welfare Department (income below ~Rs 1 lakh rural / Rs 1.2 lakh urban annually)
PC/PH	Physically Challenged (PwD)	5%	Minimum 40% benchmark disability, certified by medical board
EX	Ex-Servicemen	3%	Wards of ex-servicemen from Odisha
SGS	State Government School	15%	Completed both Class 10 from Odisha Government High Schools AND Class 12 from Odisha Government Junior Colleges

In Round 1 of 2025, these horizontal quotas filled: 260 SGS seats, 87 Green Card seats, 48 Ex-servicemen seats, and 42 PwD seats.

Combined quota codes in allotment lists

Odisha allotment PDFs combine vertical and horizontal codes into a single “allotment category” field. The pattern is [Vertical][Horizontal]:

Open (GN)	SC	ST	EWS
OPNO	SCNO	STNO	EWNO
OPGC	SCGC	STGC	EWGC
OPEX	SCEX	STEX	EWEX
OPPH	SCPH	STPH	EWPH
SGS OPNO	SGS SCNO	SGS STNO	SGS EWNO

“NO” means no horizontal reservation applied; the candidate was admitted on vertical category merit alone.

NRI quota uses the code “NRI OPNO” (available only at private colleges).

How to determine your category

Your vertical category depends on your caste certificate:

• GN (General): If your caste is not listed in SC, ST, or SEBC lists for Odisha
• SC: Per the Scheduled Castes list notified for Odisha
• ST: Per the Scheduled Tribes list notified for Odisha
• EW (EWS): General category candidates whose family income is below Rs 8 lakh/year (requires EWS certificate from Tahsildar)
• SEBC: Per the SEBC list for Odisha (applicable from 2026-27 onwards)

For horizontal reservation, you need additional documentation:

• Green Card: Valid card from the Family Welfare Department
• PwD: Disability certificate (minimum 40%) from a recognized medical board
• Ex-servicemen: Discharge certificate of parent/guardian
• SGS: School-leaving certificates from both government high school (Class 10) and government junior college (Class 12)

Vacancy conversion

The specific conversion chain for unfilled reserved seats is not published in OJEE’s official documents. In practice, unfilled reserved seats convert to the General (unreserved) category during subsequent rounds. For horizontal quotas, unfilled seats revert to the non-reserved pool within the same vertical category.

How Odisha categories differ from AIQ categories

Odisha state counselling	AIQ equivalent
GN (General)	UR (Unreserved)
SC	SC
ST	ST
EW (EWS)	EWS
SEBC (from 2026-27)	OBC
Green Card (GC)	No equivalent
SGS (State Govt School)	No equivalent
—	OBC (27%) — not available in Odisha until 2026-27

If you hold both a state caste certificate and a central OBC/SC/ST certificate, you can use each in its respective counselling (Odisha certificate for state quota; central certificate for AIQ).

Odisha’s NEET MBBS/BDS counselling is conducted by the Odisha Joint Entrance Examination (OJEE) Committee, under the oversight of the Directorate of Medical Education & Training (DMET). The committee manages admission to 17 medical colleges (MBBS) across the state; the OJEE counselling process also covers dental (BDS) institutes, bringing the total to 16 institutes. Together, these colleges fill approximately 1,575-1,810 state quota MBBS seats annually.

Official website: ojee.nic.in

How Odisha NEET counselling ranks work

Odisha does not use your NEET All India Rank directly for state counselling. Instead, OJEE generates a “Common State Merit Rank” by sorting all registered Odisha-domiciled NEET-qualified candidates by their NEET score.

Your state rank will be numerically lower than your AIR because the pool is limited to Odisha applicants. In Round 1 of 2025, state ranks ranged from 1 to approximately 5,818.

Odisha uses a decimal rank system for tied candidates. When two candidates have identical effective merit, the second candidate receives a “.01” suffix (e.g., rank 22 and 22.01). This allows both to appear in sorted order without displacing subsequent ranks.

Tie-breaking criteria (applied when two candidates have identical NEET scores):

1. Higher marks in Biology
2. Higher marks in Chemistry
3. Fewer incorrect answers (fewer negative marks)
4. Older candidate gets preference

Who is eligible

You can participate in Odisha state counselling if you meet all these conditions:

• Domicile: You must be a permanent native/domicile of Odisha, evidenced by a “Resident/Nativity Certificate” issued by the Government of Odisha. Children of All India Civil Service officers serving in Odisha cadre also qualify.
• Academic: Passed Class 12 with Physics, Chemistry, Biology/Biotechnology, and English. Minimum 50% marks in PCB combined for General/UR candidates; 40% for SC/ST; 45% for PwD.
• Age: Minimum 17 years as of 31 December of the admission year. No upper age limit.
• NEET percentile: 50th percentile for General/EWS; 40th for SC/ST/OBC; 45th for PwD variants.

Candidates from other states do not qualify for the state quota, regardless of residence in Odisha.

Registration process

1. Register on the OJEE online counselling portal (link published at ojee.nic.in each year)
2. Upload required documents: NEET scorecard, Class 10 and 12 mark sheets, nativity certificate, category/sub-category certificates, passport-size photographs
3. Pay the registration fee:

Category	Registration fee	Security deposit
General/SEBC	Rs 1,000	Rs 10,000
SC/ST/PwD	Rs 500	Rs 5,000
NRI	Rs 10,000	—

1. Verify and lock your application before the deadline

Registration typically opens in July, soon after NEET results are declared.

Round-by-round timeline

Odisha conducts 3 main rounds plus a stray vacancy/spot round. Based on the 2025 schedule:

Round 1 (July-August)

• Registration opens: late July (July 22, 2025)
• State merit list published: late July (July 29, 2025)
• Choice filling: 5-7 day window (July 31 – August 6, 2025)
• Allotment result: mid-August (August 16, 2025)
• Reporting to allotted college

Round 2 (September)

• Re-registration window for unallotted candidates
• Allotment for vacant seats and upgradation
• Allotment result: September 21, 2025

Round 3 (October)

• Fresh registration window (October 9-11, 2025)
• Choice filling: October 14-25, 2025
• Allotment: October 26-27, 2025
• Reporting: October 29 – November 1, 2025

Stray vacancy / spot round (November)

• For seats remaining vacant after 3 rounds
• Physical reporting required (November 13-14, 2025)
• Shorter window (2 days)

MBBS and BDS seats are allotted in a single combined counselling process. Candidates can fill choices for both courses during the same choice-filling window.

