CENTAC 2026: Merit List Expected July, Counselling, Eligibility, Cutoff and Seat Allotment

CENTAC 2026 is the centralised admission process run by the Centralised Admission Committee (CENTAC) under the Government of Puducherry. It handles admission to MBBS, BDS, B.Tech, B.Pharm, B.Sc Nursing, BA LLB, Fine Arts and many other undergraduate courses across Puducherry, Karaikal, Mahe and Yanam. The latest update is that the CENTAC 2026 registration window for UG Non-NEET courses closed on 3 June 2026, and the focus has now shifted to the merit list and counselling phase.

• Merit List: The CENTAC 2026 provisional merit list is expected in the second week of July 2026. It will be prepared from Class 12 marks, NEET scores (for MBBS/BDS) and JEE Main scores (for other-state engineering candidates).
• Counselling: CENTAC 2026 counselling is expected to begin in the last week of July 2026 through online choice filling, followed by merit and category-based seat allotment.
• B.Tech Lateral Entry: Registration for B.Tech Lateral Entry is still open and closes on 11 June 2026 at 5:00 P.M. on centacpuducherry.in.
• ITI Admission: ITI registration is open till 22 June 2026 before 5:00 P.M., the last UG window to close this cycle.

What is CENTAC 2026?

CENTAC 2026 stands for the Centralised Admission Committee, Puducherry. It is the single-window admission body set up by the Government of Puducherry. CENTAC manages admission to all government and most private and self-financing colleges in the Union Territory.

The committee covers four regions: Puducherry, Karaikal, Mahe and Yanam. Through one common application, you can apply for many professional and non-professional courses. This makes CENTAC one of the most important admission processes for students in Puducherry.

CENTAC does not conduct its own entrance test for most courses. Instead, it uses national-level scores and Class 12 marks to build merit lists. For MBBS, BDS and BAMS, admission is based on the NEET UG 2026 rank. For engineering, Puducherry candidates are considered on Class 12 marks, while other-state candidates are considered on JEE Main 2026 scores.

The courses offered through CENTAC include MBBS, BDS, B.Tech, B.Pharm, B.Sc Nursing, B.Sc MLT, BA LLB, Fine Arts, ITI and several arts, science and commerce programmes. For the 2026-2027 session, the official portal showed more than 12,000 completed applications for UG Non-NEET courses alone. So competition for the limited seats is real.

CENTAC 2026 Important Dates

The CENTAC 2026 schedule is spread across several windows because different courses have different deadlines. The main UG Non-NEET registration has already closed. But a few windows like B.Tech Lateral Entry, Fine Arts and ITI are still open. The merit list and counselling dates are expected in July 2026.

The merit list and counselling dates are based on previous-year trends and official notices. You should keep checking centacpuducherry.in for the exact dates.

Source: centacpuducherry.in

CENTAC 2026 Eligibility Criteria

The CENTAC 2026 eligibility depends on the course you choose. Each stream has its own age, subject and marks rules. You should check the right one before you apply.

Nationality and Domicile

• You must be an Indian national. French nationals residing in Puducherry under the Treaty of Cession are also eligible.
• For government quota seats, you must meet the Puducherry nativity or residence rules.
• Other-state candidates can apply but are mainly considered for specific quotas and seats.

For MBBS, BDS and BAMS (Medical Courses)

• You must have passed Class 12 with Physics, Chemistry and Biology.
• You must qualify NEET UG 2026 with the required percentile.
• You should be at least 17 years old by 31 December 2026.

For B.Tech (Engineering)

• You must have passed Class 12 with Physics and Mathematics as compulsory subjects, along with Chemistry, Biology, Biotechnology or a technical vocational subject.
• You need a minimum of 45% aggregate marks. Reserved category candidates need 40%.
• Your age should not exceed 21 years as on 1 July 2026.
• Other-state candidates must provide their valid JEE Main 2026 score.

