Karnataka NEET UG Counselling 2026: The Karnataka NEET UG Counselling 2026 is going to be conducted by the Karnataka Examination Authority (KEA) and is held through an online counselling process.
Admissions to MBBS and BDS courses will be carried out in two main rounds, followed by a Mop-Up round and a Stray Vacancy round for any seats that remain vacant. KEA manages counselling for 85% of state-quota seats in government colleges and for all seats in private medical and dental colleges in Karnataka.
This article provides essential information on Karnataka NEET UG Counselling 2026, including important dates, the online registration process, the counselling procedure, and eligibility criteria.
For additional guidance and counselling strategies, you can also download the Karnataka NEET UG Counselling Guide eBook 2026.
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Brief Description
Before discussing the details of the Karnataka NEET UG Counselling 2026 procedure, here’s a quick overview of NEET 2026 and Karnataka counselling:
| Particular | Details |
| Counselling Name | Karnataka NEET UG Counselling |
| Effective Entrance Exam | NEET UG Conducted by the NTA |
| Counselling Conducting Authority | Karnataka Examinations Authority |
| No. of Counselling rounds | Round 1, Round 2, Round 3 & Stray Vacancy |
| Mode of counselling | Online |
| Eligibility Criteria | Must qualify NEET UG 2026 and be a Karnataka domicile for 85% State Quota seat |
| State NEET Counselling Start Date | late July or early August 2026 (Expected) |
| No. of Government MBBS Seats in Karnataka | 3,949 |
| No. of Private MBBS Seats in Karnataka | 10,145 |
| No. of Government BDS Seats in Karnataka | 185 |
| No. of Private BDS Seats in Karnataka | 3180 |
| Official State Counselling website | https://cetonline.karnataka.gov.in/kea/ |
Important Instructions for Option Entry and Seat Allotment Process
No new option entries will be allowed after the last date for the first round; this applies to all subsequent rounds:
Counselling Process Timeline
| Stage | Details | Date & Time (Tentative) |
| After Mock Results | Candidates can add, delete, modify, or reorder their options for the 1st round of seat allotment | 16 July 2026 |
| Provisional Result | Announcement of the provisional seat allotment result for the 1st round | Early August 2026 (After 11:00 AM) |
| Final Result | Announcement of the final seat allotment result for the 1st round | Early August 2026 (After 2:00 PM) |
| Choice Entry (Special Courses) | Option entry enabled for Yoga & Naturopathy, Homoeopathy, and Architecture courses as per respective seat matrices | August 2026 |
Important Notes
- Further instructions for procedures after choice selection will be announced separately for UGCET and UGNEET courses.
- Mock result cut-off ranks and other details are published on the KEA official website.
- Since the seat matrix is not available for Ayurveda and Unani, candidates cannot enter options for these courses yet.
Re NEET UG Cutoff Marks 2026: Qualifying Percentile
Check the category-wise qualifying percentile and minimum marks required to pass NEET UG 2026:
| Category | Cut-Off Percentile | Cut-Off Score |
| UR/EWS | 50th Percentile | 715 – 213 |
| OBC | 40th Percentile | 212 – 177 |
| SC | 40th Percentile | 212 – 177 |
| ST | 40th Percentile | 212 – 177 |
| UR/EWS & PwBD | 45th Percentile | 212 – 194 |
| OBC & PwBD | 40th Percentile | 193 – 177 |
| SC & PwBD | 40th Percentile | 193 – 177 |
| ST & PwBD | 40th Percentile | 191 – 177 |
Karnataka NEET UG Counselling 2026 Schedule (Tentative)
| Round | Event | Expected Dates & Deadlines (2026) |
| Round 1 | Release of Official Notification | 1st Week of August 2026 |
| Start of Online Registration | 1st Week of August 2026 | |
| Last Date for Registration | 2nd Week of August 2026 | |
| Document Verification | 2nd Week of August 2026 | |
| Commencement of Choice Filling | 1st–2nd Week of August 2026 | |
| After Mock Results – Edit / Modify Options | 2nd Week of August 2026 | |
| Round 1 Seat Allotment Result | 3rd Week of August 2026 | |
| Last Date to Select Choices | 3rd Week of August 2026 | |
| Fee Payment & Download of Seat Confirmation Slip (Choice-1) | 3rd Week of August 2026 | |
| Reporting to Allotted College (Choice-1) | 3rd–4th Week of August 2026 | |