Float and freeze options

After allotment:

• Freeze: You accept the allotted seat permanently. No further upgradation in subsequent rounds.
• Float: You accept the seat but remain eligible for upgradation in the next round based on your remaining choices. If upgraded, you must accept the new seat; the previous one is released.

Odisha does not use a “Slide” option (unlike some other states that differentiate between same-college upgradation and any-college upgradation).

Withdrawal rules:

• Round 1: Free exit permitted (withdraw without penalty)
• Round 2: Security deposit forfeited if seat not taken
• Round 3 onwards: No withdrawal allowed; Rs 10,00,000 penalty applies after the final deadline

Seat matrix and quota structure

Government colleges (85% state, 15% AIQ):

• 85% of government college seats are filled through OJEE state counselling
• 15% go to MCC’s All India Quota counselling
• 12 government colleges participate in OJEE counselling (2025)

Private colleges (Hi-Tech, DRIEMS):

• 50% state quota: Filled through OJEE at regulated fees
• 35% management quota: Filled through OJEE/institutional process at higher fees (based on observed allotment data; exact split may vary by college)
• 15% NRI quota: For NRI/NRI-sponsored candidates at premium fees

All private college counselling (including management and NRI quotas) is conducted through OJEE/DMET for colleges participating in state counselling.

What happens after allotment

Once allotted a seat:

1. Download your provisional allotment order from the OJEE portal
2. Report to the allotted college within the specified window
3. Submit original documents for verification
4. Pay the first-year fee

If upgraded in a subsequent round, you must obtain a relieving letter from your previous college before reporting to the new one. Your previous allotment is cancelled automatically upon upgrade.

Odisha NEET counselling vs AIQ counselling

	Odisha state	MCC All India Quota
Rank used	Common State Merit Rank	NEET AIR
Reservation	SC 8% + ST 12% + EWS 10% (cabinet approved revision from 2026-27; implementation pending confirmation)	OBC 27% + SC 15% + ST 7.5% + EWS 10%
Eligibility	Odisha domicile only	Open to all India
Category system	GN/SC/ST/EW (no OBC until 2026)	UR/OBC/SC/ST/EWS
Rounds	3 + stray	3
Fees (govt)	~Rs 25,000/year	Varies by state
Special quotas	SGS 15%, Green Card 5%, Ex-servicemen 3%	EWS, PwD
Unique feature	No SEBC/OBC reservation until 2026-27	OBC 27% throughout

Chhattisgarh has approximately 18 medical colleges for NEET-based admission, with around 2,130-2,330 MBBS seats available (excluding AIIMS Raipur). Of these, 10 are government colleges and 5 are private.¹

¹: Some sources count 11 government colleges and 16 total. The discrepancy likely stems from alternate names for the same institution in Durg or Jagdalpur. The table below lists 10 distinct government colleges.

Government vs private split

Type	Colleges	Approximate seats
Government	10	~1,430
Private	5	~700-900
Total (state counselling)	15	~2,130-2,330

The seat count varies across sources and years. Government seats are more consistent at around 1,430, while private seat counts range between 700 and 900 depending on the source and whether recent intake increases are reflected. Exact figures should be verified from the CGDME seat matrix notification for the relevant admission year.

List of Chhattisgarh medical colleges for NEET: government

College	City/District	Seats (approx.)	Annual tuition
Pt. Jawahar Lal Nehru Memorial Medical College	Raipur	230	Rs 2,75,000
Chhattisgarh Institute of Medical Sciences (CIMS)	Bilaspur	150	Rs 2,75,000
Chandulal Chandrakar Memorial Govt. Medical College	Durg	200	Rs 3,60,250
Atal Bihari Vajpayee Memorial Govt. Medical College	Rajnandgaon	125	Rs 2,75,000
Late Baliram Kashyap Smriti Govt. Medical College	Jagdalpur (Bastar)	125	Rs 2,75,000
Late Shri Lakhiram Agrawal Govt. Medical College	Raigarh	100	Rs 2,20,000
Government Medical College	Ambikapur (Surguja)	125	Rs 2,75,000
Government Medical College	Kanker	125	Rs 2,75,000
Government Medical College	Korba	125	Rs 2,75,000
Government Medical College	Mahasamund	125	Rs 2,75,000

Pt. JNM Medical College, Raipur is the oldest and largest government medical college in the state, with 230 seats. The GMCs at Kanker, Korba, and Mahasamund are newer institutions. Most government colleges charge Rs 2,75,000 per year in tuition; Chandulal Chandrakar Memorial (Durg) is slightly higher at Rs 3,60,250 and Late Shri Lakhiram Agrawal (Raigarh) slightly lower at Rs 2,20,000. Hostel fees add Rs 60,000 to Rs 1,20,000 per year.

Government colleges typically require a service bond of 1-2 years after MBBS completion; the exact duration and penalty amount vary by college and are specified in the admission letter.

Private medical colleges

College	City	Annual tuition (state/mgmt quota)	NRI quota (annual)
Shri Shankaracharya Institute of Medical Sciences	Bhilai (Durg)	Rs 7,99,187	$35,000 (~Rs 29 lakh)
Raipur Institute of Medical Sciences	Raipur	Rs 7,45,187	$35,000
Shri Balaji Institute of Medical Science	Raipur	Rs 8,02,700	$35,000
Shri Rawatpura Sarkar Institute of Medical Science & Research	Naya Raipur	Rs 7,45,187	$35,000
Abhishek Mishra Memorial Medical College & Research	Bhilai (Durg)	Rs 7,45,187	$35,000

Private college seats are split roughly into state quota (~42-43%), management quota (~42-43%), and NRI quota (~15%). The state quota seats in private colleges are filled through CGDME counselling at the same regulated tuition as management quota seats. Both quotas appear to be governed by the state fee regulatory committee, though candidates should confirm this from the official fee circular for their year.

Fee structure summary

College type	Quota	Annual tuition (approx.)	5-year total (tuition only)
Government	State	Rs 2,20,000-3,60,250	Rs 11-18 lakh
Private	State/Management	Rs 7,45,187-8,02,700	Rs 37-40 lakh
Private	NRI	$35,000 (~Rs 29 lakh)	~Rs 1.45 crore

These are tuition-only figures. The total cost of a private MBBS including hostel, mess, and other institutional fees will be higher than the tuition total above. NRI quota costs are substantially higher across all components.

