Odisha CPET 2026: Merit List Out, Counselling, Cutoff and Seat Allotment

Odisha CPET 2026 (Common Postgraduate Entrance Test) is a state-level entrance exam conducted by the Higher Education Department, Government of Odisha, through SAMS Odisha (Students Academic Management System) for admission to two-year PG programmes across 50+ subjects in 114+ government and government-aided colleges and universities for the academic session 2026-27. The 2026 exam was held in offline OMR mode from May 5 to May 16, 2026, and the state-wide merit list was released on July 2, 2026. Counselling, choice filling, and seat allotment rounds are the key upcoming milestones for all 58,708 registered candidates competing for around 31,915 PG seats.

• Choice Filling: Online preference filling for ~31,915 PG seats across 114+ institutions is expected in the July 5-10, 2026 window. In 2025, choice filling opened just 3 days after the merit list. Check pg.samsodisha.gov.in to confirm whether the window is currently open.
• Round 1 Seat Allotment: Round 1 provisional seat allotment is expected in the second week of July 2026 (around July 12-15). In 2025, Round 1 allotment was released 11 days after the merit list. After allotment, you must choose to Freeze, Float, or Slide your seat within the given deadline.
• Round 2 Seat Allotment: Round 2 is expected in the last week of July 2026, after Round 1 reporting is complete. Vacancies from unfilled and surrendered Round 1 seats come back into the pool. No separate registration is needed if you chose Float or Slide in Round 1.
• Spot Round: The spot selection round for remaining vacant seats is typically held in August 2026 and is open to all CPET 2026 qualified candidates who are not yet admitted after the three main allotment rounds.

What is Odisha CPET 2026?

Odisha CPET stands for Odisha Common Postgraduate Entrance Test. It is a state-level entrance exam for admission to two-year Master’s programmes (MA, MSc, M.Com, MBA, MCA, MSW, and other PG courses) in government and government-aided colleges and universities across Odisha. The Higher Education Department (HED), Government of Odisha, is the conducting authority, and the exam is managed through the Student Academic Management System (SAMS) portal at pg.samsodisha.gov.in.

Odisha CPET 2026 covers 50+ postgraduate subjects across Arts, Science, Commerce, and professional disciplines. More than 58,000 candidates registered for the 2026 edition, competing for around 31,915 seats in 114+ Higher Educational Institutions (HEIs). The entire admission process from registration to final seat reporting is centralised and conducted online through the SAMS portal.

The exam was held in pen-and-paper OMR mode from May 5 to May 16, 2026. Each subject has a separate test paper held on a specific day within the schedule. The merit list for CPET 2026 is based on a combined score: 70 marks from the entrance test and 30 career marks from the candidate’s Class 10, Class 12, and UG degree results. This 70:30 formula means academic background also plays a role in final rank.

CPET is one of the few state PG entrance exams in India with no upper age limit and does not impose strict domain restrictions for many interdisciplinary programmes, making it accessible to a wide range of UG graduates across Odisha and beyond.

Odisha CPET 2026 Key Highlights

Source: SAMS Odisha Official Portal

Odisha CPET 2026 Important Dates

The Odisha CPET 2026 exam phase is complete and the merit list was released on July 2, 2026. Counselling rounds are now the key upcoming milestones. Upcoming events are listed first, followed by completed phases. Monitor pg.samsodisha.gov.in for confirmed counselling dates as exact schedules are announced closer to each round.

Note: Dates for choice filling, seat allotment rounds, and college reporting are projected based on the 2025 CPET schedule and may change. Monitor pg.samsodisha.gov.in for confirmed official dates.

Odisha CPET 2026 Eligibility Criteria

You must meet the Odisha CPET 2026 eligibility criteria to participate in counselling and secure admission. The conditions cover your academic qualification, minimum marks, subject background, and domicile status.

Academic Qualification

You must have a Bachelor’s degree (3-year or 4-year) from a university recognised by the University Grants Commission (UGC). Both Honours and Pass course graduates are eligible. Students who appeared in their final UG examination and are awaiting results can also apply, provided they submit proof of passing with the required marks at the time of college reporting.

Minimum Marks Requirement

Candidates who scored below the minimum required percentage at UG level are NOT eligible for admission, even if they appear on the merit list. Verify your eligibility before participating in counselling.

Subject-Specific Requirements

For most Science and specialised programmes, you need to have studied the relevant subject at the UG Honours level. For example, MSc Physics requires BSc Physics Honours. For many Arts programmes like MA Political Science or MA English, candidates from multiple UG backgrounds may be eligible. Check the subject-specific eligibility conditions in the official CPET prospectus on pg.samsodisha.gov.in before applying.

Age Limit

There is no upper age limit for Odisha CPET 2026. You can apply regardless of age, as long as you meet the academic qualification and minimum marks criteria.

Domicile Requirement

Odisha CPET is primarily for Odisha domicile candidates and students of Odisha-based educational institutions. Non-Odisha residents may be eligible for certain seats under specific conditions. Check the official prospectus for the domicile rules of each participating institution before choosing your college preferences.

