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Are you aiming for a Master's degree in Odisha? The Student Academic Management System (SAMS) portal is your starting point. In 2026, CPET has become more competitive, with over 1 lakh aspirants vying for limited seats in top institutions like Utkal, Ravenshaw, and Gangadhar Meher University.
CPET 2026 Important Dates (Tentative Timeline)
The 2026 session is expected to follow a strict calendar to ensure classes begin by July. Stay ahead of these crucial milestones.
| Event | Expected Date (2026) |
|---|---|
| Notification Release | 1st Week of March |
| Online Application (CAF) Starts | Mid-March |
| Last Date to Apply | Last Week of March |
| Admit Card Release | 3rd Week of April |
| Entrance Exam (CPET 2026) | May 4 – May 18, 2026 |
| Merit List Publication | 1st Week of June |
| Commencement of Classes | July 10, 2026 |
Eligibility & Application Fees
- Academic Criteria: Bachelor’s degree (Core/Honors) with min. 45% (General) or 40% (SC/ST/PwD).
- Final Year Students: Candidates appearing for +3 Finals in 2026 are fully eligible to apply.
- General Category Fee: ₹500 (1st subject) + ₹200 for each extra subject.
- SC/ST Category Fee: ₹300 (1st subject) + ₹200 for each extra subject.
- PwD & Third Gender: Exempted from application fees.
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The 2026 Selection Logic: 80:20 Weighted Score
Your final rank in 2026 is determined by a combination of your entrance performance and your consistent academic record:
- Entrance Test (80% Weightage): Score based on the 80-question OMR test.
- Career Marks (20% Weightage): Points accrued from your 10th, 12th, and Degree grades.
- Tie-Breaker: When scores match, the student with the higher entrance mark (80% component) is prioritized.
CPET 2026 Exam Pattern
- Mode: Offline (OMR-based) multiple choice questions.
- Structure: 100 MCQs (though only 80 are weighted for selection).
- Duration: 80 Minutes of focused testing.
- Negative Marking: +1 for correct answers; -0.25 for incorrect responses.
- Syllabus: Strictly follows the Odisha State Model UG Syllabus (CBCS).
SAMS 'Float, Slide, Freeze' – A Quick Guide
Once you are allotted a seat in the first round, you must understand these three critical options:
- Freeze: You are satisfied with the college and subject. Pay and take admission.
- Slide: You accept the college but wish to move up to a higher-preference subject in the SAME college.
- Float: You accept the current seat but keep options open for a higher-preference college in next rounds.
Key Takeaway & Advice
Pro-Tip: Choice Filling is the most critical phase. Always list your dream college at Rank 1. Many students miss out because they play it 'safe' and list lower-tier colleges first.
CPET 2026 at a Glance
| Particular | 2026 figures (reported) |
|---|---|
| Conducted by | Higher Education Department, Government of Odisha (through SAMS) |
| Registered | 58,613 candidates |
| Appeared | 53,901 candidates |
| Seats | About 32,000 across 132 higher education institutions |
| Result | Declared on 2 July 2026 |
| Portal | pg.samsodisha.gov.in |
CPET (Common PG Entrance Test) is used for admission to MA, MSc, MCom and other postgraduate programmes in state government universities and colleges in Odisha. Merit lists are published subject-wise on the SAMS PG portal.
Step-by-Step: From CPET to Admission
- Register on pg.samsodisha.gov.in and fill the common application form.
- Choose the subjects you want to be tested in and pay the fee.
- Appear for CPET and download your result using your hall ticket number.
- Fill college and course choices in order of preference.
- Check each round's seat allotment and report to the allotted institution with documents.
Documents to Keep Ready
- CPET admit card and result
- Graduation mark sheets and provisional certificate
- Class 10 and 12 certificates
- Caste, PwD or EWS certificates where applicable
- Residence certificate for Odisha
- College leaving and conduct certificates
Official Sources
Key Takeaways
CPET is the gateway to postgraduate study in Odisha's state universities. Planning your subject choices and preferences carefully improves your chances.
- Register early on the SAMS PG portal
- Choose CPET subjects that match your graduation
- Track each allotment round and reporting deadline
Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
CollegeDarbar PG Specialist
Education Analyst • CollegeDarbar
All information in this article has been curated, structured, and verified against official notifications, academic catalogs, and regulatory boards by the CollegeDarbar editorial team.
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