Key cities for medical education

• Raipur: The state capital has the highest concentration of medical colleges. Pt. JNM Medical College (government, 230 seats), Raipur Institute of Medical Sciences (private), and Shri Balaji Institute of Medical Science (private) are all located here. Shri Rawatpura Sarkar is in nearby Naya Raipur.
• Durg-Bhilai: Chandulal Chandrakar Memorial (government, 200 seats) is in Durg. Two private colleges (Shri Shankaracharya IMS and Abhishek Mishra Memorial) are in Bhilai.
• Bilaspur: CIMS (government, 150 seats)
• Jagdalpur (Bastar): Late Baliram Kashyap Smriti GMC (government, 125 seats)
• Rajnandgaon, Raigarh, Ambikapur, Kanker, Korba, Mahasamund: Each has one government medical college with 100-125 seats

AIIMS Raipur (central institution)

AIIMS Raipur has 125 MBBS seats, but it does not participate in CG state counselling. Admission to AIIMS Raipur is handled entirely through the All India Quota / central counselling conducted by MCC. Chhattisgarh domicile candidates can apply for AIIMS Raipur through AIQ alongside candidates from all other states. AIIMS tuition is approximately Rs 40,000 per year, far below any state government or private college.

The Chhattisgarh NEET category list follows the state’s reservation policy, which allocates approximately 68% of state quota seats to reserved categories. The most distinctive feature of CG’s structure is the 32% reservation for Scheduled Tribes, the highest ST quota among Indian states for medical admissions.

Complete Chhattisgarh NEET category list

Category	Code in CG counselling	Reservation	Notes
Scheduled Tribe	ST	32%	Includes SP (Special Schedule Tribe / PVTGs)
Other Backward Classes	OBC	14%	Non-Creamy Layer required
Scheduled Caste	SC	12% (some sources indicate 15%)	See note below
Economically Weaker Section	EWS	10%	Non-Creamy Layer required; introduced post-2019
Unreserved / General	OPEN (also coded as UR, OP)	~32% (assuming SC 12%)	Unreserved remainder

SC percentage discrepancy: Multiple sources disagree on whether SC reservation in CG is 12% or 15%. The 12% figure aligns with Chhattisgarh state reservation policy as reported by mbbscouncil.com and kollegeapply.com. The 15% figure (from vedantu.com and pw.live) may be confused with the national AIQ SC reservation. We use 12% here, but candidates should verify from the official CGDME notification for their admission year. If the actual SC percentage is 15%, the unreserved remainder drops to approximately 29%.

About the SP code: Chhattisgarh has five Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs): Baiga, Birhor, Kamar, Abujhmaria, and Korwa. In allotment data, these communities appear under the “SP” (Special Schedule Tribe) code, which is counted within the 32% ST quota rather than receiving a separate allocation.

How to determine your category

Your category for CG NEET counselling is determined by certificates issued by the competent district authority:

• OPEN: If your community is not listed in any reserved category for Chhattisgarh
• OBC: Per the Chhattisgarh state OBC list. A Non-Creamy Layer certificate is mandatory; OBC candidates from the creamy layer compete in the OPEN category.
• SC: Per the Scheduled Castes list for Chhattisgarh, as notified by the central government
• ST: Per the Scheduled Tribes list for Chhattisgarh. The SP sub-classification applies to PVTG communities but does not change the reservation percentage.
• EWS: Requires an EWS certificate confirming annual family income below Rs 8 lakh (and other asset criteria). A Non-Creamy Layer certificate is also needed.

Unlike Maharashtra (which splits OBC into sub-groups like VJ-A, NT-B, NT-C, NT-D), Chhattisgarh uses a single OBC category without sub-groups in NEET counselling.

Seat vacancy conversion

When reserved seats go unfilled after all rounds, CG follows a conversion chain where unfilled seats pass to the next category until they are absorbed. The exact CG-specific conversion order has not been confirmed in recent CGDME notifications; most states follow the standard pattern of ST > SC > OBC > OPEN, and CG is expected to do the same. Candidates should check the official notification for their year.

Horizontal reservations (applied within each vertical category)

These quotas apply as cross-cutting reservations within every vertical category:

Reservation	Percentage	Suffix in allotment data
Female	30%	-F or -Female
Persons with Disability (PwBD)	5%	-PH
Freedom Fighter descendants	3%	-FF
Ex-Serviceman descendants	3%	-EX

The 30% female reservation means that within each vertical category (OPEN, OBC, SC, ST, EWS), 30% of seats are reserved for women candidates. If female candidates with qualifying scores are unavailable in a particular category, those seats revert to the general pool of that category.

The -NC suffix (Non-Creamy Layer) appears on OBC and EWS entries in allotment data. This is a qualification marker, not a separate horizontal reservation.

How CG categories differ from AIQ categories

CG state counselling	AIQ (MCC)	Key difference
OPEN (UR)	UR	Same
OBC (14%)	OBC (27%)	AIQ gives nearly double the OBC reservation
SC (12%)*	SC (15%)	AIQ SC quota is slightly higher
ST (32%)	ST (7.5%)	CG gives more than 4x the ST reservation
EWS (10%)	EWS (10%)	Same
30% Female horizontal	No female horizontal	CG-specific
FF 3%, EX 3%	No explicit FF/EX	CG-specific horizontals

*See the SC discrepancy note above; some sources report 15% for CG state counselling, which would make the CG and AIQ SC quotas identical.

If you hold both a state caste certificate and a central-level OBC/SC/ST certificate, you can use each in its respective counselling process. The state certificate applies for CG state quota; the central certificate applies for AIQ.

The Chhattisgarh NEET counselling process 2026 is conducted by the Directorate of Medical Education (DME), Raipur, commonly abbreviated as CGDME. The directorate manages admission to approximately 18 medical colleges across the state, covering around 2,130-2,330 MBBS seats (excluding AIIMS Raipur, which fills its 125 seats through central counselling only).

Official website: cgdme.admissions.nic.in (counselling portal) and cgdme.in (institutional site)

How Chhattisgarh’s state merit rank works

CGDME does not use your NEET All India Rank directly for state quota allotment. Instead, the directorate generates a CG State Merit Rank by sorting all registered Chhattisgarh-domicile candidates by NEET score.

Your CG State Rank will be numerically lower than your AIR because the pool is restricted to CG applicants. A candidate with AIR 10,000 might receive CG State Rank 300 if only 299 registered CG candidates scored higher. Both ranks appear in allotment PDFs, but the CG State Rank determines your position in the counselling queue.

There is no separate state entrance exam. NEET is the sole basis for the state merit list.

