The Directorate of Health Services (Medical Education & Research), Shillong, runs Meghalaya MBBS counselling. Most people call it the DME. For 2026, the state also set up the Meghalaya State Counselling Authority for Medical Education (MSCAMA) to run the process.
It fills the state quota seats at Shillong Medical College and the seats Meghalaya gets in other colleges. It also fills all seats at P.A. Sangma International Medical College (PIMC). On the other hand, MCC fills the 15% All India Quota seats. It also runs AIIMS, central university and deemed university seats.
Meghalaya NEET UG 2026 update (20 October): In September, the Health Department set aside its first state and central-pool allocation. It then ordered re-counselling. Its official site now lists a new notification.
The title reads: “List of eligible candidates and their allocation after Re-Counselling for MBBS and BDS Seats under State Quota and Central Pool Seats for the Academic Year 2026–2027.” Find that latest allocation list before you act. PIMC has separate counselling notices. The combined SOP provides for a stray vacancy round. Still, wait for a specific notice before you count on a date.
Who runs MBBS counselling in Meghalaya
| Seats | Counselling authority |
|---|---|
| Shillong Medical College, state quota (42 seats) | DME / MSCAMA, Meghalaya |
| Central pool and other seats given to Meghalaya (96 seats) | DME / MSCAMA, Meghalaya |
| PIMC (state, management and NRI quotas) | DME, Meghalaya |
| 15% All India Quota in government colleges | MCC |
| AIIMS, central and deemed universities | MCC |
You register separately for MCC and for Meghalaya. For example, an MCC registration does not count for the state list. Our MCC counselling guide covers the national route. For the college list, see MBBS colleges in Meghalaya.
Meghalaya MBBS counselling in 2026: what changed
The first allotment did not last. A student union raised concerns about transparency in the earlier SOP of 31 July. Then, on 15 September, the Commissioner and Secretary, Health, passed a speaking order. It set aside the Round 1 allotment for the central pool and Shillong Medical College seats. After that, the department called for fresh counselling with a uniform choice-filling exercise.
The new SOP sets these rules:
- MSCAMA runs one common process for both seat groups, as far as possible.
- There is a single merit list, based on NEET UG 2026 All India Rank.
- There are four rounds, including a stray vacancy round.
- A verified seat matrix, by college and category, comes out before counselling.
- Setting aside Round 1 does not affect any candidate’s eligibility, rank or category.
Important: The DME posts its lists and notices on its website. Check the site yourself every day. Also, report strictly within the time slot the counselling list gives you.
Meghalaya MBBS admission 2026 dates
These dates come from official DME notices.
| Date (2026) | Event |
|---|---|
| 4–5 August | DME advertisements for Shillong Medical College and central pool seats |
| 5–16 August (till 5 PM) | Online applications for Shillong Medical College seats |
| 6–16 August (till 5 PM) | Online applications for central pool seats |
| 7–13 August (till 5 PM) | Online applications for PIMC |
| 27–28 August | Screening at Civil Hospital Shillong (and Tura Civil Hospital on 27 August) |
| 28 August | PIMC Round 1 result |
| 11 September | Selected list for MBBS and BDS state seats |
| 15 September | Round 1 set aside; speaking order and re-counselling notice |
| Mid-September | New Combined Counselling SOP and eligible list for re-counselling |
| 17 September | PIMC Round 2 result |
| 2–5 October (till 5 PM) | Online applications for PIMC Round 3 |
| 8 October | PIMC Round 3 counselling at the DME office, Shillong |
Look on the official site for any later round or reporting date.
Meghalaya state quota MBBS seats
Meghalaya has 138 seats under the 2026 SOP. Of these, 96 are seats given to the state in colleges elsewhere. The other 42 are at Shillong Medical College.
| Seat group | Seats |
|---|---|
| Central pool seats | 53 |
| RIMS Imphal | 16 |
| NEIGRIHMS, Shillong | 14 |
| Government medical colleges in Assam | 10 |
| Tripura | 3 |
| Shillong Medical College, state quota | 42 |
| Total | 138 |
The NMC sanctioned 50 seats at Shillong Medical College. Of these, 8 go to the All India Quota through MCC, and 42 stay with the state.
Reservation follows the state policy: 40% Khasi and Jaintia, 40% Garo, 15% unreserved and 5% SC/OST. In the 96 nominated seats, that means 39, 39, 14 and 4 seats. At Shillong Medical College, the split is 17, 17, 6 and 2. So across all 138 seats, there are 56 Khasi and Jaintia, 56 Garo, 20 unreserved and 6 SC/OST seats.
PIMC is a private college at Baridua, Ri-Bhoi, under USTM. It has 150 MBBS seats in 2026: 64 state quota, 64 management quota and 22 NRI quota. Its state quota seats follow the same 40:40:15:5 split (26, 26, 9 and 3). For Round 3, the DME listed 61 vacant seats: 9 state quota, 30 management and 22 NRI. Tura Medical College does not appear in the 2026 MBBS admission notices.
Who can apply
First, you must qualify NEET UG 2026. The qualifying scores are 213 (General/EWS), 194 (General PwD) and 177 (SC/ST/OBC and their PwD). In addition, the DME sets these rules:
- You must be at least 17 years old on 31 December 2026.
