Candidates participating in Chhattisgarh NEET UG Counselling 2026 have an important deadline today, August 17. The Directorate of Medical Education (DME), Chhattisgarh, has set August 17 as the last date for candidates to complete their college and course choice filling and locking for Round 1 of the state counselling process.

The counselling process is being conducted for admission to MBBS and BDS courses in government and private medical and dental colleges across the state. NEET UG 2026-qualified candidates who have registered for the state counselling need to complete their preferences within the prescribed schedule.

Choice Filling Ends August 17

Candidates can select their preferred colleges and courses through the online counselling portal. The choices should be arranged according to the candidate's preferred order, considering factors such as NEET rank, category, available seats, college location and previous admission trends.

The choice-filling process is an important stage because the seat allotment is based on the preferences submitted by candidates along with their eligibility and merit.

Candidates should not wait until the final hours to submit or lock their choices because technical problems or heavy traffic on the counselling portal could create difficulties.

Who Can Participate?

Candidates who have qualified NEET UG 2026 and meet the eligibility requirements for Chhattisgarh state counselling can participate in the admission process.

The state counselling covers MBBS and BDS admissions in participating government and private institutions in Chhattisgarh. 

Candidates should ensure that their registration, required documents and other formalities have been completed before submitting their final choices.

Choice Locking Is Important

Simply selecting colleges may not be enough. Candidates must also complete the choice-locking process within the prescribed deadline.

Once choices are locked, they are considered for the seat-allotment process according to the counselling rules. Candidates should carefully check the order of their preferences before locking them.

A mistake in the preference order could affect the seat offered during the allotment process.

How To Fill Choices

Candidates can generally complete the process through the official Chhattisgarh NEET counselling portal by following these steps:

1. Visit the official DME Chhattisgarh counselling portal.

2. Log in using the registered credentials.

3. Open the choice filling section.

4. Select preferred MBBS and/or BDS colleges and courses.

5. Arrange the choices according to preference.

6. Review the complete list carefully.

7. Submit and lock the choices before the deadline.

8. Save or download the confirmation page for future reference.

Candidates should rely on the latest instructions displayed on the official counselling portal while completing the process.

What Happens After Choice Filling?

After the choice-filling and locking window closes, the counselling authority will process the submitted preferences along with candidate merit and seat availability.

The seat-allotment result will determine which college and course is offered to each candidate. Candidates receiving a seat will then have to follow the prescribed admission, document-verification and reporting requirements within the specified timeline.

Candidates who do not receive a preferred seat should also check the rules governing subsequent counselling rounds before taking any decision.

Students Advised To Check Details Carefully

With the deadline approaching, candidates should verify their choice list, category details, eligibility information and documents before completing the final submission.

The August 17 deadline is particularly important for candidates seeking admission through the Chhattisgarh state counselling process, as missing the choice-filling or locking window could affect participation in the current round.

Candidates are advised to check the latest official notification and counselling portal for any last-minute changes to timings or instructions.