Arunachal Pradesh NEET Counselling 2026: Registration Expected July, Seat Allotment, Cutoff and Merit List

Arunachal Pradesh NEET Counselling 2026 is the state-level MBBS admission process conducted by the Directorate of Higher & Technical Education (DHTE), Arunachal Pradesh, for seats at Tomo Riba Institute of Health & Medical Sciences (TRIHMS), Naharlagun — the only government medical college in the state. Candidates who have qualified NEET UG 2026 and hold valid APST status or Arunachal Pradesh domicile are eligible to participate. As of July 2, 2026, the official portal apdhte.nic.in shows the 2026 MBBS counselling registration as "Coming Soon," with the process expected to begin in mid-to-late July 2026, in line with the previous-year timeline when registration opened on July 24, 2025.

• Registration: AP NEET Counselling 2026 registration is expected to open in mid-to-late July 2026 at apdhte.nic.in. Last year, the window ran from July 24 to July 30, 2025 — a seven-day period. Monitor the portal daily once the official notification drops.
• Seat Availability: TRIHMS Naharlagun has 100 MBBS seats in total. Of these, 85 seats are filled through AP state quota (APDHTE) and are reserved for APST and eligible domicile candidates; the remaining 15 seats go to the All India Quota managed by MCC.
• Cutoff Trend: In 2024, the closing NEET All India Rank for TRIHMS was 17,823 in the main round. Due to APST tribal reservations, the state quota closing rank in some years has gone as wide as 53,926 — APST candidates with comparatively lower national ranks can still secure seats.
• Merit List: After registration closes, APDHTE will publish the merit list based on NEET UG 2026 marks. In 2025, the merit list came within 5–7 days of registration closing. Keep all documents ready for upload at the time of registration itself.

What is Arunachal Pradesh NEET Counselling 2026?

Arunachal Pradesh NEET Counselling is the official state-level process through which NEET UG-qualified candidates secure MBBS admission in Arunachal Pradesh. The DHTE (Directorate of Higher & Technical Education), under the Government of Arunachal Pradesh, organises this counselling every year after NTA declares the NEET UG results.

There is only one government medical college in Arunachal Pradesh: TRIHMS (Tomo Riba Institute of Health & Medical Sciences) in Naharlagun. It offers 100 MBBS seats per year. Of these, 85 seats fall under the state quota — managed by APDHTE through its portal apdhte.nic.in — while 15 seats are surrendered to the All India Quota (AIQ), which MCC fills separately through its own national-level counselling process.

The state quota seats at TRIHMS are reserved for APST (Arunachal Pradesh Scheduled Tribes) candidates and eligible permanent residents of Arunachal Pradesh. Non-APST candidates from other states cannot access these 85 state quota seats. Their only route to TRIHMS is through the 15 AIQ seats handled by MCC.

AP NEET Counselling 2026 happens in multiple rounds — Round 1, Round 2, Mop-up Round, and Stray Vacancy Round. Candidates are ranked based on their NEET UG 2026 score, and seats are allotted according to merit, category, and seat availability in each round.

• Conducted by: DHTE, Arunachal Pradesh
• Official portal: apdhte.nic.in
• Only participating MBBS college: TRIHMS, Naharlagun
• State quota seats: 85 (APDHTE) | AIQ seats: 15 (MCC)
• Number of rounds: 4 (Round 1, Round 2, Mop-up, Stray Vacancy)
• Basis of allotment: NEET UG 2026 score and All India Rank

Key Highlights at a Glance

AP NEET Counselling 2026 Important Dates

As of July 2, 2026, APDHTE has not released the official schedule for AP NEET Counselling 2026. The portal shows "Coming Soon" for the registration window. All dates below are expected, based on the 2025 counselling timeline, and will be confirmed once APDHTE releases the official notification.

All 2026 dates below are expected based on previous-year patterns. Monitor apdhte.nic.in regularly for the official notification and confirmed schedule.

Source: Directorate of Higher & Technical Education, Arunachal Pradesh

Eligibility Criteria for AP NEET Counselling 2026

You must meet all of the following conditions to apply for Arunachal Pradesh NEET Counselling 2026. The domicile and APST requirement is the most distinctive feature of this counselling and sets it apart from most other state quota processes in India.