Tie-breaking criteria

When two or more candidates have identical NEET scores, CGDME has not published state-specific tie-breaking rules. In the absence of a separate notification, the standard NEET tie-breaking order is expected to apply:

1. Higher marks in Biology
2. Higher marks in Chemistry
3. Fewer incorrect answers (fewer negative marks)
4. Older candidate (earlier date of birth)

If CG publishes its own tie-breaking criteria in the 2026 counselling notification, those will supersede this standard order. Check cgdme.admissions.nic.in for the official notification.

Who is eligible

You can participate in CG state quota counselling if you meet all of these conditions:

• Domicile: Permanent resident of Chhattisgarh with a domicile certificate issued by a competent authority (born in Chhattisgarh, or holding domicile status in the state)
• Age: At least 17 years as of December 31 of the admission year
• Academics: Class 12 with Physics, Chemistry, Biology/Biotechnology, and English from a recognized board
• NEET qualification: Minimum 50th percentile (General/EWS), 40th percentile (OBC/SC/ST), or 45th percentile (PwD)

Non-domicile candidates cannot apply for the 85% state quota seats. They may, however, apply for management quota and NRI quota seats in CG private colleges.

How to register for Chhattisgarh NEET counselling

1. Register on cgdme.admissions.nic.in with your mobile number and email
2. Pay the registration fee: Rs 2,000 (Rounds 1, 2, and Mop-Up) or Rs 1,000 (Stray Round). NRI applicants pay Rs 10,000. Some older sources report lower fees for SC/ST candidates; confirm the current fee from the CGDME notification for your year.
3. Upload scanned copies of required documents: NEET scorecard, NEET admit card, Class 10 and 12 mark sheets, Chhattisgarh domicile certificate, caste/category certificate (if applicable), EWS certificate, Non-Creamy Layer certificate, PwD certificate, character certificate, income certificate (if applicable), passport-size photographs, Aadhaar card
4. Complete document verification (online or at a designated centre)
5. Fill choices (select preferred colleges and courses in order of preference)
6. Lock choices before the deadline; locked choices cannot be changed

All certificates must be dated before the first scrutiny deadline. PwD certificates must come from the State Medical Board specifically.

Security deposit

In addition to the registration fee, candidates must pay a refundable security deposit:

College type	Deposit
Government medical/dental	Rs 30,000
Private medical	Rs 2,00,000
Private dental	Rs 1,00,000
Both govt and private in preference list	Rs 2,00,000

The deposit is refunded if you are not allotted a seat or after all rounds are complete. It is forfeited if you receive an allotment but fail to report.

Round-by-round timeline

Chhattisgarh conducts four rounds of counselling, typically running from late July through November:

Round 1 (July-August)

Based on the 2025 cycle, registration opened in late July and ran through early August. Choice filling followed after the merit list was published (mid-August 2025). Allotment results came within a few days, with a reporting window of approximately five days.

Round 2 (September)

Fresh registration and choice filling opened in mid-September 2025. Candidates allotted seats in Round 1 could participate for an upgrade; if upgraded, the previous seat was released automatically. If not upgraded, the Round 1 seat was retained. Allotment results were published in late September.

Mop-Up Round (October-November)

Fills seats vacated after Rounds 1 and 2. Fresh choices are required from all participating candidates. In 2025, the mop-up allotment was published in early October with reporting through mid-October.

Stray Vacancy Round (November)

The final round for remaining unfilled seats. Only previously registered candidates are eligible. In 2025, the stray round allotment was published on November 29.

Exact dates shift each year based on NEET results and AIQ counselling schedule. Monitor cgdme.admissions.nic.in for official notifications.

Seat matrix and quota structure

Chhattisgarh’s seat distribution for MBBS:

• Government college seats: ~1,430 across 10 colleges¹
• Private college seats: ~700-900 across 5 colleges (sources vary between years)
• 15% All India Quota (from government colleges): managed by MCC, open to all India candidates
• 85% State Quota (government colleges): reserved for CG domicile candidates, counselled by CGDME
• Private college state quota: ~42-43% of private seats, counselled by CGDME alongside government seats
• Management quota: ~42-43% of private seats, open to all states at regulated fees. Whether management quota fees differ from state quota fees in practice is unclear; some sources indicate both are governed by the state fee regulatory committee.
• NRI quota: ~15% of private seats

¹: Some sources list 11 government colleges. The difference may reflect alternate names for the same institution in Durg (Chandulal Chandrakar Memorial vs “Government Medical College Durg”) or Jagdalpur (Late Baliram Kashyap Smriti vs “Shaheed Medical College”).

What happens after allotment

Once allotted a seat:

1. Download your provisional allotment order from the portal
2. Report to the allotted college with original documents within the specified deadline (typically 5-7 days)
3. Pay the first-year tuition fee
4. Complete admission formalities at the institute

Missing the reporting deadline results in automatic seat cancellation and forfeiture of your security deposit. This rule is strictly enforced.

If you are allotted a seat in Round 2 but do not join, your security deposit is forfeited. Candidates who joined in Round 1 can participate in Round 2 for an upgrade without risking their existing seat.

Chhattisgarh state quota vs AIQ counselling

	CG state quota	MCC All India Quota
Rank used	CG State Merit Rank	NEET AIR
Eligibility	CG domicile only	All India
Reservation	SC 12%*, ST 32%, OBC 14%, EWS 10%	SC 15%, ST 7.5%, OBC 27%, EWS 10%
ST reservation	32% (CG is a tribal-majority state)	7.5%
Female reservation	30% horizontal	None
Rounds	4 (R1, R2, Mop-Up, Stray)	3 (R1, R2, Mop-Up/Stray)
Conducting body	CGDME, Raipur	MCC (DGHS), New Delhi
Security deposit (govt)	Rs 30,000	Rs 2,00,000
Registration fee	Rs 2,000	Rs 1,000 (General) / Rs 500 (SC/ST)
Private colleges	Yes (state + mgmt + NRI)	Only deemed/central universities

*Some sources report CG’s SC reservation as 15% rather than 12%. See the category guide for a full discussion of this discrepancy.

The most striking difference is in tribal reservation. CG reserves 32% of state quota seats for ST candidates, while AIQ reserves only 7.5%. Conversely, OBC candidates get 27% reservation under AIQ compared to 14% in CG state counselling.

Bihar has approximately 24 medical colleges with around 2,582 MBBS seats filled through NEET-based counselling (UGMAC 2025 seat matrix). BCECEB, Patna conducts state counselling for all these colleges.

