Ladakh revises MBBS, BDS Central pool admission rules, introduces single merit list

Ladakh has revised its admission process for MBBS and BDS seats under the Central pool, replacing the existing category-based roster system with a single merit list for eligible candidates.

The revised guidelines were issued by the Health and Medical Education Department with the approval of Lieutenant Governor V K Saxena, an official spokesman said.

Under the new system, candidates will no longer be separated into multiple categories based on factors such as domicile district, sex or reserved and unreserved status. Instead, all eligible applicants will be considered through a common merit list.

The administration said the changes were introduced after the formation of seven new districts in the Union territory. The revised framework amends the admission guidelines that had been in place since 2021.

Previously, candidates seeking admission to Central pool MBBS and Bachelor of Dental Surgery (BDS) seats were considered through different categories and a roster system.

These included reserved and unreserved candidates, applicants from Leh and Kargil, male and female candidates, and other categories specified under the earlier guidelines.

With the revised guidelines, the separate categories and roster system will be discontinued. The administration will instead maintain a single merit list for all eligible candidates, irrespective of their domicile district, sex or reservation status.

Admissions to the medical and dental colleges allotted under the Central pool will be based strictly on the candidates' NEET merit or ranking and the preferences they submit during the application process.

For the 2026-27 academic session, Ladakh has been allotted seven MBBS seats and two BDS seats under the Central pool by the Centre.

The seven MBBS seats have been allocated to the following institutions:

The two BDS seats have been allotted to KG Dental College in Lucknow and Government Dental College in Indore.

Candidates with a valid NEET ranking who meet the eligibility requirements will get seven days to apply for the Central pool MBBS and BDS seats.

Applications will have to be submitted through the official Ladakh NIC portal within the specified period. The administration has advised eligible candidates to complete the application process within the seven-day window.

The revised admission mechanism means that candidates from different districts and categories will now compete through the same merit list rather than through separate rosters. Their NEET ranking and the choices they exercise will determine consideration for the available Central pool seats.