- You must pass Class 12 with Physics, Chemistry, Biology/Biotechnology and English.
- You need at least 50% in PCB (General) or 40% (ST/SC/OST), as per the college notices.
- A medical board set up by the Health Department must declare you fit.
Meghalaya domicile rules for NEET
Every Meghalaya seat depends on a state certificate. Each category needs a different one.
| Your situation | What to check |
|---|---|
| Khasi or Jaintia ST candidate | A valid Meghalaya ST certificate |
| Garo ST candidate | A valid Meghalaya ST certificate |
| Non-tribal permanent resident (unreserved) | A Permanent Resident Certificate (PRC) |
| SC or OST candidate | A valid SC/OST certificate |
| Living in Meghalaya without ST or PRC | You may not qualify for state seats |
The central pool notice says you must be an indigenous inhabitant or permanent resident of Meghalaya. It cites Political Department orders of 1983 and 2014 for the PRC rule. Take a student who studied in Shillong but has neither a Meghalaya ST certificate nor a PRC. That student should ask the DME before applying.
Read our state quota counselling guide to compare this with other states.
Documents to carry
The DME lists these originals for counselling:
- Age proof certificate
- NEET UG 2026 scorecard and admit card
- Domicile certificate or PRC (if applicable)
- Class 10 and Class 12 mark sheets and passing certificates
- ST/SC/OST certificate (if applicable)
Also bring one set of self-attested photocopies and passport-size photos. A false certificate or document gets your admission cancelled at once. It also brings a three-year bar from state quota seats and possible legal action.
How to apply and fill choices
The steps are simple:
- Apply online through the DME website during the open window.
- Upload your NEET UG 2026 result sheet. The DME rejects forms without it.
- Check the shortlist for your screening date and time.
- Attend screening and document checks in person.
- Give your college preferences when asked.
- Watch the website for the selected list and reporting date.
Worked example. Suppose you are a Garo ST candidate. You prefer NEIGRIHMS, because it is in Shillong. Next, you would accept Shillong Medical College or RIMS Imphal. A seat in Assam suits you less, but you would still join it. Your order could be:
- NEIGRIHMS
- Shillong Medical College
- RIMS Imphal
- A government college in Assam
Leave out any college you would refuse. After all, refusing a seat later can cost you your turn.
Rounds, exit rules and penalties
Meghalaya’s rules are not the same as MCC’s. For instance, do not assume MCC’s free exit, upgrade or deposit refund rules apply here. The SOP covers seat surrender and the filling of vacant seats. However, the published news reports do not give the full surrender terms. Ask the DME in writing before you leave any seat.
Also note these points from the notices:
- PIMC candidates selected in Rounds 1 or 2 who did not join could not apply for Round 3.
- PIMC candidates not selected earlier could apply again for Round 3 without the application fee.
- You must report within your given time slot.
Our guide to NEET counselling rounds explains how rounds usually work. Also see our seat matrix guide.
Meghalaya MBBS fees
The DME has published these fees for 2026:
| College and quota | Application fee | Counselling fee | Tuition fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shillong Medical College, state quota | Check notice | Check notice | ₹30,000 per year (non-refundable) |
| PIMC, state quota | ₹500 (ST/SC/OST exempt) | Nil | ₹4,95,000 |
| PIMC, management quota | ₹500 | ₹3,000 | ₹22,00,000 |
| PIMC, NRI quota | ₹500 | ₹25,000 | USD 43,000 |
The PIMC notice lists tuition as non-refundable. However, it does not say what period the fee covers. Ask the college how often you pay it. For central pool seats, you pay the fees of the college that gets your nomination. Also budget for hostel, mess and university charges. Finally, keep the payment receipt. The DME says a bank debit alone is not proof of payment.
MBBS bond in Meghalaya
Meghalaya has a strict service bond. The Mandatory Medical Public Service Policy requires state-sponsored MBBS students to sign a bond. After graduation, they must serve at least five years in government or recognised mission hospitals.
For central pool MBBS seats, the 2026 advertisement sets a ₹30 lakh surety bond. It comes with five years of rural service. You also give a letter of acceptance when you report. Our MBBS bond checklist lists the clauses to read.
After allotment
Once you get a seat, follow these steps:
- Check the college, category and seat on the selected list.
- Report to the DME on the given date and time.
- Sign the bond and acceptance letter, if your seat needs them.
- Pay the fee and download the receipt.
- Join the college within its deadline.
Our reporting checklist helps with the joining stage.
Common questions
Yes, but only for unreserved seats, and only with a Meghalaya PRC. That is 20 of the 138 seats, or 15% of each seat group.
Partly. Meghalaya gets 14 seats at NEIGRIHMS, and the DME fills them as part of the 96 nominated seats.
The 2026 notice lists ₹30,000 per year as tuition for state quota seats at Shillong Medical College. Hostel and other charges are extra.
The 2026 combined SOP provides for a fourth-round stray-vacancy process. That is a framework, not a confirmed October allotment date. Track the Health Department’s latest allocation and vacancy notices.
No. All PIMC quotas, including management and NRI, go through DME counselling on NEET merit.