| Round 2 | Start of Round 2 Counselling | Last Week of August 2026 |
| Fee Payment by Choice-1 & Choice-2 Candidates | 1st Week of September 2026 | |
| Payment of Caution Deposit by Choice-3 Candidates | 1st Week of September 2026 | |
| Download Seat Confirmation Slip (Choice-1 only) | 1st Week of September 2026 | |
| Reporting to Allotted College (Round 2) | 1st Week of September 2026 | |
| Further Rounds | Mop-Up / Vacant Seat Round | 2nd Week of September 2026 |
| Stray Vacancy Round (if required) | Last Week of September 2026 | |
| Academic Session | Commencement of MBBS/BDS Session | October 2026 |
Karnataka NEET UG Counselling Eligibility Criteria
Below is the information on Karnataka NEET UG Counselling Eligibility Criteria:
| Criteria | Details |
| NEET Qualification | Must qualify NEET UG 2026 |
| Min. Percentile | Gen: 50%, OBC/SC/ST: 40%, PwD (Gen): 45% |
| Domicile (State Quota) | Karnataka Domicile or passed 10 & 12 from Karnataka |
| Age Limit | Min. 17 years as on 31 Dec 2026, no upper age limit (as per NEET rules) |
| NRI/Management Seats | NEET qualified, no domicile needed |
Karnataka NEET UG Counselling Registration Process (registration-process)
Step 1: Visit the Official Website
- Go to the official Karnataka Examinations Authority (KEA) counselling portal.
- Click on the Karnataka NEET UG Counselling 2026 registration link on the homepage.
Step 2: Complete Online Registration. Enter the required details and create your login credentials:
- NEET UG 2026 Roll Number
- Candidate Name, Mobile Number, Email ID, Date of Birth
- Academic Information
Step 3: Fill the Application Form. Carefully enter Personal Information, Educational Qualifications, Category Details, Domicile Information, and Reservation Claims, then review before proceeding.
Step 4: Upload Required Documents: Upload scanned copies of: NEET UG 2026 scorecard, admit card, Class 10th & 12th certificates, passport-size photograph, signature, and category/domicile certificates (if applicable).
Step 5: Pay the Registration Fee. Pay online via Debit Card, Credit Card, Net Banking, or UPI. The application remains incomplete until payment is successful.
Step 6: Choice Filling & Locking: Select and save your college/course preferences in order of priority. Once saved, options lock automatically after the scheduled deadline. An OTP is sent to your registered mobile number — enter it and click “Confirm” to finalize your choices. No new option entries are allowed after the deadline for a given round.
Step 7: Final Submission: Verify all entered details, submit the application, download the confirmation page, and keep a printout for future reference.
Karnataka NEET UG Counselling Application Fees
Candidates participating in Karnataka NEET UG Counselling 2026 must pay the prescribed registration fee to complete the application process. The KEA NEET UG counselling fee is different according to the candidate’s category and quota. The application fee can be paid online through debit card, credit card, net banking, or UPI mode:
| Category | Application Fees (Expected) |
| General Merit | ₹2500 |
| OBC Candidates | ₹2500 |
| SC / ST / Category-I Candidates | ₹500 |
| PwD Candidates | ₹500 |
| NRI / OCI / PIO / Foreign Nationals | ₹5500 |
Karnataka NEET UG Counselling 2026 Security Deposit
Students participating in Karnataka MBBS counselling may be required to pay a refundable security deposit during the counselling and seat allotment process. The security amount differs according to the type of college and quota selected by candidates:
| Quota Type | Expected Security Deposit |
| Government Medical Colleges | ₹10,000 |
| Private Medical Colleges | ₹1,00,000 |
| Deemed Universities | ₹2,00,000 |
Refund Rules: The security deposit is generally refundable per KEA guidelines. Candidates who join their allotted college within the prescribed deadline may receive an adjustment or refund; those who resign after the deadline may face deduction or forfeiture:
Documents Required
- 10th Certificate
- 12th Certificate
- 12th Mark Sheet
- NEET UG 2026 Admit Card
- NEET UG 2026 Result/Scorecard
- Category Certificate (if applicable)
- Domicile Certificate (for Karnataka candidates only)
- Certificate of Subcategory, If Applicable
- ID Proof (Aadhaar Card/Voter card etc.)
