Odisha Releases First PG Merit List for 2026-27; Over 21,000 Students Selected for Postgraduate Admission

The Higher Education Department, Odisha has released the first postgraduate merit/allotment list for the 2026–27 academic session under the Student Academic Management System (SAMS), with more than 21,000 students selected for admission to postgraduate programmes across participating public universities and colleges in the state. Candidates who participated in the CPET 2026 admission process can now check their selection status through the official SAMS PG portal and proceed with the required admission formalities. The first allotment marks the beginning of the main seat-allocation phase for Odisha PG admissions this year.

The allotment has been prepared using the applicable CPET merit position, programme eligibility, reservation rules, choices submitted by candidates and seat availability. Students who have received a seat should carefully check their allotted institution and subject, download the relevant intimation or allotment letter from their login, and complete the prescribed fee payment and reporting process within the official timeline.

Odisha PG First Merit List 2026-27: Key Highlights

More Than 21,000 Students Selected

The first PG merit list has provided admission opportunities to over 21,000 candidates across postgraduate programmes offered by participating institutions.

The exact number of selected candidates can differ across:

• Subjects

• Universities

• Colleges

• Reservation categories

• Seat types

Candidates should therefore check their individual SAMS login rather than relying only on the overall selection figure.

How to Check Odisha PG First Merit List 2026

Candidates can follow these steps:

1. Visit the official SAMS Odisha PG portal.

2. Open the PG e-Admission 2026–27 section.

3. Click on the first-round selection or allotment result.

4. Log in using the registered credentials.

5. Check the allotted institution and postgraduate subject.

6. Download the intimation/allotment letter.

7. Save a copy for admission and document verification.

What Details Are Available in the Allotment?

Candidates should check:

• Candidate name

• Application details

• CPET merit information

• Allotted university or college

• Subject/course allotted

• Reservation category

• Admission fee details

• Reporting instructions

• Deadline for completing admission

Any mismatch should be reported through the official SAMS admission mechanism before the applicable deadline.

What Happens After the First Merit List?

Candidates who receive an allotment must complete the next admission steps within the prescribed schedule.

These generally include:

Allotment confirmation: Check the college and programme carefully.

Admission option: Exercise the applicable admission option such as Freeze, Slide or Float if offered under the 2026 counselling rules.

Fee payment: Pay the prescribed admission fee online.

Institution reporting: Complete reporting at the allotted higher education institution.

Document verification: Submit original documents for verification.

Admission confirmation: Ensure that the institution updates the admission status successfully on SAMS.

Freeze, Slide and Float Explained

Depending on the applicable SAMS PG counselling rules, candidates may see different admission options.

Freeze: The candidate accepts the allotted institution and programme and does not seek further upgradation.

Slide: The candidate accepts the current institution but seeks a more preferred programme within the permitted framework.

Float: The candidate provisionally accepts the current allotment while remaining eligible for a higher preference in subsequent rounds.

Candidates should read the current admission instructions carefully because the availability and implications of these options can differ by counselling phase.

How Odisha PG Seats Are Allotted

Seat allotment is generally based on a combination of:

• CPET merit

• Candidate eligibility

• Reservation policy

• Preferences submitted during choice filling

• Available seats in the selected institution and programme

A higher merit position does not automatically guarantee a specific university because the candidate's own preference order plays an important role.

CPET 2026 and Odisha PG Admission

The Common PG Entrance Test (CPET) is the principal admission route for postgraduate programmes in participating Odisha public universities and colleges.

The broader admission process includes:

Application → Entrance Examination → Merit List → Choice Filling → Seat Allotment → Admission Fee → Reporting

The first merit/allotment list therefore represents the transition from examination performance to actual college admission.

Which PG Courses Are Covered?

SAMS PG admissions cover a wide range of postgraduate disciplines offered by participating institutions, including programmes in areas such as:

• English

• Odia

• History

• Political Science

• Economics

• Sociology

• Psychology

• Commerce

• Physics

• Chemistry

• Mathematics

• Botany

• Zoology

• Computer Science

• Geography

• Education

• Other humanities, science and social science disciplines

Programme availability varies by institution.

