KEA UGNEET 2026 is the Karnataka NEET UG counselling process conducted by the Karnataka Examinations Authority (KEA) for admission to MBBS and BDS seats in Karnataka for the 2026–27 academic session.

Latest KEA UGNEET 2026 Update – 27 September 2026

The Karnataka Examinations Authority (KEA) has started the UGNEET 2026 Round 3 counselling process.

The latest Round 3 provisional seat matrix for MBBS and BDS was released on 25 September 2026. Candidates participating in Round 3 can check the college-wise, course-wise and category-wise vacant seats before entering their choices.

The Round 3 option-entry window opened on 25 September at 11:00 AM and is scheduled to close on 29 September 2026 at 11:00 AM.

A subsequent KEA corrigendum has extended the caution-deposit payment deadline to 1 October 2026 because of the nationwide bank strike.

Most Important Update

Candidates participating in Round 3 must enter their choices again. Previous-round choices are not automatically considered for the third round.

KEA UGNEET 2026 – Quick Overview

ParticularDetailsCounsellingKarnataka UGNEET 2026Conducting AuthorityKarnataka Examinations Authority (KEA)Academic Session2026–27Entrance ExamNEET UG 2026CoursesMBBS & BDSCurrent RoundRound 3Round 3 Seat MatrixReleasedSeat Matrix Date25 September 2026Round 3 Option Entry25–29 September 2026Option Entry Start25 September, 11:00 AMOption Entry Last Date29 September, 11:00 AMCaution DepositDeadline extended to 1 October 2026Counselling ModeOnlineAuthorityKEA

The latest Round 3 schedule and seat-matrix information has been reported from KEA's current counselling notifications.

KEA UGNEET 2026 Round 3 Latest Dates

EventLatest 2026 UpdateRound 2 Final Allotment16 September 2026Round 2 ReportingUp to 21 September 2026Round 3 Caution Deposit24 September onwardRound 3 Seat Matrix25 September 2026Round 3 Option Entry25 September, 11 AMLast Date for Option Entry29 September, 11 AMRevised Caution Deposit Deadline1 October 2026Round 3 AllotmentTo be notified by KEAFee Payment/ReportingTo be notified by KEA

The Round 3 seat-allotment and subsequent reporting dates should be taken from the next KEA notification rather than assumed from older counselling calendars.

KEA UGNEET Round 3 Seat Matrix 2026

KEA released the provisional Round 3 medical and dental seat matrix on 25 September 2026.

The matrix contains information such as:

• College name
• Course
• Course code
• Category
• Available seats
• Applicable fee information

Candidates should download and examine the latest Round 3 matrix before submitting their choices. The provisional matrix should not be treated as a final allotment list.

Why the Round 3 Seat Matrix Is Important

Vacancies can change after:

• Round 1 allotment
• Round 2 allotment
• Non-reporting
• Seat cancellation
• Resignation
• Category adjustments
• Conversion of seats
• Other counselling changes

Therefore, the Round 3 matrix is more relevant for current choice filling than an older Round 1 or Round 2 matrix.

KEA UGNEET 2026 Round 3 Choice Filling

The Round 3 option-entry window is from 25 September to 29 September 2026.

Candidates should complete the process before:

29 September 2026 – 11:00 AM

KEA has specifically required candidates to exercise fresh options for Round 3. Choices entered in earlier rounds should not be assumed to carry forward automatically.

How to Fill KEA UGNEET 2026 Round 3 Choices

Step 1 – Login

Visit the official KEA counselling portal and log in using your registered credentials.

Step 2 – Check Eligibility

Confirm that you are eligible for Round 3 before entering choices.

Step 3 – Check the Latest Seat Matrix

Review the latest MBBS and BDS vacant-seat matrix.

Step 4 – Select Colleges

Choose the colleges and courses in which you are genuinely interested.

Step 5 – Arrange Preferences

Arrange your choices according to your actual preference.

Step 6 – Review

Check:

• College
• Course
• Category
• Fee
• Seat type
• Preference order

Step 7 – Submit/Lock

Submit the options before the deadline.

Step 8 – Save Confirmation

Download or save your final option-entry details.

Who Can Participate in KEA UGNEET Round 3?

According to the latest Round 3 corrigendum, eligible candidates include categories such as:

• Candidates who were not allotted a medical seat in Round 1 or Round 2.
• Candidates who cancelled a medical/dental seat after paying the prescribed penalty.
• Certain candidates allotted a Round 1 seat who selected Choice-4.
• Candidates who exercised the QUIT option before the final Round 2 result.
• Candidates already reported to a medical/dental college who participate for upgradation, subject to the applicable rules and court directions.