- Two recent passport-size photographs
- The final printout of the Online Application Form
- Proof of having paid the application fees
- Study Certificate countersigned by the concerned BEO / DDPI
Participating Colleges in Karnataka NEET UG Counselling (participating-colleges)
Karnataka NEET UG Counselling covers admissions across a wide network of institutions, including:
| Type | Details |
|---|---|
| Government Medical Colleges | Offer MBBS seats under 85% state quota, generally at lower fees |
| Private Medical Colleges | Offer a mix of state quota and management quota seats |
| Deemed Universities | Admit through their own fee structure and quota split |
| Government Dental Colleges | Offer BDS seats under state quota |
| Private Dental Colleges | Offer BDS seats under state quota and management quota |
Candidates are advised to compare colleges on affiliation, fee structure, past-year cutoff ranks, and hostel/infrastructure facilities before finalizing their choice order.
Karnataka NEET UG Merit List & Cutoff (merit-list-cutoff)
- The Karnataka NEET UG Merit List is prepared based on NEET UG 2026 scores, category, and domicile status, and is published by KEA before choice filling begins.
- The list ranks all registered, NEET-qualified candidates for state quota, and determines the order in which seats are offered during allotment.
- Cutoff ranks vary each year by college, course, category, and round – government colleges typically close at more competitive ranks than private/deemed institutions.
- Candidates should track the previous year’s round-wise closing ranks for their target colleges as a reference, while keeping in mind that actual cutoffs shift based on the year’s difficulty level and number of applicants.
Karnataka NEET UG Counselling 2026 Reservation Policy
The reservation policy for Karnataka NEET UG Counselling 2026 is provided according to Karnataka Government norms and KEA counselling guidelines. Candidates belonging to reserved categories can claim reservation benefits during Karnataka medical counselling by providing valid category certificates at the time of document verification:
| Category | Reservation Percentage |
| SC | 15% |
| ST | 3% |
| OBC Category | 32% |
| EWS | 10% |
| PwD | 5% Horizontal Reservation |
Participating Colleges in Karnataka NEET UG Counselling
Explore complete details of participating medical and dental colleges under Karnataka NEET UG Counselling, including fee structure, cut-off, courses offered, affiliation, and admission-related information.
Click the links below to know everything about your preferred colleges in Karnataka:
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Who conducts the Karnataka NEET UG Counselling?
The Karnataka Examinations Authority (KEA) conducts NEET UG counselling for MBBS/BDS admissions in Karnataka.
How can I register for Karnataka NEET UG Counselling?
Candidates can register online through the official KEA website by filling out the application form and paying the fee.
What is the eligibility for Karnataka NEET counselling?
Candidates must qualify NEET UG, be Indian citizens, and meet domicile/residency requirements of Karnataka (except for private/deemed universities).
How many rounds are there in Karnataka NEET UG counselling?
There are usually two main rounds followed by a mop-up round and stray vacancy round if needed.
What documents are required during counselling?
Documents include NEET admit card, scorecard, 10th & 12th marksheets, ID proof, domicile, and caste/income certificates (if applicable).
Is there any counselling fee for Karnataka NEET?
Yes, candidates need to pay a non-refundable registration fee and a refundable security deposit based on category and type of seat.
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You can contact our Counselor expert +91 9999-703-444 regarding your query.
You can contact our Counselor expert +91 9999-703-444 regarding your query.
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You can contact our Counselor expert +91 9999-703-444 regarding your query.
You can contact our Counselor expert +91 9999-703-444 regarding your query.
You can contact our Counselor expert +91 9999-703-444 regarding your query.
You can contact our Counselor expert +91 9999-703-444 regarding your query.
You can contact our Counselor expert +91 9999-703-444 regarding your query.
You can contact our Counselor expert +91 9999-703-444 regarding your query.
You can contact our Counselor expert +91 9999-703-444 regarding your query.
You can contact our Counselor expert +91 9999-703-444 regarding your query.
You can contact our Counselor expert +91 9999-703-444 regarding your query.