Age Requirement

• You must be at least 17 years old as of December 31, 2026
• There is no upper age limit for NEET UG admissions, per the current regulatory position

Academic Qualification

• You must have passed Class 12 (or equivalent) with Physics, Chemistry, and Biology as compulsory subjects, along with English
• Minimum aggregate marks in PCB: 50% for General/OBC candidates, 40% for SC/ST/PwD candidates
• You must have appeared in NEET UG 2026 and qualified with the minimum required percentile set by NTA

NEET UG 2026 Qualifying Percentile

• General category: 50th percentile (minimum)
• SC / ST / OBC category: 40th percentile (minimum)
• General-PwD category: 45th percentile (minimum)

Domicile and Nativity Requirement

This is the most important condition specific to AP NEET state quota counselling:

• APST candidates: You must belong to a Scheduled Tribe notified for Arunachal Pradesh. A valid APST Community Certificate issued by the competent District Administration authority is mandatory.
• Non-APST candidates with AP domicile: You must hold a valid Permanent Residence Certificate (PRC) of Arunachal Pradesh AND must have studied Class 11 and Class 12 — a minimum of 2 years — from an institution located in Arunachal Pradesh.
• Children of Government employees: Children of Central or State Government employees posted in Arunachal Pradesh on transfer may qualify, subject to DHTE rules for 2026. Check the official notification for exact conditions.

Non-APST candidates from other states are not eligible for the 85 state quota seats. Their only route to TRIHMS is the 15 All India Quota seats filled by MCC at mcc.nic.in. Register for MCC UG counselling if you do not hold APST status or valid AP domicile.

How to Register for AP NEET Counselling 2026

AP NEET Counselling 2026 registration will be done entirely online at apdhte.nic.in. There is no offline registration mode. Here is the complete step-by-step process once the window opens:

Step 1: Visit the Official APDHTE Portal

Go to apdhte.nic.in. Once registration opens, the "NEET UG 2026 Counselling Registration" link will appear on the homepage. Do not register on any other website.

Step 2: Fill in Personal and NEET Details

Enter your name, date of birth, gender, and category (APST or Non-APST). You will also need your NEET UG 2026 Roll Number, Application Number, total score, and percentile rank as printed on your official NEET scorecard.

Step 3: Enter Academic Details

Provide your Class 10 and Class 12 details — school name, board, year of passing, and marks secured in Physics, Chemistry, and Biology. Check every entry carefully before moving on.

Step 4: Upload Documents

Upload scanned copies of all required documents in the format and file size specified by APDHTE. Every document must be clear, complete, and legible. Blurry or cropped uploads may lead to exclusion from the eligible candidates list.

Step 5: Pay the Registration Fee

Pay the non-refundable counselling registration fee online — ₹1,000 for General/OBC candidates and ₹500 for SC/ST/PwD candidates. Payment is accepted through net banking, credit/debit card, or UPI.

Step 6: Download Confirmation Slip

After successful submission and payment, download and print your confirmation slip. Save it along with your payment receipt — you will need these at every subsequent stage of the process including merit list verification and choice filling.

Register only through the official APDHTE portal (apdhte.nic.in). Third-party websites claiming to offer AP NEET Counselling registration services are not authorised — the official process is always on the government portal.

Documents Required for AP NEET Counselling 2026

You need to upload scanned copies of these documents at the time of online registration on apdhte.nic.in. When you report to TRIHMS after seat allotment, you must bring originals and three sets of self-attested photocopies of every document listed below.

Mandatory Documents for All Candidates

• NEET UG 2026 Admit Card
• NEET UG 2026 Scorecard
• Class 10 Marksheet and Passing Certificate
• Class 12 Marksheet and Passing Certificate
• APST Community Certificate — for APST candidates, issued by the competent District Administration authority of Arunachal Pradesh
• Permanent Residence Certificate (PRC) / Domicile Certificate of Arunachal Pradesh
• Aadhaar Card or any government-issued photo ID proof
• Medical Fitness Certificate from a registered government doctor or government hospital
• Character Certificate from the last institution attended
• Passport-size Photographs — at least 5 recent copies
• Migration Certificate from your previous board or school, if you studied outside Arunachal Pradesh

Additional Documents (If Applicable)

• PwBD / PWD Certificate issued by a government medical board (for physically challenged candidates)
• Certificate for children of government employees posted in Arunachal Pradesh (issued by the parent’s department)
• Transfer Certificate from the last school attended

All documents must be originals at the time of reporting to TRIHMS. Candidates who cannot produce original documents at the reporting stage will lose their allotted seat — no exceptions are made under any circumstances.

