The Directorate of Medical Education (DME), Assam, runs Assam MBBS counselling. It fills the state quota MBBS and BDS seats in Assam’s government medical and dental colleges. MCC, on the other hand, fills the 15% All India Quota (AIQ) seats. It also runs counselling for AIIMS and deemed universities.
Assam NEET UG 2026 update (20 October): DME has opened the stray vacancy round for government MBBS/BDS state quota seats. Registration ended on 17 October at 11:59 PM. Choice filling ended on 19 October at 10 PM. Choice locking ran until 11:59 PM that day. DME set processing for 20 October and the result for 21 October. College reporting is on 25–26 October. These dates come from DME’s educational notice dated 16 October 2026.
Who runs Assam MBBS counselling
| Seats | Counselling authority |
|---|---|
| State quota seats in government medical and dental colleges | DME Assam |
| 15% All India Quota in government colleges | MCC |
| AIIMS Guwahati | MCC |
| Deemed universities | MCC |
You register separately for each process. For example, an MCC registration does not count for DME Assam. Likewise, a DME registration does not create an MCC application. Our MCC counselling guide covers the national route. For the full college list, see government MBBS colleges in Assam.
Assam stray round 2026
The stray round fills seats that stayed vacant after Round 3. Here is what you need to know:
- Registration for new candidates closed at 11:59 PM on 17 October 2026.
- Candidates who registered in an earlier round did not need to register again.
- Choice filling opened on 18 October and closed on 19 October.
- DME’s 16 October 2026 educational notice confirms 21 October as the result date.
- Reporting at the allotted college is on 25 and 26 October.
- DME allots seats on NEET merit, category and the order of your choices.
If you get a seat, report in person with your original documents. If you do not report, you lose the seat.
The 16 October DME notice shuts out some candidates. These are candidates who joined a seat up to Round 3 through MCC’s All India Quota or a state quota. Have you held, joined or resigned from another seat? Then read the exact eligibility wording in the DME and MCC notices first.
Important: The stray round is the last round in the state process. After it, you have no second chance to swap seats.
Assam NEET UG counselling 2026 dates
These are the 2026 dates DME Assam announced. However, DME changed some dates during the year, such as the Round 1 result. Always confirm the latest notice.
| Round | Key dates (2026) |
|---|---|
| Round 1 registration | 13 to 15 August (till 11:55 PM) |
| Round 1 choice filling | 16 to 18 August |
| Round 1 result | First set for 22 August, then postponed; released 2 September |
| Round 1 reporting | 4 to 5 September |
| Round 2 registration | 6 to 7 September |
| Round 2 choice filling | 8 to 9 September |
| Round 2 result | 11 September |
| Round 2 reporting | 17 to 18 September |
| Round 3 registration | 28 September to 1 October |
| Round 3 choice filling | Opened 2 October; DME later extended the deadline |
| Round 3 reporting | 13 to 14 October |
| Stray round registration | 17 October (till 11:59 PM) |
| Stray round choice filling | 18 to 19 October |
| Stray round result | 21 October (as reported) |
| Stray round reporting | 25 to 26 October |
Our guide to NEET UG counselling rounds explains how rounds connect in general.
Seat types and special quotas in Assam
The 2026 DME notices cover only government medical and dental colleges. Assam state counselling has no private college seats this year. As a result, students in Assam MBBS counselling compete for low-fee government seats.
In addition, Assam reserves seats for these groups:
- Category reservation: SC, ST (Plains), ST (Hills), OBC/MOBC (non-creamy layer), EWS and PwD candidates.
- Community seats: The 2026 Round 1 notice lists seats for the Moran, Motak, Tai Ahom, Chutia and Koch Rajbongshi communities. It also lists tea garden and ex-tea garden (TGL/Ex-TGL) candidates.
- Special categories: These are freedom fighters’ families, Assam Movement martyrs’ families and victims of extremist violence. Ex-servicemen, serving defence staff, sports candidates and orphans also have seats.
- Government school quota: Assam has given a quota before to students from government schools. The earlier 5% rule may not apply unchanged in 2026. Check the current quota and certificate format in DME’s 2026 regulations and seat matrix.
DME held no separate offline counselling for special seats in 2026. Also, OBC/MOBC candidates in the creamy layer must apply under the General category.
The seat count in each quota changes each year. Check the 2026 seat matrix before you plan your choices. Our seat matrix guide shows how to read one.
Who can apply
First, you must qualify NEET UG 2026. The qualifying score is the 50th percentile (213 marks) for General and EWS. It is the 45th percentile (194) for General PwD. For SC, ST, OBC and their PwD candidates, it is the 40th percentile (177).
In addition, DME Assam applies the Assam admission rules of 2017, as amended up to 2026. Under these rules:
- You must be an Indian citizen.
- You must be at least 17 years old on 31 December 2026.
- You must pass Class 12 with Physics, Chemistry, Biology and English.
- You must meet the Assam permanent resident and schooling rules.
- You must prove any category or special quota you claim.
Assam permanent resident certificate for NEET
This rule decides most cases. You need proof that you are a permanent resident of Assam. This is usually a Permanent Resident Certificate (PRC). The rules also look at how long your family has lived in Assam and where you studied.
The 2017 rules set three conditions. First, you or a parent must have lived in Assam for at least 20 years in a row. Second, you must study in Assam from Class 7 to Class 12. Third, you must pass Class 12 from an Assam school or college.
