The Karnataka Examinations Authority (KEA) has pushed back the deadline for candidates to confirm their seat choices and pay admission fees in the first round of Karnataka postgraduate medical admissions 2026. The new deadline is November 13, 2026, giving candidates who have been allotted seats additional time to complete their admission formalities. This extension comes after KEA found that among 3,268 candidates allotted seats in Round 1, a significant number had either not exercised any choice or had selected a preference without paying the required fee. For NEET-PG aspirants in Karnataka, this extension is a critical window to secure your allotted seat and move forward in the admission process.
If you have been allotted a seat in Karnataka NEET-PG 2026 Round 1, you must exercise your choice by 2 PM on November 13 and complete fee payment by 4 PM the same day, or risk losing your seat.
Your matched MD/MS/DNB seats
LockedEnter your NEET-PG rank to unlock the real colleges you can get — All India Quota and state — with closing ranks, fees and stipend.
Unlock My College ListWhat KEA announced: The extension and the numbers
On November 12, 2026, KEA released an official notice extending the Round 1 choice-filling and fee payment deadline to November 13. The authority had allotted a total of 3,268 seats in the first round of postgraduate medical admissions across Karnataka. However, the data revealed a concerning pattern: 164 candidates who had received seat allotments had not exercised any choice at all, meaning they had not selected a preferred college or speciality. Additionally, 81 candidates had selected a choice (either Choice 1 or Choice 2) but had failed to complete the mandatory fee payment step.
This situation—where candidates secure an allotment but do not finalize their admission—creates administrative delays and can lead to seats remaining unfilled or being reallocated. KEA's decision to extend the deadline was a direct response to these incomplete submissions. The extension provides a second opportunity for these candidates to complete the process without losing their allotted seat.
New deadlines: What you must do and when
The revised schedule is strict and has two critical time points. First, candidates who have been allotted seats must exercise their choice (select their preferred college and speciality) by 2 PM on November 13, 2026. This is the absolute cutoff for choice submission; any submission after this time will not be accepted.
Second, candidates who have already selected Choice 1 or Choice 2 must download their fee payment challan from the KEA portal and complete the payment by 4 PM on November 13. The challan is a document that contains your payment details and must be used to pay the prescribed admission fee. After completing the fee payment, candidates are instructed to report to their respective allotted colleges by November 14, 2026, to complete the final admission formalities such as document verification and registration.
- Choice selection deadline: 2 PM, November 13, 2026
- Fee payment deadline: 4 PM, November 13, 2026
- College reporting deadline: November 14, 2026
- Download challan from KEA portal before paying fees
Why this matters for NEET-PG aspirants in Karnataka
For an MBBS doctor who has cleared NEET-PG and received an allotment in Karnataka, this extension is a lifeline. Missing the original deadline could have meant forfeiting your seat entirely, which would push you to a lower round or out of the counselling process altogether. The extension acknowledges that some candidates may have faced technical issues, communication delays, or genuine confusion about the process, and gives them a final chance to secure their position.
Know the exact MD/MS/DNB seats your rank can get
Official round-wise closing ranks with fee and stipend, matched to your rank.
However, the extension is not indefinite. The new deadline is firm, and KEA has made clear that missing it will affect your admission. This is not a soft deadline—it is the final opportunity to confirm your seat in Round 1. If you miss it, you will not be able to participate in Round 1 allotment and will have to wait for subsequent rounds, which typically offer fewer seats and lower-ranked colleges.
Who needs to act immediately: Three groups of candidates
Three distinct groups of candidates are affected by this extension. The first group consists of 164 candidates who have not exercised any choice at all. These candidates must log into the KEA portal immediately, review the available colleges and specialities in their allotment category, and select their preferred options before 2 PM on November 13. Delaying this step risks missing the deadline entirely.
The second group comprises 81 candidates who have selected a choice but have not paid the fee. These candidates must download their fee payment challan and arrange payment before 4 PM on November 13. The fee payment is non-negotiable and must be completed to confirm your seat. The third group includes candidates who have already completed both steps—they should verify that their payment has been processed and prepare for college reporting on November 14.