Important

Candidates who received a Round 1 or Round 2 medical/dental seat but failed to exercise the required choice after allotment may not be eligible for Round 3, according to the latest KEA conditions.

Candidates should check their individual eligibility against the latest KEA notification.

KEA UGNEET 2026 Caution Deposit

KEA has required a caution deposit for candidates participating in Round 3.

The original deadline was 28 September, but KEA subsequently issued a corrigendum extending the deadline to:

1 October 2026

The extension was issued in view of the nationwide bank strike.

Candidates who have already reported to a medical or dental college may be treated differently under the applicable Round 3 rules, so they should check their individual status before making another payment.

What Happens If You Get a New Seat in Round 3?

Candidates already holding a seat should pay particular attention to the Round 3 rules.

If an eligible candidate receives a new seat through Round 3 upgradation, the previously allotted seat may be cancelled automatically under the applicable KEA rules.

The candidate is then required to take admission to the newly allotted college according to the prescribed procedure.

If no new seat is allotted, the previous seat can continue according to the applicable KEA rules.

Karnataka NEET UG Counselling 2026 – MBBS & BDS

KEA conducts UGNEET counselling for:

• MBBS
• BDS

The counselling covers applicable Karnataka state/private medical and dental seats handled through KEA.

The 15% All India Quota counselling for participating institutions is handled separately through the Medical Counselling Committee (MCC) where applicable.

Therefore, students should not confuse KEA UGNEET counselling with MCC's All India Quota counselling.

Karnataka MBBS Seats 2026

Current secondary reporting based on the 2026 counselling data puts the overall Karnataka MBBS intake at approximately 10,995 seats, with BDS intake around 3,445 seats. These figures should be treated as counselling-level totals and verified against the latest KEA/NMC seat matrix for the relevant institution and quota.

For actual Round 3 admission, the college-wise KEA vacancy matrix is more important than the overall state intake.

Karnataka NEET UG 2026 Admission Process

The broad process is:

1. NEET UG 2026 qualification
2. KEA registration/application
3. Document verification/eligibility processing
4. Publication of applicable merit information
5. Seat matrix publication
6. Option entry
7. Seat allotment
8. Fee payment
9. Downloading admission documents
10. Reporting to allotted college
11. Completion of admission formalities

For Round 3 candidates, the process is currently focused on caution deposit, fresh option entry and subsequent seat allotment.

KEA UGNEET 2026 – Government vs Private Medical Colleges

FactorGovernment Medical CollegePrivate Medical CollegeTuitionGenerally lowerGenerally higherCompetitionUsually highVariesSeat AvailabilityLimitedVaries by college/categoryCounsellingKEA/MCC as applicableKEA/MCC as applicableNEETRequiredRequiredHostelCollege-specificCollege-specificClinical ExposureDepends on institutionDepends on institution/hospitalFee CategoryGovernment/KEA applicableCategory-specific

Candidates should compare the actual fee category and seat type instead of assuming that every private medical college has the same fee.

Karnataka MBBS Fees 2026

MBBS fees in Karnataka depend on:

• College
• Government/private status
• Seat category
• Government order
• KEA fee notification
• NRI/other category where applicable

Therefore, there is no single Karnataka MBBS fee applicable to every college.

Candidates should check the fee information shown in the current KEA seat matrix and the applicable official fee notification before accepting a seat.

For private colleges, the difference between government/private/other categories can be substantial.

Management Quota / Private MBBS Admission in Karnataka

Private medical colleges can have different categories of seats, including applicable private/management/NRI or other categories.

However:

Management/private-category admission does not mean MBBS admission without NEET.

Candidates must meet NEET eligibility requirements and follow the applicable counselling/admission process.

Students should verify:

• Seat category
• Counselling authority
• College recognition
• NMC-approved intake
• Fee
• Hostel charges
• Refund policy
• Reporting deadline

Avoid paying money to anyone promising an MBBS seat outside the prescribed admission process.

Karnataka NEET UG 2026 Choice-Filling Strategy

For Round 3, students should not simply copy their Round 1 or Round 2 choices.

Recommended process

First: Download the latest Round 3 seat matrix.

Second: Identify colleges where seats are actually available.

Third: Separate colleges according to your preferred category and budget.

Fourth: Arrange choices according to your genuine preference.

Fifth: Include realistic alternatives.

Sixth: Review fees before adding expensive private/NRI/other categories.

Seventh: Submit the fresh choices before the deadline.

Important

Do not select a college merely because a seat is available if you are not prepared to join it.

KEA UGNEET 2026 Cutoff

There is no single Karnataka NEET cutoff applicable to every MBBS college.