Government vs private split

Type	Colleges	Approximate seats
Government	18	~1,232
Private	6	~1,350
Total	24	~2,582

AIIMS Patna (125 seats) operates under central government counselling and does not participate in UGMAC. It is not included in these figures. Candidates interested in AIIMS Patna must apply separately through the AIIMS national counselling process.

Government colleges in Bihar for NEET

College	City	Seats (approx)
Patna Medical College & Hospital	Patna	165
Indira Gandhi Institute of Medical Sciences (IGIMS)	Patna	128
Nalanda Medical College & Hospital	Patna	124
Shri Krishna Medical College & Hospital	Muzaffarpur	98
Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College & Hospital	Bhagalpur	98
Anugrah Narayan Magadh Medical College & Hospital	Gaya	98
Darbhanga Medical College & Hospital	Darbhanga	97
Government Medical College, Bettiah	Bettiah	~85
Government Medical College, Purnea	Purnea	~85
Narayan Medical College & Hospital	Sasaram	~50
Bihar Mahavir Institute of Medical Sciences	Pawapuri	~50
Mahatma Gandhi Memorial Medical College & LSK Hospital	Kishanganj	~50
Jannayak Karpoori Thakur Medical College & Hospital	Madhepura	~50
RDJM Medical College & Hospital, Turki	Muzaffarpur	~50
Madhubani Medical College	Madhubani	~50
Netaji Subhas Medical College & Hospital	Bihta	~50
ESIC Medical College & Hospital, Bihta	Patna	~50
Government Institute of Medical Science, Koyla Belwa	East Champaran	New

Patna Medical College, established in 1925, is the oldest and largest medical college in the state. Three government colleges are in Patna itself (PMC, NMCH, IGIMS), making it the primary hub for government medical education in Bihar.

The state has expanded rapidly in recent years. Many of the newer government colleges (Madhepura, Madhubani, Pawapuri, Bihta) have approximately 50 seats each. Government Institute of Medical Science, Koyla Belwa (East Champaran) appeared in 2025 Round 3 data as a newly added institution.

RDJM Medical College (Turki, Muzaffarpur) is classified as a government college in BCECEB allotment data. However, at least one fee-structure source lists it under private colleges with Rs 23.71 lakh tuition. Candidates should verify its current classification and fee structure from the official UGMAC seat matrix before counselling.

Narayan Medical College & Hospital (Sasaram) is similarly classified as a government college in allotment data, but the same fee-structure sources list management quota fees of Rs 12.25 lakh for this institution. Candidates should verify its status from the official seat matrix.

Private colleges

College	City
Katihar Medical College	Katihar
Shri Narayan Medical Institute & Hospital	Saharsa
Lord Buddha Koshi Medical College & Hospital	Saharsa
Himalaya Medical College & Hospital, Paliganj	Patna
Mahabodhi Medical College & Hospital, Sherghati	Gaya
Shyamlal Chandrashekhar Medical College	Khagaria

Bihar’s private medical colleges are spread across smaller cities rather than concentrated in Patna. Saharsa has two private colleges, and Gaya has one. The private college count is relatively small (6) compared to the 18 government institutions.

Key cities

• Patna: 4 colleges (PMC, NMCH, IGIMS, Himalaya MC) plus AIIMS Patna under central counselling
• Muzaffarpur: 2 colleges (Shri Krishna MC, RDJM MC)
• Gaya: 2 colleges (Anugrah Narayan Magadh MC, Mahabodhi MC)
• Saharsa: 2 colleges (Shri Narayan MI, Lord Buddha Koshi MC)
• Darbhanga, Bhagalpur, Bettiah, Purnea, Sasaram, Pawapuri, Kishanganj, Madhepura, Madhubani, Bihta, Katihar, Khagaria, East Champaran: 1 college each

Bihar’s medical colleges are distributed across the state rather than clustered in one or two cities, though Patna remains the centre with the highest concentration.

Fee structure summary

College type	Quota	Annual fee (approx)*	Total ~5.5-year cost
Government	State quota	~Rs 9,000/year	~Rs 1.27 lakh
Private	50% govt-regulated quota	~Rs 9,000/year	~Rs 1.27 lakh
Private	Management quota	Rs 12.25-23.7 lakh/year	Rs 67-130 lakh
Private	NRI quota	$25,000-35,000 USD/year	$137,500-192,500 USD

*First-year government/govt-regulated quota costs are higher (~Rs 40,800) because of one-time admission charges, caution money, and hostel deposits. Subsequent years drop to ~Rs 22,700 annually. The Rs 1.27 lakh total reflects this variation across all 5.5 years, not simply Rs 9,000 multiplied by 5.5. Hostel and mess charges are separate (Rs 1.5-3 lakh per year depending on the college).

The 50% government-regulated quota in private colleges is what makes Bihar stand out. Half the seats in every private medical college carry the same tuition as government colleges (Rs 9,000/year). For a student who secures one of these seats, the total 5.5-year MBBS cost is approximately Rs 1.27 lakh in tuition, making it one of the most affordable MBBS pathways in India.

Management quota fees vary widely across private colleges. Katihar Medical College charges around Rs 12.55 lakh per year. RDJM Medical College, if classified as private, may charge up to Rs 23.71 lakh per year (see the classification note above). NRI fees range from $25,000 to $35,000 USD per year.

Additional costs to budget

• Hostel: Rs 1.5-3 lakh/year (varies by college)
• Mess charges: Included in hostel or separate; varies
• Books and equipment: Rs 20,000-50,000/year
• Counselling registration: Rs 1,200 (General/EWS/BC/EBC) or Rs 600 (SC/ST/PwD)

Bihar applies approximately 60% reservation in state quota medical admissions. The Bihar NEET category list includes six vertical categories and several horizontal reservations that together shape how seats are distributed. The remaining ~40% of seats are filled under the Unreserved (UR/OPEN) category on merit.

Vertical reservation categories

Code	Category	Reservation %	Seats (2025 govt)
OPEN	Unreserved / General	~40%	329
EBC	Extremely Backward Class	18%	147
SC	Scheduled Caste	16%	132
BC	Backward Class	12%	99
EWS	Economically Weaker Section	10%	82
ST	Scheduled Tribe	1%	8

Bihar has a dual backward-class structure that is uncommon among Indian states. EBC (Extremely Backward Class) at 18% is separate from BC (Backward Class) at 12%, together accounting for 30% of seats. The EBC reservation at 18% is one of the highest in the country for this sub-category.

The ST reservation at 1% reflects Bihar’s relatively small tribal population, far lower than the 7.5% ST reservation under AIQ.