AP NEET Counselling 2026 Seat Matrix

TRIHMS (Tomo Riba Institute of Health & Medical Sciences), Naharlagun is the only medical college in Arunachal Pradesh participating in state quota NEET UG counselling. The total annual MBBS intake at TRIHMS is 100 seats.

TRIHMS Naharlagun: Seat Distribution 2026

Category-wise Distribution of State Quota Seats

Within the 85 state quota seats, the large majority are reserved for APST (Scheduled Tribes notified for Arunachal Pradesh) candidates. A horizontal reservation of 5% applies for PwBD (Persons with Benchmark Disability) candidates across all vertical categories — approximately 4 to 5 seats. The exact category-wise breakup for 2026 will be published in the official APDHTE notification on apdhte.nic.in.

• APST category: Majority of the 85 state quota seats — covers all sub-tribes notified for Arunachal Pradesh
• PwBD horizontal reservation: 5% across all categories (approximately 4–5 seats)
• Non-APST AP domicile holders: May be considered for any remaining seats after APST allotment, subject to DHTE rules for 2026

The confirmed seat matrix for 2026 will be published in the official counselling brochure on apdhte.nic.in. Check the portal once the notification is released.

Are There BDS Seats in AP State Counselling?

Arunachal Pradesh does not have a government dental college. APDHTE has in some past years managed a limited number of BDS seats for state domicile candidates at affiliated colleges outside the state. For the 2026 BDS seat status, refer to the official apdhte.nic.in notification when it is released.

AP NEET Counselling 2026 Merit List

After the registration window closes, APDHTE prepares and publishes the AP NEET Counselling 2026 Merit List — a ranked list of all candidates who successfully registered and uploaded valid documents. This list determines who gets to participate in choice filling and ultimately seat allotment.

How Is the Merit List Prepared?

• Only candidates who completed registration on apdhte.nic.in and uploaded all required documents are included
• Candidates are ranked in order of their NEET UG 2026 marks — a higher NEET score means a higher position in the merit list
• For candidates with equal NEET scores, NTA’s standard tiebreaker rules apply: Biology marks first, then Chemistry, then Physics, then age (older candidate ranks higher)
• Separate merit lists are prepared for APST and Non-APST categories

Where Is the Merit List Published?

The merit list is published on apdhte.nic.in. No physical copies are sent to candidates. Check the portal regularly after the registration window closes.

Eligible Candidates List

Alongside the merit list, APDHTE also releases a verified "Eligible Candidates List" — the final list of those who have cleared document scrutiny and are called for choice filling. If your name is on this list, you proceed to choice filling. If it is not, contact the APDHTE helpdesk at once to resolve any document or eligibility issue before deadlines pass.

Check your entry in the merit list carefully — your name, NEET score, and category must match your documents exactly. Report any discrepancy to APDHTE without delay.

Choice Filling and Locking in AP NEET Counselling 2026

Choice filling is the stage where eligible candidates log in and indicate their preference for admission. Because TRIHMS, Naharlagun is the only participating MBBS college, the choice filling process in AP NEET Counselling is simpler and more straightforward than in states with multiple participating institutions.

What Does Choice Filling Involve?

Candidates confirm their willingness to accept the MBBS seat at TRIHMS, Naharlagun under their applicable quota and category. If APDHTE introduces any additional seat categories or course options for 2026, those will also appear during choice filling. Only options applicable to your category and eligibility will be shown in your account.