The closing rank can vary according to:

• College
• Category
• Seat type
• Government/private status
• Round
• Karnataka eligibility
• NEET rank
• Availability of seats
• Candidate choices

For Round 3, candidates should compare their rank with previous-round closing ranks plus the current vacancy matrix.

Previous closing ranks are only historical references; they are not guaranteed Round 3 cutoffs.

Documents Required for Karnataka NEET UG Counselling

Candidates should keep the following documents ready, as applicable:

• NEET UG 2026 scorecard
• NEET UG 2026 admit card
• KEA application details
• KEA verification slip
• Rank/merit information
• Class 10 certificate
• Class 12 marksheet
• Transfer certificate
• Study certificate, where applicable
• Karnataka domicile/residential documents, where applicable
• Caste certificate
• Income certificate
• EWS certificate
• NRI documents, where applicable
• Aadhaar/valid ID
• Passport-size photographs
• Medical fitness certificate
• Seat allotment letter
• Fee payment receipt

The exact document requirement depends on the candidate's category and counselling route.

What Candidates Should Do Now

As of 27 September 2026, candidates participating in KEA UGNEET Round 3 should focus on the following:

1. Check Round 3 eligibility

Make sure you are permitted to participate.

2. Check the latest provisional seat matrix

The Round 3 matrix was released on 25 September.

3. Pay the caution deposit if required

The latest deadline has been extended to 1 October 2026.

4. Enter fresh choices

Round 3 option entry closes at 11:00 AM on 29 September 2026.

5. Do not depend on previous choices

Fresh choices are required for Round 3.

6. Monitor KEA

The allotment schedule can be updated through subsequent KEA notifications.

KEA UGNEET 2026 Round 3 – Important Dates at a Glance

EventDateRound 3 Caution Deposit Starts24 September 2026Round 3 Seat Matrix25 September 2026Fresh Option Entry25 September 2026Option Entry Deadline29 September 2026, 11 AMRevised Caution Deposit Deadline1 October 2026Round 3 AllotmentTo be announcedFee PaymentTo be announcedCollege ReportingTo be announced

The dates above reflect the latest information available as of 27 September 2026; candidates should continue checking KEA for any further corrigendum.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is KEA UGNEET 2026?

KEA UGNEET is Karnataka's NEET UG counselling process conducted by the Karnataka Examinations Authority for applicable MBBS and BDS admissions.

2. Which courses are included?

The counselling covers MBBS and BDS seats.

3. Is Round 3 currently open?

Yes. The Round 3 option-entry process began on 25 September 2026.

4. When does Round 3 option entry close?

The current schedule gives 29 September 2026 at 11:00 AM as the option-entry deadline.

5. Has the Round 3 seat matrix been released?

Yes. KEA released the provisional medical and dental seat matrix on 25 September 2026.

6. Do previous choices automatically carry forward?

Candidates should not assume that previous choices carry forward. KEA's Round 3 instructions require fresh option entry.

7. What is the latest caution-deposit deadline?

The latest reported KEA corrigendum extends the deadline to 1 October 2026.

8. Can a candidate upgrade a previous seat?

Eligible candidates who have already reported can participate for upgradation subject to the applicable KEA rules and court directions.

9. Can I get MBBS without NEET through management quota?

No. Private/management-category admission does not create a separate route for MBBS admission without satisfying NEET and the applicable counselling rules.

10. Where should I check the latest KEA UGNEET updates?

Candidates should use the official Karnataka Examinations Authority counselling portal and the latest UGNEET notifications rather than relying on old counselling schedules.

Expert Overview

KEA UGNEET 2026 has entered Round 3, and the latest priority for candidates is fresh option entry based on the newly released provisional seat matrix. The Round 3 option-entry window is scheduled to close on 29 September 2026 at 11:00 AM, while the caution-deposit deadline has been extended to 1 October 2026.

Candidates should carefully check Round 3 eligibility, current vacancies, category-wise fees and college preferences before submitting fresh choices. The previous-round option list should not be assumed to carry forward automatically.

Conclusion

The Karnataka NEET UG Counselling 2026 process has reached an important Round 3 stage.

The most important current dates are:

25 September 2026: Round 3 seat matrix released

25 September 2026: Fresh option entry started

29 September 2026, 11 AM: Option entry closes

1 October 2026: Revised caution-deposit deadline

Candidates should use the latest KEA seat matrix, enter fresh choices and regularly monitor KEA for the Round 3 allotment and reporting schedule.

For students considering private medical colleges, the most important factors are NEET rank, category, available seats, fee category, college preference and the official KEA admission rules.

Official Source

Karnataka Examinations Authority (KEA) – UGNEET 2026 counselling portal and notifications.