Other courses like B.Pharm, B.Sc Nursing, BA LLB and Fine Arts have their own subject and marks rules. You should read the official course information document for your stream.

CENTAC 2026 Application Process

The CENTAC 2026 registration was an online-only process on centacpuducherry.in. The main UG Non-NEET application window opened on 14 May 2026 and closed on 3 June 2026 at 5:00 P.M. So fresh applications for these courses are no longer accepted.

The UG Non-NEET and B.Sc Nursing registration closed on 3 June 2026. No offline applications are accepted at any stage.

A few windows are still open. You can still apply for B.Tech Lateral Entry till 11 June 2026, Fine Arts till 15 June 2026, and ITI till 22 June 2026. If you have applied already, your next step is to wait for the merit list. Here is how the application form is filled:

• Registration: Visit centacpuducherry.in and register with your basic details to get login credentials.
• Form Filling: Log in and fill your personal, academic, category and contact details correctly.
• Document Upload: Upload scanned copies of your photo, signature, mark sheets and certificates in the required format.
• Fee Payment: Pay the application fee online through net banking, credit card or debit card.
• Final Submission: Check all details and submit the form. Take a printout for your records.

Once you submit the CENTAC form, it cannot be edited. So you must check every detail before final submission.

CENTAC 2026 Application Fee

The CENTAC 2026 application fee depends on your category and home state. The fee is paid online and is non-refundable. The table below shows the indicative fee structure based on the latest available information.

The fee amount can change by course. You should confirm the exact fee on the official portal before paying.

CENTAC 2026 Courses and Participating Colleges

CENTAC 2026 covers a wide range of undergraduate courses. Through a single committee, you can apply for medical, engineering, pharmacy, nursing, law, arts and vocational programmes. Around 17 institutes take part in the engineering admission alone.

Main Courses Offered

• Medical: MBBS, BDS, BAMS
• Engineering: B.Tech in various branches, including Lateral Entry
• Allied and Others: B.Pharm, B.Sc Nursing, B.Sc MLT, BA LLB, Fine Arts, ITI and arts, science and commerce courses

Major Participating Colleges

For MBBS and BDS, CENTAC handles seats in government medical and dental colleges, government quota seats in private colleges, management and minority quota seats, plus NRI and foreign national quota seats. So the seat pool is large but spread across many quotas.

Documents Required for CENTAC 2026

You must keep your documents ready for the CENTAC 2026 merit list and counselling stage. Missing or wrong documents can cancel your seat. Here is the common list:

• Class 10 mark sheet and certificate (for date of birth proof)
• Class 12 mark sheet and pass certificate
• NEET UG 2026 scorecard (for medical courses)
• JEE Main 2026 scorecard (for other-state engineering candidates)
• Transfer certificate and conduct certificate
• Nativity or residence certificate of Puducherry
• Community or category certificate, if applicable
• Income certificate, if claiming EBC or fee benefits
• Passport-size photographs and valid ID proof
• Sports, PwD or other special category certificates, if applicable

You should carry both original documents and self-attested photocopies during verification. Keep a few extra copies just in case.

CENTAC 2026 Preparation and Application Tips

If you are going to take part in CENTAC 2026 counselling, a little planning helps a lot. These simple tips can save you from common mistakes.

• Track the dates: The merit list and counselling are expected in July 2026. You should check centacpuducherry.in regularly so you do not miss any window.
• Keep documents ready: Arrange all certificates in one folder before counselling starts. This saves time during verification.
• Know your category: Understand your reservation benefit and keep a valid certificate. It can change your seat chances.
• Plan your choices: Make a list of preferred colleges and branches in order before choice filling opens.
• Check your scores: Have your NEET or JEE Main scorecard and Class 12 marks handy for the merit list.
• Use official sources only: Trust only centacpuducherry.in for dates and notices. Avoid rumours from unofficial pages.

With the registration phase over, the smart move now is to stay ready for counselling. A well-prepared candidate always has an edge during seat allotment.