How to determine your category

Your category for Bihar NEET counselling is determined by certificates issued by the relevant government authority:

• OPEN: If you do not belong to any reserved category
• BC: Per the Bihar State List of Backward Classes, with a certificate from the District Magistrate or Sub-Divisional Officer
• EBC: Per the Bihar State List of Extremely Backward Classes, with a certificate from the same authority
• SC: Per the Scheduled Castes list for Bihar, with a certificate from the competent authority
• ST: Per the Scheduled Tribes list for Bihar
• EWS: Family income below Rs 8 lakh per annum, with a certificate issued in the year of admission

Horizontal reservations (applied across all vertical categories)

These quotas are applied within each vertical category, not in addition to the total seat count:

Code	Category	Reservation
DQ	Disability Quota (PwD)	5%
RCG	Reserved Category Girls	3%
SM	Service Martyr / Ex-Serviceman	Present in allotment data but percentage not specified in official sources
WQ	Women Quota	Present in allotment data but percentage not specified in official sources

RCG (Reserved Category Girls) at 3% is a Bihar-specific horizontal reservation for girls belonging to reserved categories (SC, ST, BC, EBC). This is separate from the Female Seat dimension described below, and separate from the general Women Quota.

Two-dimensional seat allocation

Bihar uses a two-dimensional system that is uncommon among Indian states. Each seat has two independent attributes:

1. Allotted Category (vertical): The caste or quota code (OPEN, BC, EBC, SC, ST, EWS, NRI, etc.)
2. Seat Type (horizontal): Either General Seat or Female Seat

These two dimensions combine. A candidate can be allotted, for example, “SC Female Seat” (an SC-category candidate in a female-reserved seat) or “EBC General Seat.” The Female Seat dimension is separate from WQ (Women Quota); a candidate could hold “WQ General Seat” as well.

When reading Bihar allotment results, check both columns: your category and your seat type.

Special quotas in private colleges

Quota	Seats (2025)	Notes
General/Unreserved merit	951	50% of private seats, no category reservation
NRI	204	15% of private seats; requires NRI documentation, passport, visa, notarized financial sponsorship affidavit
Muslim Minority	150	In minority-status private institutions only
Sikh Minority	45	In minority-status private institutions only

Muslim Minority and Sikh Minority quotas are specific to private colleges with minority institution status. These quotas do not exist in government colleges or under AIQ.

Vacancy conversion

When reserved seats go unfilled after all rounds, they typically convert to the general merit pool. Horizontal reservation seats (DQ, RCG, SM, WQ) that remain vacant revert to the parent vertical category.

How Bihar categories differ from AIQ categories

Bihar state counselling	AIQ equivalent
OPEN	UR (Unreserved)
BC (12%)	OBC (AIQ uses 27%; Bihar’s BC is narrower)
EBC (18%)	No direct AIQ equivalent
SC (16%)	SC (AIQ uses 15%)
ST (1%)	ST (AIQ uses 7.5%)
EWS (10%)	EWS (both 10%)
DQ 5%	PwD 5% (similar)
RCG 3%	No AIQ equivalent
SM, WQ	No AIQ equivalent
Muslim Minority, Sikh Minority	No AIQ equivalent

If you hold both a Bihar category certificate and a central OBC/SC certificate, you can use each in its respective counselling (Bihar certificate for state quota; central certificate for AIQ).

The Bihar NEET counselling process is conducted by the Bihar Combined Entrance Competitive Examination Board (BCECEB), Patna. BCECEB runs the Under Graduate Medical Admission Counselling (UGMAC) for 85% state quota seats in all government and private medical colleges in the state, covering approximately 2,582 MBBS seats across 24 colleges (18 government, 6 private).

Official website: bceceboard.bihar.gov.in

How the Bihar NEET counselling rank system works

Bihar uses your NEET All India Rank (AIR) directly. BCECEB prepares a state merit list by sorting all registered Bihar-eligible candidates by NEET score, but the rank in allotment data is your national AIR. There is no separate state entrance exam.

Where Bihar differs from most states is in tie-breaking. If two candidates have the same NEET score, the state merit list breaks the tie using:

1. Higher aggregate marks in Class 12
2. Higher marks in Biology in Class 12
3. Higher marks in Physics in Class 12
4. Higher marks in English in the qualifying exam
5. Higher aggregate marks in Class 10
6. Older candidate ranked higher

This is different from standard NEET tie-breaking (which uses Biology marks first, then Chemistry, then fewer wrong answers). If your NEET score is close to a cutoff boundary, your Class 12 performance could determine your position in the Bihar merit list.

Who is eligible

Bihar is a closed state for NEET counselling. Only permanent residents of Bihar can apply for state quota seats.

Domicile requirements:

• Permanent resident of Bihar with a valid domicile certificate issued by a competent authority, OR
• Parents employed by the Bihar government

Other eligibility criteria:

• Minimum age: 17 years as of 31 December of the admission year
• Passed Class 12 with Physics, Chemistry, Biology/Biotechnology, and English
• Minimum marks in PCB: General 50%, SC/ST/OBC/EBC 40%, PwD 45%
• Must qualify NEET UG with the minimum percentile per NMC guidelines

Non-domicile candidates cannot apply for government medical seats. They can only apply for Management Quota and NRI Quota seats in private colleges.

Registration process

1. Register on the BCECEB online portal (bceceboard.bihar.gov.in)
2. Upload required documents: NEET scorecard, domicile certificate, Class 10 and 12 mark sheets, category certificate (if applicable), passport-size photographs
3. Pay the registration fee: Rs 1,200 for General/EWS/BC/EBC or Rs 600 for SC/ST/PwD (non-refundable)
4. Fill college and course preferences (choice filling)
5. Lock your choices before the deadline

Registration typically opens in late July after NEET results, with a 5-6 day window for completion.

Round-by-round timeline

Bihar conducts four rounds:

Round 1 (late July to mid-August)

• Online registration and choice filling: Late July (5-6 day window; 2025 dates were 30 July to 4 August)
• State merit / rank card release: Early August (6 August 2025)
• Seat allotment result: Mid-August (9 August 2025)
• Document verification and college reporting: 2-3 day window after allotment (11-13 August 2025)

Round 2 (mid-August)

• Fresh choice filling and upgradation window
• Seat allotment: ~5 days after Round 1 reporting closes (14 August 2025)
• College reporting: 3-4 day window (16-19 August 2025)

Round 3 / Mop-up (October-November)

• Separate registration: Late October (25-27 October 2025)
• Rank card release: Late October (29 October 2025)
• Seat allotment: Early November (2 November 2025)
• Reporting: 2-day window (4-5 November 2025)

Stray Vacancy Round

• For private colleges only, conducted if seats remain vacant after the mop-up round
• Dates announced separately by BCECEB

Exact dates shift each year based on NEET results and AIQ counselling schedule. Monitor bceceboard.bihar.gov.in for official notifications. The full counselling cycle typically runs from late July through November.

