CENTAC 2026 is the Central Admission Committee for Puducherry that helps students get admission into various government college courses. These courses include engineering (B.Tech), pharmacy (B.Pharm), nursing (B.Sc. Nursing), medicine (MBBS), dentistry (BDS), law (BA LLB), and other related fields. To apply for these courses, students must be Indian citizens and should be between 17 and 21 years old.
CENTAC manages the entire admission process, including counselling and seat allocation. Students need to register and apply online through the official CENTAC website by filling out their personal and educational details and paying the application fee. Admissions to MBBS and BDS courses are based on the results of the NEET exam.
There is a reservation system in place to help students from different communities receive fair chances in admissions. After the application and counselling process, a merit list is prepared based on students’ scores and ranks. Students who qualify get seat allotments, and they must report to the allotted colleges with their documents to confirm admission. CENTAC 2026 streamlines the admission process, making it simple, transparent, and fair for students seeking admission to government colleges in Puducherry.
CENTAC 2026 Highlights
CENTAC 2026 is the Central Admission Committee for Puducherry. It helps students get admission into various courses like engineering, pharmacy, nursing, law, medical, and dental in government colleges of Puducherry. To apply, students must be Indian citizens and meet the age criteria of 17 to 21 years. CENTAC manages the counselling and admission process for these courses in Puducherry.
| Particular | Highlights |
|---|---|
| Counselling Authority | Central Admission Committee (CENTAC) Puducherry |
| Courses offered | B.Tech, B.Pharm, B.Sc Nursing, BSc (MLT), BA LLB, MBBS, and BDS (Based on NEET score) |
| Qualification required | Should be an Indian national; the Upper age limit is 21, and the lower age limit is 17 |
| Conducted for | Admission to Government institutions in Puducherry |
| Official address | “The Convenor” CENTAC office PEC Campus, Pillaichavady, Puducherry – 605 014 |
CENTAC 2026 Important Dates
The important dates for CENTAC 2026 PG Medical/Dental admissions are mentioned below.
| Events | Tentative Dates |
|---|---|
| CENTAC 2026 Online Counselling begins | July 2026 |
| Last date to submit the online Counselling Application Form | July 2026 |
| CENTAC 2026 Round 1 Provisional Allotment List | July 2026 |
| Reporting to the Allotted College | July 2026 |
CENTAC 2026 Eligibility Criteria
CENTAC 2026 eligibility criteria explain who can apply for various courses in Puducherry government colleges. These rules include nationality, age limits, and minimum educational qualifications for each course. Knowing these criteria helps students understand if they can register for their desired course through CENTAC.
| Course | Qualifying Exam | Required Subjects | Minimum Marks | Age Limit | Attempt Limit | Entrance Exam |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| B.Tech | 10+2 or equivalent | Physics, Mathematics + Chemistry/Biology/Bio-Tech/CS | 45% (40% for reserved category) | Max 21 years (3 years relaxation for SC) | 2 attempts (3 for SC) | No |
| B.Pharm | 10+2 or equivalent | Physics, Chemistry + Mathematics/Biology/Bio-Tech/CS | 45% (40% for reserved category) | Not specified | No limit | No |
| BAMS | 10+2 or equivalent | Physics, Biology, Chemistry, English | 50% (GEN), 40% (SC/ST/OPH), 45% (OBC/others) | Min 17 years (as of 1 Oct 2026) | 1 attempt | No |
| BDS & MBBS | 10+2 or equivalent | Physics, Chemistry, Biology/Bio-Tech/Zoology/Botany, English | 50% (GEN), 40% (reserved category) | Not specified | No limit | Based on NEET 2026 rank |
| BSc (MLT) | 10+2 or equivalent | Physics, Chemistry, Biology, English | 50% (GEN), 40% (reserved category) | Not specified | No limit | No |
| BSc (Nursing) | 10+2 or equivalent | Physics, Chemistry, Biology, English | 50% (GEN), 40% (reserved category) | Not specified | No limit | No |
CENTAC 2026 Application Process
The CENTAC 2026 application process is conducted entirely online through the official CENTAC website. Candidates seeking admission to various courses offered by government institutions in Puducherry must register and complete the application form carefully. It is important to provide accurate details and upload necessary documents before submitting the form. The application fee must be paid online based on the number of courses applied for. Following the step-by-step procedure ensures a smooth application experience.
- Visit the official CENTAC website at https://www.centaconline.in/ to start the application process.
- Register by entering your name, date of birth, and valid mobile number or email ID to receive your user ID and password.
- Log in using the provided credentials to access the application form.
- Fill in the application form with accurate details such as course applied, personal information, educational qualifications, and correspondence address.
- Upload all required documents as per the guidelines.
- Select the category and enter the university code preferences.
- Pay the application fee online via debit card, credit card, or net banking.
- Review all entered information and submit the form.
- Keep a printout of the completed application form and payment receipt for future reference.
