SRINAGAR: The Union Territory of Ladakh has amended its guidelines for selection of candidates and allotment of colleges against Central Pool MBBS and BDS seats allocated to the UT by the Government of India.
The Health and Medical Education Department issued Order No. 15-H&ME(UTL) of 2026 on September 22, introducing amendments to the Ladakh Central Pool Medical Seats (Selection of Candidates and Allotment of Colleges) Guidelines, 2021.
Under the amended guidelines, the availability of medical seats in a particular year will be based on the number of seats conveyed by the Government of India for that year.
The revised rules state that, after the deadline for applications, the prescribed authority will prepare merit lists of eligible applicants on the basis of their NEET results for the particular year.
Following scrutiny of applications and documents, eligible candidates will be selected according to NEET merit. The prescribed authority will also prepare a provisional waiting list based on NEET merit.
The amended guidelines further provide that a select list will be prepared in order of merit based on NEET ranking, following which college allotment will be undertaken.
The amendments also remove the requirement that certain waiting-list candidates be considered from their respective categories or districts. In cases where a selected candidate does not report to the allotted college or complete the required formalities within the stipulated period, the vacant seat will be offered to candidates in the waiting list in order of merit, with the revised guidelines providing for the overall UT Ladakh waiting list.
The amended guidelines will be known as the Ladakh Central Pool Medical Seats (Selection of Candidates and Allotment of Colleges) (Amendment) Guidelines, 2026, and will come into force with immediate effect.
The guidelines continue to require candidates to meet the minimum qualifications prescribed by the Government of India, secure the prescribed marks in the relevant category in NEET and satisfy the specified Ladakh residency or schooling conditions.
For children of permanent residents of Ladakh, the guidelines define a permanent resident as a person who had or has been residing in Ladakh for at least 15 years. Candidates belonging to other categories specified in the Government of India guidelines, including certain Central, State and UT employees posted in Ladakh, must have passed Classes 10 and 12 or equivalent examinations from a recognised institution located in Ladakh.
A candidate must also not have already secured a seat in a medical institution for pursuing a degree during the year of application.
The revised guidelines provide that college preferences submitted by candidates will be considered strictly according to their position in the merit list. The first candidate will be considered first for allotment, followed by subsequent candidates in order of merit.
The amendments were issued by the Health and Medical Education Department on the approval of the Lieutenant Governor of Ladakh through e-file No. 4799.