Seat matrix and quota structure

Government colleges (18 colleges, ~1,232 state quota seats):

• 85% State Quota: Filled through BCECEB counselling (UGMAC)
• 15% All India Quota: Filled through MCC counselling

Private colleges (6 colleges, ~1,350 seats):

• 50% Government-Regulated Quota (merit-based, with category reservation): Filled at government fee rates (Rs 9,000/year tuition). This is sometimes called “state quota” in private colleges but is distinct from the 85% state quota that applies to government colleges.
• 50% Management Quota: Open to all candidates including non-domicile, merit-based, no category reservation
• NRI Quota: 15% of private college seats (204 seats in UGMAC 2025)

Minority quotas in private colleges:

• Muslim Minority: 150 seats (in minority-status private institutions)
• Sikh Minority: 45 seats

The 50% government-regulated quota in private colleges is one of Bihar’s most distinctive features. These seats carry government college tuition rates (Rs 9,000/year), making them among the most affordable MBBS seats in India.

What happens after allotment

Once allotted a seat:

1. Download your provisional allotment order from the portal
2. Report to the allotted college within the specified window (2-3 days)
3. Submit original documents for verification
4. Pay the first-year fee

Upgradation rules:

• In Round 1, you can opt for upgradation. Your documents will be retained for Round 2 consideration.
• If you opt for upgradation in Round 1 and get re-allotted to the same college in Round 2, you must accept it. Withdrawal is not permitted; the policy is binding.
• Once a seat is allotted in Round 3 (Mop-up), there is no further upgradation.

Key differences from AIQ counselling

	Bihar state (UGMAC)	MCC All India Quota
Rank used	NEET AIR (direct)	NEET AIR
Reservation	~60% total reservation	49.5% (OBC 27% + SC 15% + ST 7.5%)
Eligibility	Bihar domicile only	Open to all India
Category system	OPEN/BC/EBC/SC/ST/EWS + DQ/RCG/SM/WQ	UR/OBC/SC/ST/EWS + PwD
Rounds	4 (R1, R2, Mop-up, Stray Vacancy)	3
Tie-breaking	Class 12 aggregate marks first	Biology marks first
Fees (govt colleges)	~Rs 9,000/year tuition	Varies by state
Private college regulation	50% seats at govt fee rates	No equivalent
Conducting body	BCECEB, Patna	MCC, New Delhi

Kerala has 35 medical colleges offering approximately 4,905 MBBS seats through CEE Kerala’s state counselling (2025 figures). One additional deemed university (Amrita, 150 seats) admits separately through MCC.

Government vs private split

Type	Colleges	MBBS seats
Government	14	1,855
Private (non-minority)	9	~1,350
Private (minority)	13	~1,700
Total (state counselling)	36	~4,905
Deemed (Amrita, separate)	1	150

Government colleges

Kerala’s 14 government medical colleges are spread across all districts. The largest are Medical College Thiruvananthapuram and Govt. Medical College Kozhikode (250 seats each), followed by Kottayam, Thrissur, and Alappuzha (175 seats each).

College	City	Seats
Medical College, Thiruvananthapuram	Thiruvananthapuram	250
Govt. Medical College, Kozhikode	Kozhikode	250
Govt. Medical College, Kottayam	Kottayam	175
Govt. Medical College, Thrissur	Thrissur	175
T D Medical College, Alappuzha	Alappuzha	175
Govt. Medical College, Ernakulam	Ernakulam	110
Govt. Medical College, Manjeri	Manjeri	110
Govt. Medical College, Parippally	Kollam	110
Govt. Medical College, Palakkad	Palakkad	100
Govt. Medical College, Pariyaram	Kannur	100
Govt. Medical College, Konni	Pathanamthitta	100
Govt. Medical College, Idukki	Idukki	100
Govt. Medical College, Kasaragod	Kasaragod	50
Govt. Medical College, Wayanad	Wayanad	50

The newer colleges (Kasaragod, Wayanad, Idukki, Konni) have 50-100 seats each and were established to bring government medical education to districts that previously lacked it.

Private colleges

Kerala’s 22 private colleges split into two groups: 9 non-minority and 13 minority institutions.

Non-minority private colleges include Malabar Medical College Hospital (Kozhikode, 200 seats), P K Das Institute (Palakkad, 200 seats), SUT Academy (Thiruvananthapuram, 150 seats), and Dr Moopen’s Medical College (Wayanad, 150 seats). Most have 150 seats.

Minority colleges are either Christian or Muslim institutions. Christian minority colleges include Dr Somervell Memorial CSI Medical College, Pushpagiri Institute, Jubilee Mission Medical College, and Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church Medical College, among others. Muslim minority colleges include KMCT Medical College (Kozhikode), MES Medical College (Malappuram), and Al Azhar Medical College (Idukki).

In minority colleges, 50% of seats are reserved for the respective community (AC seats for Christian colleges, MM seats for Muslim colleges). These community seats are still allotted through CEE Kerala’s centralised process.

Key cities

Medical colleges are distributed widely across Kerala:

• Thiruvananthapuram: 3 colleges (1 govt + 2 private)
• Kozhikode: 3 colleges (1 govt + 2 private)
• Thrissur: 3 colleges (1 govt + 2 private)
• Palakkad: 4 colleges (1 govt + 3 private)
• Ernakulam: 3 colleges (1 govt + 2 private)
• Kollam: 3 colleges (1 govt + 2 private)
• Other districts: 1-2 colleges each in Kottayam, Alappuzha, Malappuram, Kannur, Idukki, Wayanad, Pathanamthitta, Kasaragod

Fee structure for Kerala medical colleges for NEET aspirants

College type	Quota	Annual tuition	5-year total (approx)
Government	State quota	Rs 23,100 – Rs 25,000	Rs 1,15,500 – Rs 1,25,000
Private	Government quota (50% of seats)	Rs 99,000 – Rs 1,50,000	Rs 4,95,000 – Rs 7,50,000
Private	Management quota (35% of seats)	Rs 6,00,000 – Rs 10,00,000	Rs 30,00,000 – Rs 50,00,000
Private	NRI quota (15% of seats)	Rs 20,00,000 – Rs 25,00,000	Rs 1,00,00,000 – Rs 1,25,00,000

Additional costs: hostel fees of Rs 80,000 to Rs 1,50,000 per year and mess charges of Rs 3,000 to Rs 4,000 per month.