CENTAC 2026 Reservation Criteria
CENTAC 2026 Reservation Criteria follows the government’s established norms and regulations to ensure fair representation of different categories. The seat reservation policy applies to the seats available in various courses offered by participating institutes. This system helps allocate seats to reserved categories such as Scheduled Castes (SC), Scheduled Tribes (ST), Other Backwards Classes (OBC), and other eligible groups as per the prescribed percentage. The reservation ensures equal opportunity for all candidates while maintaining transparency and inclusivity in the admission process through CENTAC 2026.
| Categories | Reservation (%) |
|---|---|
| Vertical Reservation | |
| General | 50 |
| Other Backwards Classes (OBC) | 11 |
| Backwards Classes Muslims (BCM) | 2 |
| Most Backwards Classes (MBC) | 18 |
| Extreme Backward Classes (EBC) | 2 |
| Backward Tribes | 1 |
| Scheduled Caste (ST) | 16 |
| Horizontal Reservation | |
| Children/Grand Children of Freedom (Fighter (FF) | 4 |
| Physically Challenged | 3 |
| Wards of Ex-Servicemen | 1 or 3** |
| Candidates who are Meritorious in Sports (SP) | 1 |
CENTAC 2026 Merit List
CENTAC 2026 Merit List is released separately for admissions into various courses. CENTAC Merit List for selected candidates is published through the website of the three universities.
CENTAC 2026 Merit List: How to Download?
- Candidates can check their merit status online on the official site for CENTAC 2026
- Open the website and click on the link that reads CENTAC 2026 Results
- Enter the registered enrollment number in the window that appears
- Press submit, and the result will be displayed
- The CENTAC 2026 Result window will show the cut-off marks and call letter.
CENTAC 2026 Cut off
CENTAC 2026 cutoff is the minimum score a candidate needs to obtain to be eligible for admission to various undergraduate programs.
- The CENTAC 2026 cutoff will vary from one institute to another.
- The cut-off will also depend on the course and the category of students who have been shortlisted based on their CENTAC ranks.
- The cutoff of CENTAC 2026 isn’t fixed and may vary from previous years.
CENTAC 2026 Cutoffs: Determining Factors
It depends on several factors:
- Seats are available in the course for which admission is sought
- The cutoff trends of previous years
- Perform in the 10+2 exam (if more candidates do well in the exam, it will push the cutoff rank higher and vice versa)
CENTAC 2026 Counselling
Aspirants who meet the cutoff marks for CENTAC 2026 were placed in the Merit List prepared by the committee.
- The CENTAC 2026 Merit List is prepared based on the marks scored by each candidate and their ranks.
- Applicants are called for counselling in the order of their ranks and seat allotment based on the CENTAC 2026 Merit List. Separate counselling letters are issued.
- CENTAC 2026 Counselling is being conducted online. Applicants can register for counselling by visiting the official website of the conducting body.
- The qualified candidates need to appear in person for counselling and will be required to produce the necessary documents for verification.
- After completing the CENTAC 2026 Counselling process within one week, the conducting authority releases a seat allotment list.
- Candidates must download their provisional allotment letter from the website and then report to the allotted centre within the specified time period, bringing all the required documents.
- In case candidates fail to report at a given time, their seats are cancelled or given away.
CENTAC 2026 FAQs
Ques. What is CENTAC 2026 and which courses does it offer admission to?
Ans. CENTAC 2026 is the Central Admission Committee for Puducherry that manages admissions to courses like B.Tech, B.Pharm, B.Sc Nursing, BA LLB, MBBS, and BDS in government colleges of Puducherry.
Ques. What are the eligibility criteria for applying to B.Tech through CENTAC 2026?
Ans. Candidates must have passed 10+2 with Physics, Mathematics, and one of Chemistry/Biology/Bio-Tech/Computer Science with at least 45% marks (40% for reserved category) and be below 21 years (3 years relaxation for SC).
Ques. How can I apply for CENTAC 2026 admissions?
Ans. The application process is online through https://www.centaconline.in/, where candidates must register, fill the application form, upload documents, pay fees, and submit the form.
Ques. What is the age limit for applying to BAMS through CENTAC 2026?
Ans. The minimum age to apply for BAMS is 17 years as of October 1, 2026, with a requirement of 50% marks for general category candidates in the qualifying exam.
Ques. Is there any entrance exam required for admission to MBBS and BDS through CENTAC 2026?
Ans. Yes, admission to MBBS and BDS is based on the NEET 2026 rank as per CENTAC guidelines.
Ques. What is the application fee for CENTAC 2026?
Ans. The application fee is ₹500 for one course, ₹750 for two courses, and ₹1000 for three courses for general category candidates, payable online.
Ques. How is seat reservation done in CENTAC 2026 admissions?
Ans. Seats are reserved as per government norms for categories like OBC, SC, ST, BCM, MBC, EBC, and horizontal reservations for freedom fighters' children, physically challenged, ex-servicemen wards, and sports meritorious candidates.
Ques. When does the CENTAC 2026 online counselling begin?
Ans. The online counselling process for CENTAC 2026 is tentatively scheduled to begin in July 2026.
Ques. How can I check the CENTAC 2026 merit list and results?
Ans. Candidates can check the merit list and results by visiting the official CENTAC website, entering their enrollment number, and viewing the cutoff marks and call letter.
Ques. What happens after seat allotment in CENTAC 2026 counselling?
Ans. After seat allotment, candidates must download the provisional allotment letter, report to the allotted college with necessary documents within the given time, or else the seat will be cancelled.