Odisha CPET 2026 Application Process and Fee

The Odisha CPET 2026 registration closed on March 22, 2026. The application window was open from February 27 to March 22, 2026 on the SAMS portal at pg.samsodisha.gov.in. Candidates who registered and appeared in the exam can now focus on the ongoing counselling process. The information below is useful as a reference for future CPET cycles.

How to Apply for Odisha CPET

• Step 1: Visit pg.samsodisha.gov.in and click the CPET Application link during the registration window.
• Step 2: Register with a valid email ID and mobile number to create a new SAMS login.
• Step 3: Fill in personal details, academic details (Class 10, 12, UG marks), and choose the subjects you want to appear for.
• Step 4: Upload scanned copies of your photograph, signature, and relevant academic documents.
• Step 5: Pay the application fee online through the payment gateway (Debit Card, Credit Card, or Net Banking).
• Step 6: Submit the form and download the completed application for your records.

Odisha CPET 2026 Application Fee

You can apply for multiple CPET subjects by paying Rs. 200 extra per additional subject. Since each subject exam is held on a different date within the May 5-16 window, there are no schedule clashes. The application fee is non-refundable once paid.

Odisha CPET 2026 Admit Card

The Odisha CPET 2026 admit card was released on April 30, 2026 at 11:00 AM on the official portal at pg.samsodisha.gov.in. Candidates who appeared in the exam (May 5-16, 2026) downloaded their hall tickets using their CPET registration number and date of birth. No admit card was sent by post or email.

Since the exam is over, the admit card phase is complete for this cycle. However, you should keep your admit card saved as a PDF and have a printed copy ready. It is required as an identity document during the college reporting stage after seat allotment.

Details Printed on the Admit Card

• Candidate’s name and registration number
• Chosen subject and programme code
• Exam centre name and address
• Exam date and reporting time
• Candidate’s photograph and signature
• Exam instructions and important rules

You must carry both the admit card and a valid government-issued photo ID (Aadhaar Card, Voter ID, or Passport) to the exam hall. Without both, entry is not permitted.

For CPET 2027, the admit card is expected around 4-5 days before the first exam date, based on the 2025 and 2026 trends.

Keep your CPET 2026 admit card saved and printed. Many colleges ask for it during document verification at the time of admission after seat allotment.

Top Colleges Accepting Odisha CPET 2026

Odisha CPET 2026 scores are accepted by 114+ government and government-aided colleges and universities across Odisha. The following are the top universities and institutions you can target through the SAMS centralised counselling process.

Beyond these nine universities, more than 100 affiliated government and government-aided colleges across all 30 districts of Odisha also participate in CPET admissions. The complete institute-wise seat intake list is available at pg.samsodisha.gov.in.

Utkal University in Bhubaneswar and Ravenshaw University in Cuttack consistently receive the highest demand. Popular subjects like MA Economics and MA English at Utkal University closed at merit scores of 78-80 for the General category in Round 1 of 2025. If you are targeting these, a merit score above 78 significantly improves your chances of admission in Round 1 itself.

Preparation Tips for Odisha CPET

The 2026 exam has already been conducted. These tips apply to candidates planning for CPET 2027, as well as to those who want to understand the preparation approach that successful candidates use.

Prioritise UG Core Papers

Section A of the CPET paper (40 questions) comes entirely from your UG Honours Core papers. This section carries 40 out of 70 entrance marks. Start by going through all Core papers from Semesters 1 to 6 of your UG CBCS syllabus. Standard UG textbooks recommended by Odisha state universities are your primary study material.

Cover the Elective Section Thoroughly

Many candidates focus only on Core papers and underperform in Section B (30 questions from Elective and DSE papers). Thirty entrance marks from Section B, combined with your career marks, can shift your rank significantly. Download the subject-specific syllabus and cover Elective topics as carefully as Core topics.

Do Not Ignore Career Marks

Thirty out of 100 marks in your final CPET rank come from Class 10, Class 12, and UG board marks. These are fixed once you have graduated, but for current UG students this is a strong reason to maintain a high CGPA throughout undergraduate studies. The UG component alone is worth 15 marks — a one-point difference in UG percentage can shift your rank noticeably in a competitive applicant pool.

Practise Previous Year CPET Papers

The SAMS Odisha portal provides previous year question papers for all subjects. Practising these helps you understand the question style, the balance between Core and Elective topics, and the difficulty level. Aim to attempt at least 3-4 previous year papers per subject before appearing for the exam.

Attempt All 70 Questions

There is no negative marking in CPET. Never leave a question blank. With 90 minutes for 70 questions, you have around 77 seconds per question. If you are stuck on a question, eliminate the most obviously wrong options and pick from what remains. An informed guess is always better than no answer.

Plan Subject-Wise if Appearing for Multiple Subjects

If you are appearing for more than one subject in CPET, plan your preparation schedule so that you cover each subject’s Core and Elective syllabus separately. Since each subject’s paper is on a different day within the exam window, time management and subject-wise revision planning are important to avoid mixing up syllabus content.

Follow Official Notifications Closely

SAMS Odisha releases all updates on pg.samsodisha.gov.in. Check the portal regularly for any changes to exam dates, admit card release, counselling schedule, or seat allotment dates. Add the official website to your bookmarks and also track your registered email and mobile number for SMS alerts from SAMS.