Shillong, September 16: The Meghalaya Health and Family Welfare Department has issued a Combined Counselling Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for MBBS admissions for the 2026-27 academic session, covering a total of 138 seats under the Central Pool, other quotas and the State Quota of Shillong Medical College.
The SOP will be implemented by the Meghalaya State Counselling Authority for Medical Education (MSCAMA), with counselling for the different categories to be conducted, as far as practicable, through a common and synchronised process based on a single merit list prepared from the NEET-UG 2026 All India Rank.
Of the 138 seats, 96 fall under the Central Pool and other quotas, while 42 are State Quota seats at Shillong Medical College. The 96 seats include 53 Central Pool seats, 14 seats at NEIGRIHMS, 16 at RIMS Imphal, 10 in government medical colleges in Assam and three in Tripura. Of these, 39 seats each have been earmarked for the Khasi-Jaintia and Garo categories, 14 for the Unreserved category and four for SC/OST candidates, subject to applicable provisions. For Shillong Medical College, the National Medical Commission has sanctioned 50 MBBS seats for 2026-27. Of these, eight will be filled under the All India Quota and 42 under the State Quota.
The State Quota seats will be distributed according to Meghalaya’s reservation policy, with 40% each for Khasi-Jaintia and Garo candidates, 15% for the Unreserved category and 5% for SC/OST candidates. Admission will be based on NEET-UG 2026 performance, along with fulfilment of academic, domicile, category and other eligibility conditions. Candidates must have passed Class XII or an equivalent examination with Physics, Chemistry, Biology or Biotechnology and English, and must be at least 17 years old by December 31, 2026.
Applicants will have to register online as notified by MSCAMA and undergo verification of their NEET qualification, identity, category certificates, Permanent Residential Certificate, educational qualifications and other documents. Original documents will be checked during physical reporting.
The SOP provides for four rounds of counselling, including the Stray Vacancy Round, and also lays down procedures for seat surrender, vacant seats, PwBD assessment and tie-breaking criteria. Candidates admitted under State Government-sponsored MBBS seats will be required to execute a bond with the Health and Family Welfare Department.
Under the applicable Mandatory Medical Public Service Policy, MBBS graduates admitted under the State Quota will also be required to serve for a minimum of five years in government hospitals or recognised Mission hospitals, subject to prescribed rules and conditions.
MSCAMA will operate a State Counselling Control Room, help desk and grievance redressal mechanism during the admission process. It will also issue official notifications, FAQs, bilingual information materials and instructional videos while monitoring misinformation, fake notices, fraudulent websites, impersonation and cyber fraud.
The department has advised candidates to rely only on official notifications and communications issued by MSCAMA and the Health and Family Welfare Department during counselling and admissions.