- Group 1: 164 candidates who have not exercised any choice—must select now
- Group 2: 81 candidates who selected a choice but did not pay—must pay fee now
- Group 3: Candidates who completed both steps—prepare for college reporting
How to complete your choice and fee payment: Step-by-step
To exercise your choice, log into the official KEA portal using your NEET-PG registration number and password. Navigate to the choice-filling section for Round 1. You will see a list of colleges and specialities available in your category (based on your rank, category, and state quota). Carefully review each option, considering factors such as college reputation, speciality preference, location, and future career prospects. Select your preferred college and speciality as Choice 1, and if you wish, select a second preference as Choice 2. Submit your choices before 2 PM on November 13.
After submitting your choices, the portal will generate a fee payment challan. Download this challan immediately and take it to an authorized bank or use the online payment option if available. The challan will specify the exact amount to be paid and the payment deadline (4 PM on November 13). Keep a copy of the payment receipt for your records. Once payment is confirmed, your seat allotment is locked, and you will receive a confirmation message on the portal. Do not delay this step—bank processing times can vary, and paying close to the deadline risks incomplete processing.
- Log into KEA portal with your NEET-PG registration credentials
- Navigate to Round 1 choice-filling section
- Review available colleges and specialities in your category
- Select Choice 1 and optionally Choice 2
- Submit choices before 2 PM on November 13
- Download fee payment challan from portal
- Pay the prescribed fee at authorized bank or online
- Keep payment receipt for verification at college
What happens if you miss the November 13 deadline
Missing the November 13 deadline has serious consequences. If you do not exercise your choice by 2 PM, your allotment will be cancelled, and your seat will be reallocated to another candidate. If you exercise your choice but do not pay the fee by 4 PM, your choice will be treated as incomplete, and again, your seat will be forfeited. In either case, you will not be able to participate in Round 1 admission and will have to wait for Round 2 counselling.
Every kind of PG seat, one rank
See the real seats your NEET-PG rank can reach.
Round 2 typically has fewer available seats because many have already been filled in Round 1. Your rank in Round 2 will be the same, but the pool of available colleges and specialities will be smaller, potentially limiting your options. Additionally, delaying your admission means delaying your start date as a postgraduate resident, which can affect your career timeline and stipend commencement. KEA has explicitly warned candidates that missing the revised deadlines will affect their admission process, so treat this as a final, non-negotiable cutoff.
College reporting on November 14: What to prepare
After completing your fee payment, you must report to your allotted college by November 14, 2026. This is the final step in Round 1 admission. When you report, bring all original documents including your MBBS degree certificate, NEET-PG admit card, score card, identity proof, address proof, and any other documents specified by your college. The college will verify these documents, confirm your identity, and complete your registration as a postgraduate resident.
Contact your allotted college in advance to confirm the exact reporting time and location. Some colleges may have specific reporting windows or may require you to complete additional formalities such as a medical fitness test or orientation. Do not assume that paying the fee is sufficient—physical reporting and document verification are mandatory to finalize your admission. If you fail to report by November 14, your seat may be cancelled, and you will lose your allotment.
- Bring original MBBS degree certificate
- Bring NEET-PG admit card and score card
- Bring identity proof and address proof
- Contact college in advance for reporting time and location
- Complete document verification at college
- Attend orientation if required
- Report by November 14, 2026
Why candidates missed the original deadline: Common reasons
The fact that 164 candidates did not exercise any choice and 81 did not pay fees suggests several possible reasons. Some candidates may have been unaware of the original deadline or may not have received the notification. Others may have faced technical issues accessing the KEA portal or downloading the challan. Some may have been undecided about their choice and delayed the decision until it was too late. A few may have faced financial constraints in arranging the fee payment on short notice.