Documents Required for PG Admission

Selected candidates should generally keep ready:

• SAMS PG allotment/intimation letter

• CPET 2026 rank or score information

• Graduation marksheets

• Graduation degree/provisional certificate

• Class 10 certificate

• Class 12 marksheet

• Transfer Certificate

• Migration Certificate, where required

• Category certificate, if applicable

• Income certificate, where applicable

• PwD certificate, where applicable

• Aadhaar or another valid photo ID

• Passport-size photographs

• Fee-payment receipt

Individual institutions may ask for additional documents.

What If Your Graduation Result Was Pending Earlier?

Odisha's SAMS PG admission framework has historically allowed candidates awaiting their final undergraduate result to participate initially, subject to completing the required graduation qualification before final admission.

Candidates whose graduation marks were updated later should verify that the correct marks and eligibility status appear in their application before final admission.

What If You Did Not Get a Seat in the First List?

Candidates who remain unallotted should not assume that the admission process is over.

Seats can become available because:

• Selected candidates do not report.

• Candidates choose higher preferences in later rounds.

• Admissions are cancelled.

• Vacancies remain after the first round.

Subsequent allotment rounds can therefore create fresh opportunities.

Candidates should continue monitoring the SAMS portal for:

• Second-round allotment

• Updated vacancy position

• Further choice or admission instructions

• Spot admission, if announced later

Can the Cutoff Change in the Second Round?

Yes.

Closing merit positions can move depending on:

• Number of candidates accepting seats

• Withdrawals

• Higher-preference upgrades

• Subject demand

• Institution popularity

• Category-wise vacancies

A programme that was unavailable to a candidate in the first round may become available later if vacancies arise.

What Should Selected Candidates Do Immediately?

Selected candidates should:

• Log in to SAMS without delay.

• Download the allotment letter.

• Check the allotted course and institution.

• Note every deadline.

• Pay the required fee.

• Keep original documents ready.

• Complete reporting within the official schedule.

Candidates should not wait until the last few hours because failure to complete admission formalities can lead to loss of the allotted seat.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Candidates should avoid:

• Missing the reporting deadline.

• Paying the fee but not completing institutional reporting.

• Selecting Freeze/Slide/Float without understanding the consequence.

• Carrying incomplete documents.

• Ignoring category-certificate validity.

• Assuming selection itself completes admission.

• Relying on unofficial counselling dates instead of the SAMS portal.

Frequently Asked Questions

Has Odisha released the first PG merit list for 2026-27?

Yes. The first postgraduate merit/allotment list for the 2026–27 academic session has been released under SAMS Odisha.

How many students have been selected?

According to the reported update, more than 21,000 students have been selected in the first round.

Where can candidates check their selection?

Candidates should check their result through the official SAMS Odisha PG portal at pg.samsodisha.gov.in.

Is CPET used for Odisha PG admission?

Yes. Admissions to participating public universities and colleges are conducted using the Common PG Entrance Test (CPET) and the subsequent SAMS counselling process.

Does appearing in the merit list confirm admission?

No. Candidates must still complete the prescribed fee payment, reporting, document verification and admission-confirmation process.

Will there be a second merit list?

Further allotment rounds are expected based on the official counselling schedule and remaining vacancies.

What happens if a student does not report?

Failure to complete admission formalities within the stipulated deadline can result in cancellation of the allotted seat, which may then become available in a subsequent round.

Can students get a better option later?

Eligible candidates may be considered for upgradation in later rounds depending on the admission option selected, their merit and the availability of higher preferences.

Final Update

The release of the Odisha PG First Merit List 2026–27, with over 21,000 students selected, marks a major stage in this year's postgraduate admission process across the state's public universities and colleges. Candidates should now check their individual SAMS accounts, download the allotment or intimation letter and complete the required admission formalities within the notified timeline.

Students who have not received a seat in the first round should continue tracking the SAMS Odisha PG portal, as vacancies created through non-reporting, withdrawals and upgrades can lead to further opportunities in subsequent rounds. The most important step for every selected candidate is to complete fee payment, document verification and institutional reporting on time rather than treating the publication of the merit list as final admission.