The gap between government and NRI quota fees is large. A full MBBS course (4.5 years + internship) at a government college costs approximately Rs 1.15-1.25 lakh total in tuition, while NRI quota can exceed Rs 1 crore.

Deemed university

Amrita School of Medicine (Ernakulam, 150 seats) is the only deemed university in Kerala offering MBBS. It admits through MCC’s All India Quota counselling, not through CEE Kerala. Candidates interested in Amrita must register separately with MCC.

Minority college mechanics

Thirteen of Kerala’s 22 private colleges have minority status. The seat allocation in these colleges works differently:

• 50% community seats (AC or MM): Reserved for candidates belonging to the minority community that established the college
• Remaining seats: Filled through standard government quota, management quota, and NRI streams

All streams are allotted centrally by CEE Kerala. A Christian candidate can access AC seats across all Christian minority colleges; similarly, a Muslim candidate can access MM seats in Muslim minority colleges. Non-minority candidates can still get seats in minority colleges through the government quota and management quota portions.

This Kerala NEET category list covers all reservation codes used in CEE Kerala’s medical counselling. The base reservation structure is SC 8% + ST 2% + SEBC 30% = 40%, leaving 60% as State Merit (open to all). EWS (10%) may be supernumerary in some contexts; check the current year’s CEE prospectus for confirmation. Kerala has one of the most detailed backward class reservation systems in India, splitting SEBC into nine distinct community sub-groups rather than a single OBC block.

Category codes used in Kerala NEET counselling

Code	Category	Reservation %
GN	General / Forward Community	60% (State Merit, open to all)
EZ	Ezhava	9%
MU	Muslim	8%
BH	Other Backward Hindu	3%
LA	Latin Catholic and Anglo Indian	3%
DV	Dheevara and related communities	2%
VK	Viswakarma and related communities	2%
KN	Kusavan and related communities	1%
BX	Other Backward Christian	1%
KU	Kudumbi	1%
SC	Scheduled Caste	8%
ST	Scheduled Tribe	2%
EW	Economically Weaker Section	10% (govt colleges only)

Total SEBC reservation: 30% (EZ + MU + BH + LA + DV + VK + KN + BX + KU combined)

SC/ST total: 10%

EWS: 10% (applicable in government colleges; may be supernumerary)

State Merit (open): 60% (accessible to candidates of all communities, filled purely by merit)

The nine SEBC sub-groups

The SEBC reservation in Kerala is structured differently from the central system. Rather than grouping all backward communities under a single “OBC” label (as at the central level), Kerala assigns each community its own percentage. This means an Ezhava candidate competes only against other Ezhava candidates for the 9% EZ seats, not against all backward classes together.

The nine sub-groups are: EZ (9%), MU (8%), BH (3%), LA (3%), DV (2%), VK (2%), KN (1%), BX (1%), and KU (1%). The Kudumbi community receiving a separate 1% quota is specific to Kerala.

How to determine your category

Your category for Kerala NEET counselling is determined by your community certificate issued by the Village Officer / Tahsildar. The candidate’s community (not the parent’s) determines eligibility. Key points:

• GN (General): If your community is not listed in SC, ST, or any SEBC sub-group
• SEBC (EZ/MU/BH/LA/DV/VK/KN/BX/KU): Per the Kerala State OBC list, which maps each community to its specific sub-group
• SC/ST: Per the Scheduled Castes / Scheduled Tribes lists applicable to Kerala
• EW: Forward community candidates with family annual income below the state-prescribed threshold (per the state government’s prevailing criteria)

OEC (Other Eligible Community)

Kerala has an additional classification called OEC (Other Eligible Community) for forward communities that are economically backward. OEC candidates are considered against seats that remain unfilled by SC/ST candidates. This is not a separate reservation percentage but a vacancy-filling mechanism.

Seat vacancy conversion

When seats reserved for a category go unfilled after all phases, they convert as follows:

• Unfilled SEBC sub-group seats revert to State Merit (SM)
• Unfilled SC seats may be offered to OEC candidates before reverting to SM
• Unfilled ST seats follow a similar pattern

This conversion happens progressively through each phase of counselling.

Seat types beyond community reservation

Beyond the standard community categories, Kerala’s allotment lists include several special seat types:

Code	Seat Type	Seats
AC	All Christian (minority community quota)	Varies by college
MM	Muslim Minority (community quota)	Varies by college
AM	All-India Merit (minority college)	Varies by college
NR	NRI (general)	15% of private seats
NC	NRI Christian (minority college)	In Christian minority colleges
NM	NRI Muslim (minority college)	In Muslim minority colleges
PD	Persons with Disability	5% in govt/aided colleges
CC	NCC	3 seats
XS	Ex-Servicemen	6 seats
DK	Defence Personnel (Killed/Disabled) dependents	5 seats
SD	Serving Defence Personnel	2 seats
PI	Sports (Individual)	5 seats
PT	Sports (Team)	6 seats
DA	Ayurveda degree holders	7 seats
DM	BDS degree holders	1 seat
NQ	Nurse-Allopathy	1 seat

The professional degree conversion quotas (DA, DM, NQ) are found only in Kerala’s system; they allow holders of Ayurveda, dental, or nursing degrees to convert to MBBS through designated seats.

Horizontal reservations

Persons with Disabilities (PwD): 5% of seats in government and aided colleges are reserved for candidates with benchmark disabilities (minimum 40%). This applies across all vertical categories.

Sports quota: Eleven seats total, split between individual achievement (PI, 5 seats) and team sports (PT, 6 seats).

Defence-related quotas: Sixteen seats total across NCC (CC, 3), ex-servicemen (XS, 6), defence killed/disabled dependents (DK, 5), and serving defence personnel (SD, 2).

How Kerala categories differ from AIQ categories

Kerala state counselling	AIQ equivalent
GN (General)	UR (Unreserved)
EZ + MU + BH + LA + DV + VK + KN + BX + KU	OBC (single block at central level)
SC	SC
ST	ST
EW	EWS
OEC	No equivalent
AC / MM (minority community)	No equivalent

If you hold both a state community certificate and an OBC certificate valid for central purposes, you can use the state certificate for Kerala counselling and the central OBC certificate for AIQ counselling separately.