However, the rules relax the schooling condition for some families. For example, a parent may have worked outside Assam on posting or deputation. The parent must work for the state government, the central government or a public body. Then the rules can relax the years spent outside Assam.
| Your situation | What to check |
|---|---|
| PRC of Assam; Classes 7 to 12 in Assam | The NEET, age and document rules |
| PRC of Assam; some schooling outside Assam | Whether a parent’s posting exception covers you |
| Parent is an All India Services officer of the Assam cadre | You are exempt from the 20-year residence rule |
| Family lives in Assam; no PRC yet | Apply for the PRC early; you cannot register without proof |
If your case depends on an exception, ask DME Assam before you fill choices. Give your PRC details, your school for each class, and the exception you rely on. Our guide on state quota counselling explains how to read domicile rules like these.
Category and special documents
- PRC: An Assam Permanent Resident Certificate in the format the rules accept.
- SC, ST and OBC/MOBC: A caste certificate. OBC/MOBC candidates also need non-creamy layer proof.
- EWS: An EWS certificate, if you claim this quota.
- PwD: A disability certificate. DME’s medical board also checks PwD candidates.
- Community and special seats: The certificate set in the rules’ annexures. For example, the TGL/Ex-TGL and freedom fighter seats each need their own certificate.
Then check the issue date on every certificate.
How registration and choice filling work
The process follows these steps:
- Register on the DME Assam portal with your NEET UG 2026 details.
- Pay the registration fee given in the notice.
- Upload your documents.
- Fill your choices in order of preference.
- Lock your choices. If you do not lock them, the system locks them at the deadline.
- Then check the result and download your allotment letter.
In 2026, DME ran state quota counselling fully online.
Worked example. Suppose you prefer College A to College B. College C is far from home, but you would still join it. Your list could look like this:
- College A.
- College B.
- College C.
Do not add a college you would never join. After all, if the system allots it, you must join or lose the seat.
Rounds and exit rules
Assam’s rules are not the same as MCC’s. For instance, MCC’s free exit and upgrade rules may not apply here. Also, Assam does not use MCC’s security deposit system. Our MCC security deposit guide covers that separate rule.
| Round | Decision to make |
|---|---|
| Round 1 | Which seat would you join right away? |
| Round 2 | Is any new choice worth more than your present seat? |
| Round 3 | Will you complete admission if you get a seat? |
| Stray round | Can you accept every seat on your list? |
The Assam rules also punish late exits. Under the 2017 rules, leaving an MBBS seat after the last admission date costs Rs 3 lakh. For BDS, it is Rs 2 lakh. If you leave before that date, you get your fees back minus 10%. Later amendments may change these sums. Ask the college before you leave a seat.
How AIQ and Assam counselling affect each other
You can apply to both MCC and DME Assam when eligible. However, the two share joined-seat information. DME’s 16 October 2026 notice shuts out anyone who joined a seat up to Round 3. This covers AIQ and state quota seats. Resigning may not make you eligible again. Read the official notice before you give up a seat.
Assam MBBS fees
Government seats in Assam cost little. For example, Gauhati Medical College set a maximum MBBS admission fee of Rs 30,000 for 2026. This figure includes all charges. Fees differ between colleges, so check your college’s notice.
Then build a full budget. Ask the college about:
- the admission fee and yearly charges;
- hostel and mess charges;
- university and exam fees;
- any refundable deposits.
MBBS bond in Assam
The Assam admission rules set bond and seat-surrender duties. A figure from the 2017 rules or a 2023 announcement is not your final 2026 contract. Get the current college bond form. Check the service period and any rural-service option. Also check the money penalty. Then find the date after which leaving the seat costs a separate payment.
| Liability | What to ask |
|---|---|
| Service bond | How long you must serve, where, and the 2026 penalty |
| Seat surrender | What you pay if you leave after the last admission date |
| Agreement | When you must submit it after admission |
Our MBBS bond checklist lists the clauses to read.
After allotment
Follow these steps once you get a seat:
- Download your allotment letter from the DME portal.
- Check the college, course and category on it.
- Report to the Principal of your college within the set dates.
- Show your original documents and keep one set of photocopies.
- Pay the admission fee.
- Sign the bond and other forms the college asks for.
Bring your NEET admit card and scorecard, Class 10 and 12 papers, PRC, category certificates and photo ID. Our reporting checklist helps with the joining stage.
Before you report to college: Keep your Assam PRC and your Class 7–12 school record ready. If you use an exception, know the exact rule and have the parent’s service papers. After the 21 October result, check the reporting dates and college fees. Read the full service-bond form before you join.
Common questions
Yes. You need proof of permanent residence in Assam, usually a PRC. You must also meet the residence and schooling rules.
DME’s 16 October notice sets the stray round result for 21 October 2026. Admission at the allotted college is on 25–26 October.
No. In 2026, DME Assam counselling covers only government medical and dental colleges.
Yes. Assam government medical college admissions may carry a compulsory service bond. Check the amount and terms in the 2026 bond form for your college. An older rule or announcement is not enough.
No. DME Assam follows the state’s own rules. Read the state notice before you leave any seat.
Official information
Primary official reference checked on 20 October 2026:
DME Assam: 16 October stray-round notice
Last checked: 20 October 2026. Official notices take priority if any details change.