Steps for Choice Filling

• Log in to your account on apdhte.nic.in using your registration credentials
• Navigate to the choice filling section for NEET UG 2026 Counselling
• Review the available seat and quota options displayed for your category
• Fill in your preferences as prompted by the system
• Review all entries one final time with care
• Click "Lock Choices" before the stated deadline

Once you lock your choices, they cannot be changed. The system treats locked choices as final for seat allotment. Review everything carefully before clicking Lock — there is no undo and no extension after the deadline.

Candidates who do not complete choice filling and locking within the window are not considered for seat allotment in that round. The system closes at the stated time with no grace period.

Seat Allotment Process

After choice filling, APDHTE runs the allotment algorithm. Seats are allotted based on NEET UG 2026 merit rank, category (APST or Non-APST), choices filled, and seat availability in that specific round. Higher-ranked candidates get allotment preference within each category.

How to Check Your Seat Allotment Result

• Log in to your account on apdhte.nic.in
• Navigate to the seat allotment result section for NEET UG 2026
• Download your allotment letter if a seat has been allotted to you
• If no seat is allotted in that round, you remain eligible for subsequent rounds if seats are still vacant

What to Do After Getting a Seat

• Download and print your allotment letter from the portal
• Report to TRIHMS, Naharlagun within the reporting dates mentioned in your allotment letter
• Carry all original documents plus three sets of self-attested photocopies
• Pay the prescribed tuition fee and security deposit at TRIHMS at the time of reporting
• Complete the medical fitness check at TRIHMS if required by the institute

If you do not report within the deadline, your allotment is cancelled automatically and the seat goes into the next round. Reporting deadline extensions are not granted except in extraordinary, officially documented cases.

Can You Withdraw After Getting a Seat?

Yes. Candidates allotted a seat in Round 1 who do not wish to join can withdraw during the withdrawal window APDHTE opens after Round 1 reporting ends. Withdrawn seats are added to the Round 2 pool. Once you report to TRIHMS and complete admission formalities, withdrawal is governed by NMC regulations and TRIHMS academic rules.

TRIHMS Naharlagun: The Only Government Medical College in Arunachal Pradesh

TRIHMS — Tomo Riba Institute of Health & Medical Sciences — in Naharlagun is the sole government medical college in Arunachal Pradesh and the only institution participating in APDHTE state quota NEET counselling. Every candidate aiming for an MBBS seat through AP NEET Counselling 2026 should know the key details about this college:

TRIHMS is named after Tomo Riba, a celebrated personality from Arunachal Pradesh. The college was established in 2018 with the primary aim of providing quality medical education to students from the tribal communities of the state and reducing the state’s dependence on medical colleges in distant parts of India.

Being located in Naharlagun — directly adjacent to Itanagar, the state capital — gives TRIHMS students access to the region’s major government health infrastructure for clinical training and rotations throughout the MBBS course.

One of TRIHMS’s most significant advantages is its exceptionally low tuition: approximately ₹4,500 per month for government quota MBBS seats, making annual tuition around ₹54,000. This is among the most affordable rates at any NMC-recognised government medical college in India. The low cost is a key reason seats here are highly competitive — even among candidates who might otherwise aim for colleges in other states.

For APST candidates in particular, TRIHMS is a rare and valuable opportunity to pursue an MBBS degree close to home at minimal financial cost. Students from remote tribal districts across Arunachal Pradesh can study medicine without the financial and logistical burden of relocating to a major city outside the northeast.

Fee Structure for AP NEET Counselling 2026

AP NEET Counselling 2026 involves two layers of fees: the counselling registration fee paid online at the time of registration on apdhte.nic.in, and the tuition or security deposit paid at TRIHMS when you physically report after seat allotment.

Counselling Registration Fee (Paid Online at Registration)

Security Deposit / Initial Tuition at TRIHMS (Paid at Reporting)

In addition to these amounts, MBBS tuition at TRIHMS runs at approximately ₹4,500 per month for government quota seats — making annual tuition around ₹54,000, one of the lowest for any NMC-recognised government MBBS programme in India. Hostel, mess, and other facility charges are separate and will be communicated by TRIHMS at the time of admission.

Note: All fee figures are based on the 2025 schedule and may be revised for 2026. Confirm the exact fee amounts from the official APDHTE notification and directly from TRIHMS before reporting.