Guwahati: The Directorate of Higher Education (DHE), Assam, has released comprehensive guidelines for spot admissions to Undergraduate (UG) Programmes for the academic session 2026-27, scheduled to take place from June 15 to June 17, 2026. Prospective students who have not yet registered on the Assam State Higher Education Admission Portal can complete their registration from June 13 to June 17, 2026, until 4:00 PM.
This initiative aims to fill vacant seats in various disciplines across participating Higher Educational Institutions (HEIs) through the centralised SAMARTH portal. The spot admission rounds provide a crucial opportunity for students who may have missed earlier merit lists or are seeking to secure a seat in their preferred programmes.
What was announced
The Directorate of Higher Education, Assam, issued a notification on June 12, 2026, outlining the procedures for the upcoming spot admissions. The notification specifies that these admissions will be conducted by participating HEIs through the Assam State Higher Education Admission Portal, specifically against institution-wise and programme-wise vacancies published on the portal.
Smti. Pomi Baruah, ACS, Director of Higher Education, Assam, stated that participation in the spot admission process is contingent upon an applicant being duly registered on the state admission portal. Students who have already registered and possess a valid registration number are not required to re-register. However, new applicants can register on the portal from June 13, 2026, until 4:00 PM on June 17, 2026.
Why it matters
The provision for spot admissions is significant for thousands of students across Assam who aspire to pursue higher education. It addresses the issue of residual vacant seats after initial merit-based admission rounds, ensuring that more students get an opportunity to enroll in UG programmes.
The centralised SAMARTH portal, under which these admissions are conducted, aims to streamline the entire process, making it more transparent and accessible, especially for students from rural and remote areas. Education Minister Dr. Ranoj Pegu has previously emphasised the role of the SAMARTH portal in modernising the state’s education sector by adopting advanced technological tools, enhancing efficiency, and ensuring transparency in admissions. The portal also facilitates the implementation of state-sponsored welfare schemes, including fee waivers for eligible students.
Background
Assam’s higher education sector has been undergoing significant reforms, particularly with the implementation of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. The state government launched the Assam State Higher Education Admission Portal, also known as eSamarth, for undergraduate admissions for the academic session 2023-24. This unified digital platform was introduced to centralise and streamline the admission procedures for all state universities and government-aided colleges.
Prior to the SAMARTH portal, students often had to apply separately to multiple colleges, leading to a cumbersome and often confusing process. The portal’s introduction aimed to simplify this by allowing students to apply to several institutions through a single platform, thereby reducing manual paperwork and administrative burdens. The registration for the 2026-27 academic session commenced on April 11, 2026, for Four-Year Undergraduate Programmes (FYUGP) and Five-Year Integrated Master’s Programmes (FYIMP), aligning with the NEP 2020 framework.
While the SAMARTH portal has been lauded for its intent to bring transparency and efficiency, its initial implementation faced some challenges, including technical glitches and inadequate staff training in previous academic sessions, according to reports. However, officials have expressed optimism about overcoming these initial hurdles and improving the system’s functionality.
Key details
The spot admission process for UG programmes in Assam for the 2026-27 academic session will run from June 15 to June 17, 2026. New applicants who have not yet registered on the Assam State Higher Education Admission Portal can do so from June 13, 2026, until 4:00 PM on June 17, 2026.
Participating Higher Educational Institutions are mandated to formulate and adopt their own institution-specific policies for conducting these spot admissions. These policies must be consistent with the overarching admission principles and guidelines set by the DHE, Assam. Institutions were advised to publish their detailed spot admission policies, procedures, and guidelines on their respective websites on or before June 13, 2026, to ensure adequate notice for prospective applicants.
The DHE also clarified that the spot admission dates for non-CUET UG admissions for the academic session 2026-27 were revised to June 15, 16, and 17, 2026, from an earlier single date of June 15, 2026, as per a corrigendum issued on May 25, 2026.
Students are advised to carefully evaluate their options before cancelling any existing admissions if they receive a new offer during the spot admission process.
What’s next
Following the conclusion of the spot admission process on June 17, 2026, the focus will shift towards the commencement of the new academic session. Classes for the 2026-27 academic session for FYUGP and integrated programmes are scheduled to begin on August 1, 2026, according to a DHE notification.
For CUET category admissions, the registration and programme selection are slated for July 5 to July 13, with a correction window from July 14 to July 15. The first merit list for CUET candidates is expected on July 19, with admissions from July 21 to July 22. A second merit list will follow on July 23, with admissions from July 25 to July 26. There will also be a provision for spot admission for CUET candidates on July 28, and a final spot admission for both non-CUET and CUET students from July 29 to July 31, 2026.
Sources & References
Source: Assam State Higher Education Admission Portal (SAMARTH)