KEA's extension acknowledges these real-world challenges. However, the extension is a one-time relief. Going forward, candidates must stay alert to all official notifications from KEA, mark deadlines on their calendars, and complete each step well before the cutoff time. Relying on last-minute submissions is risky because technical glitches, bank delays, or portal overload can prevent timely completion. Treat this extension as a final warning: complete your admission formalities as soon as possible, not at the last moment.
Staying informed: Where to find official updates
All official information about Karnataka NEET-PG 2026 admissions is published on the KEA website. Candidates should check the website regularly for updates, notifications, and clarifications. Do not rely on unofficial sources, social media, or rumors. KEA also sends notifications via email and SMS to registered candidates, so ensure your contact details are up to date on the portal.
If you have any doubts or face technical issues, contact KEA's helpline or visit the official portal's FAQ section. Many common questions are answered there. Do not wait until the last day to seek help—if you encounter a problem, report it immediately so that KEA can assist you. The extension to November 13 is KEA's final gesture; there will be no further extensions, so plan accordingly.
- Check KEA official website regularly for updates
- Monitor email and SMS for official notifications
- Verify your contact details on the portal
- Contact KEA helpline for technical issues
- Refer to FAQ section on the portal
- Do not rely on unofficial sources or social media
See the exact MD/MS/DNB seats your NEET-PG rank can get
Free 2-minute preview — round-wise closing ranks, fees and stipend for every seat your rank can reach.
See My CollegesFrequently asked questions
What is the new deadline for choice-filling and fee payment in Karnataka NEET-PG 2026 Round 1?
The new deadline for exercising your choice is 2 PM on November 13, 2026. The deadline for completing fee payment is 4 PM on the same day. These are firm deadlines, and no further extensions are expected.
I have been allotted a seat but have not yet exercised my choice. What should I do?
Log into the KEA portal immediately using your NEET-PG registration number and password. Navigate to the choice-filling section, review the available colleges and specialities, select your preferred options (Choice 1 and optionally Choice 2), and submit before 2 PM on November 13. Do not delay this step.
I have selected my choice but have not paid the fee. What is the process?
After selecting your choice, download the fee payment challan from the KEA portal. Take the challan to an authorized bank or use the online payment option to pay the prescribed fee. Ensure payment is completed by 4 PM on November 13. Keep the payment receipt for verification at your college.
What happens if I miss the November 13 deadline?
If you do not exercise your choice by 2 PM or do not pay the fee by 4 PM, your allotment will be cancelled. You will lose your Round 1 seat and will have to wait for Round 2 counselling, which typically has fewer available seats and lower-ranked colleges.
When and where do I need to report after paying the fee?
You must report to your allotted college by November 14, 2026. Contact your college in advance to confirm the exact reporting time and location. Bring all original documents including your MBBS degree, NEET-PG admit card, score card, and identity proof for document verification.
How many candidates were allotted seats in Round 1, and how many have not completed their admission?
A total of 3,268 candidates were allotted seats in Round 1. Among them, 164 candidates had not exercised any choice, and 81 candidates had selected a choice but had not paid the fee. The extension was provided to help these candidates complete their admission formalities.
Can I change my choice after submitting it?
The source does not specify whether choice changes are allowed after submission. Contact KEA directly or check the official portal for clarification on this. Typically, once a choice is submitted and fee is paid, changes may not be permitted, so choose carefully before submitting.
Where can I find official updates about Karnataka NEET-PG 2026 admissions?
All official information is available on the KEA website. Check it regularly for updates and notifications. KEA also sends notifications via email and SMS to registered candidates. Do not rely on unofficial sources or social media for admission information.
If you have been allotted a seat in Karnataka NEET-PG 2026 Round 1, treat November 13 as your final deadline. Complete your choice selection by 2 PM and fee payment by 4 PM, then report to your college by November 14 with all required documents. Do not delay—this extension is KEA's last opportunity to help candidates who missed the original deadline.
Plan your admission with free AI tools
Turn your NEET score into a rank, then into the exact colleges you can get.