Puducherry NEET UG 2026 Round 1 Choice Filling Re-Opened: Check Last Date, Course Preference Update and Allotment Details

Overview

The Puducherry NEET UG 2026 counselling process has reached an important stage for candidates seeking admission to medical, dental and other NEET-based undergraduate courses. The Centralised Admission Committee (CENTAC), Government of Puducherry, has re-opened the Round 1 course preference/choice filling window for UG NEET courses.

Candidates who have already registered for Puducherry NEET UG counselling and want to modify, update, or rearrange their course preferences can do so during the re-opened window. The official CENTAC portal currently lists the notice for “Updation of Course Preferences for UG NEET Courses”, dated September 1, 2026. C

The opportunity is particularly important for candidates who want to make changes to their existing preferences before the Round 1 allotment. Students should carefully review the order of their choices because the preference sequence submitted by the candidate plays an important role during the allotment process.

Puducherry NEET UG 2026 Round 1 Choice Filling: Important Date

According to the update shared for the re-opening of the choice-filling window, candidates can update their course preferences up to September 2, 2026, at 1:00 PM.

This is a very short window, so candidates who want to modify their preferences should complete the process before the deadline rather than waiting until the final minutes.

The CENTAC UG NEET portal is the official platform for the counselling process. The portal covers UG NEET admissions for courses including MBBS, BDS, BAMS, and other applicable NEET-based programmes. 

Why Has Round 1 Choice Filling Been Re-Opened?

The re-opening of the choice-filling facility gives candidates another opportunity to review and update the preferences they had submitted earlier.

Candidates may want to modify their choices for several reasons. Some students may have changed their preferred college, while others may want to rearrange their course preferences after reviewing the available options, fee structure, or their position in the merit list.

CENTAC has already published the final merit list for UG NEET 2026, covering Medical, Dental, BAMS Ayurveda, and B.V.Sc. & A.H. categories, including Government Quota, Management Quota, and NRI categories where applicable. The final merit list was published on September 1, 2026. 

Therefore, candidates should use this opportunity to check their final merit status and then make their course preferences carefully before the Round 1 allotment.

What Is Choice Filling In NEET Counselling?

Choice filling is the process through which a candidate tells the counselling authority which courses and colleges they prefer for admission.

For example, a candidate interested in MBBS may place their preferred medical colleges in a particular order. Another candidate may choose BDS, BAMS, or another eligible NEET-based course depending on their eligibility and preferences.

The order of choices is important because the counselling authority uses the candidate's submitted preferences along with merit, eligibility, category, and seat availability to determine the allotment.

Therefore, candidates should not add choices randomly. They should prepare their preference list after considering their actual willingness to join the course and college.

Who Should Update Their Choices?

Candidates who are already participating in Puducherry NEET UG 2026 counselling and have access to the choice-filling facility can use this re-opened window if they want to modify their preferences.

Candidates who are satisfied with their existing preferences may not need to make unnecessary changes. However, they should still log in and verify that their previously submitted preferences are correctly reflected in the portal.

Candidates who want to change their college or course order should complete the modification before the notified deadline.

How To Update Course Preferences For Puducherry NEET UG 2026?

Candidates can update their preferences through the official CENTAC UG NEET portal. Puducherry CENTAC UG NEET 2026 Counselling Portal

Candidates should log in using their registered credentials and access the relevant course-preference section. They can then review their existing choices and make changes wherever required.

After rearranging or adding/removing preferences, candidates should carefully review the final order of choices before submitting the changes.

It is important to ensure that the final list represents the candidate's genuine preference. Once the choice-filling window closes, candidates may not get another opportunity to make changes for the same stage.

Candidates Should Check Their Preference Order Carefully

One of the most important things candidates should do before submitting their choices is to check the preference order from top to bottom.

The first choice should be the course and college that the candidate prefers the most, followed by the next preferred option and so on.

Candidates should avoid placing a college or course higher on the list merely because they believe it may have a better chance of allotment. Every choice should reflect the candidate's actual preference and willingness to take admission.

For example, if a candidate prefers College A over College B, College A should be placed above College B in the preference list.

Check The Final Merit List Before Choice Filling

The choice-filling update comes shortly after CENTAC published the final merit list for UG NEET 2026.

The final merit list includes separate categories for Government Quota as well as Management Quota and NRI categories. Candidates can check the relevant merit list and confirm their details before finalising their preferences. 

Checking the final merit position can help candidates understand their position in the counselling process, although merit rank alone does not guarantee a particular college or course.

The actual allotment will also depend on the available seats and the choices submitted by candidates.

What Courses Are Covered Under CENTAC UG NEET Counselling?

CENTAC's UG NEET counselling portal covers various NEET-based undergraduate courses for the academic year 2026–27.

The official portal identifies Medical, Dental, BAMS, Ayurveda, and B.V.Sc. & A.H. among the UG NEET counselling categories. The published final merit list also reflects these course groups. 

Candidates should select only those courses for which they are eligible and genuinely interested.

The available course and college options shown in the candidate's dashboard should be considered while preparing the preference list.

Important Tips While Filling Choices

Candidates should take the choice-filling process seriously because the preference order can directly affect the allotment outcome.

Before submitting the final choices, candidates should check the available colleges, courses, quota/category, and other relevant details displayed on the CENTAC portal.

It is also advisable to prepare a preference list beforehand instead of making decisions in a hurry while the portal is open. Candidates should keep their preferred colleges in a logical order and make sure that they do not accidentally place an unwanted option above a preferred option.

Students should also take a screenshot or save a copy of the final submitted preference list for their records.

What Happens After Choice Filling?

Once the choice-filling window closes, CENTAC will proceed with the Round 1 allotment process according to the applicable counselling rules.

The allotment is generally determined by factors such as candidate merit, eligibility, category, course preferences, and availability of seats.

Candidates who receive an allotment will have to follow the instructions issued by CENTAC regarding acceptance, payment, reporting and admission.

The exact Round 1 allotment schedule and subsequent instructions should be checked through the official CENTAC portal.

What If A Candidate Does Not Change Their Choices?

Candidates who are satisfied with their existing preferences may not need to make changes. However, because the choice-filling window has been specifically re-opened, candidates should verify their existing preferences carefully.

If a candidate previously entered choices but now wants to change the order, this is the opportunity to do so.

Candidates should not assume that they will automatically get another chance to modify the choices after the deadline.

Can Candidates Add Or Rearrange Colleges?

The ability to add, remove, or rearrange preferences will depend on the options enabled in the candidate's CENTAC dashboard.

Candidates should follow the options displayed on the official portal and the instructions provided in the latest notice.

If the portal permits modification of the preference list, candidates should carefully rearrange their choices according to their actual admission priorities.

Puducherry NEET UG 2026 Choice Filling Deadline

The most important point for candidates is the September 2, 2026, 1:00 PM deadline for the re-opened Round 1 course-preference window.

Because the deadline is very close, candidates who want to make changes should not wait until the final few minutes.

Before submitting the final choices, candidates should check their login details, internet connection, and preference list in advance.

Official Choice Filling Update

Candidates can refer to the official CENTAC UG NEET 2026 portal for the latest choice-preference update and other counselling notifications.

CENTAC Official UG NEET 2026 Portal

The official CENTAC website currently shows the September 1, 2026 notice regarding updation of course preferences for UG NEET courses, along with the final merit list published on the same date.

FAQs 

Conclusion

The re-opening of Puducherry NEET UG 2026 Round 1 choice filling gives candidates an important final opportunity to review and modify their course preferences before the Round 1 allotment.

Candidates who want to make changes should complete the process on or before September 2, 2026, at 1:00 PM. Since the window is short, students should log in as early as possible and avoid waiting until the deadline.

Before submitting the final preferences, candidates should carefully review the order of colleges and courses, verify their eligibility, and ensure that the list reflects their genuine admission priorities.

CENTAC has already published the final UG NEET 2026 merit list on September 1, 2026, so candidates should also verify their merit-list details before finalising their preferences.