Karnataka NEET UG 2026: 47 MBBS seats in extended vacancy round—apply by Nov 13

The Karnataka Examination Authority (KEA) has announced an extended special stray vacancy round to fill 47 remaining MBBS seats from the 2026–27 academic session. This round follows an earlier special stray vacancy round in which 148 medical and 21 dental seats were filled, but 47 medical seats remained vacant. If you are a NEET UG 2026 aspirant still seeking admission or looking to upgrade your college choice, this round offers a final opportunity to secure a medical seat in Karnataka.

What is the extended special stray vacancy round and who can apply?

The extended special stray vacancy round is a final counselling stage designed to fill seats that remain unfilled after earlier rounds of seat allotment. In Karnataka's NEET UG 2026 counselling, 195 seats were initially available in the special stray vacancy round—these included cancelled seats and seats upgraded from dental to medical courses. After the first special stray vacancy round concluded, 148 medical and 21 dental seats were successfully allotted, but 47 medical seats remained empty.

Any NEET UG 2026 candidate who has not yet secured a seat, or who wishes to upgrade to a better college or course, is eligible to participate in this extended round. The 47 vacant medical seats include 15 management quota seats in government medical colleges, which may offer different fee structures and admission criteria compared to general category seats.

Key dates and deadlines for the extended vacancy round

The application and payment process follows a tight schedule. Candidates must pay the caution deposit of Rs 25 lakh on November 12 between 10:30 am and 4 pm. This deposit is a mandatory financial commitment that confirms your serious interest in securing a seat; it will be adjusted against your final admission fee once you are allotted a seat.

After paying the deposit, you must submit your college and course preferences (options) by November 13 at 10 am. The KEA will then process all applications and publish seat allotment results online after 12:30 pm on the same day. This compressed timeline means you should prepare your preference list in advance and ensure you have access to online payment facilities on November 12.

• Caution deposit payment: November 12, 10:30 am to 4 pm (Rs 25 lakh)
• Option submission deadline: November 13, 10 am
• Seat allotment results: November 13, after 12:30 pm

What happens after you are allotted a seat?

Once the seat allotment results are published, candidates who have been allotted a seat must complete their admission at the respective college by November 13. This means you will need to download your seat guarantee card (a document confirming your allotment) and report to your assigned college on the same day to finalize admission formalities.

You will also be required to pay the remaining admission fee—the caution deposit you paid earlier will be credited toward this total fee. Failure to report and complete admission by the deadline may result in forfeiture of your seat and the caution deposit. Therefore, it is critical to have all required documents ready and plan your travel to the college in advance.

• Download seat guarantee card after results are published
• Report to the allotted college by November 13
• Pay remaining admission fee (caution deposit will be adjusted)
• Complete admission formalities on the same day

Understanding the 47 vacant MBBS seats and management quota

Of the 47 vacant medical seats in this extended round, 15 are management quota seats in government medical colleges. Management quota seats are typically filled through a separate counselling process and may have different eligibility criteria, fee structures, and selection procedures compared to general merit-based seats. If you are eligible for management quota admission (usually through institutional nomination or payment of higher fees), these seats represent an additional opportunity.

The remaining 32 seats are likely general category or reserved category seats that went unfilled in earlier rounds. These seats may be in government or private medical colleges across Karnataka. Before applying, verify the college name, location, fee structure, and whether the seat is in a government or private institution, as this significantly affects your overall admission experience and financial commitment.

• 15 seats are management quota in government medical colleges
• 32 seats are general or reserved category seats
• Verify college type (government vs. private) and fee structure before applying
• Management quota seats may have different eligibility and fee requirements

Why are seats still vacant after earlier rounds?

Vacant seats in medical counselling rounds occur for several reasons. Some candidates may have declined their allotted seats to pursue admission in other states or through different pathways. Others may have failed to report for admission within the stipulated deadline, resulting in forfeiture of their seats. Additionally, some colleges may have had stricter eligibility criteria or higher fees that deterred candidates from accepting seats.

The fact that 47 seats remain vacant even after a special stray vacancy round suggests that either the number of eligible candidates is lower than the number of available seats, or candidates are strategically waiting for better options in other states or rounds. This extended round is KEA's final attempt to fill these seats before the 2026–27 academic session begins. If seats remain unfilled after this round, they may be surrendered or reallocated through national-level counselling.

How to prepare your preference list for the extended round

Before November 13 at 10 am, you should research all 47 available seats and rank them according to your preferences. Visit the official KEA website to obtain the complete list of colleges, courses, and seat categories. For each college, note the location, fee structure, infrastructure, faculty, and placement record. This information will help you make an informed decision about which seats to prioritize.

Rank your preferences strategically: place seats you genuinely want to join at the top, and fill all available preference slots to maximize your chances of allotment. Remember that the counselling algorithm will allot you the highest-ranked seat for which you are eligible based on your NEET UG 2026 rank and category. Do not leave preference slots blank, as this reduces your chances of securing a seat.

• Visit KEA website to download the list of 47 available seats
• Research each college's location, fees, infrastructure, and placements
• Rank colleges in order of your genuine preference
• Fill all available preference slots to maximize allotment chances
• Verify your NEET rank and category eligibility for each seat

Financial planning: caution deposit and admission fees

The Rs 25 lakh caution deposit is a significant financial commitment. Ensure that you and your family have access to this amount by November 12, 4 pm, as payment must be made online through the KEA portal. This deposit is not a fee you lose; it will be credited toward your total admission fee once you are allotted a seat. However, if you do not report for admission or if your seat is cancelled, the deposit may be forfeited or returned depending on KEA's refund policy.

After allotment, you will need to pay the remaining admission fee to complete your enrollment. The total fee varies by college and course—government medical colleges typically charge lower fees (often Rs 50,000 to Rs 2 lakh per year), while private colleges may charge significantly more (Rs 10 lakh to Rs 30 lakh per year or higher). Plan your finances accordingly and confirm the exact fee structure with your allotted college immediately after results are published.

• Caution deposit: Rs 25 lakh (credited toward total admission fee)
• Payment deadline: November 12, 4 pm
• Government medical college fees: typically Rs 50,000 to Rs 2 lakh per year
• Private medical college fees: typically Rs 10 lakh to Rs 30 lakh per year or higher
• Confirm exact fee structure with your allotted college after results

What if you don't get allotted a seat in this round?

If you are not allotted a seat in this extended special stray vacancy round, your options depend on your NEET UG 2026 rank and eligibility. You may be eligible to participate in national-level counselling conducted by the Medical Counselling Committee (MCC), which allocates seats in central universities and deemed universities across India. Alternatively, you could explore admission to private medical colleges outside Karnataka, or consider taking a gap year to reappear for NEET UG 2027.

Some states also conduct their own separate counselling rounds after state-level rounds conclude. Monitor the KEA website and the MCC website for announcements about subsequent counselling stages. Additionally, if your rank qualifies you for BDS (dental) courses, you may explore dental college admission as an alternative pathway to a healthcare career.

• Check eligibility for MCC national-level counselling
• Explore private medical colleges outside Karnataka
• Monitor KEA and MCC websites for further counselling rounds
• Consider BDS (dental) admission if your rank qualifies
• Evaluate gap year and NEET UG 2027 retake if necessary

Frequently asked questions

If you are a NEET UG 2026 aspirant in Karnataka still seeking admission, this extended special stray vacancy round is your final opportunity to secure an MBBS seat for the 2026–27 academic session. Act quickly: research the 47 available seats, arrange the Rs 25 lakh caution deposit, and submit your preferences by November 13, 10 am. Monitor the KEA website closely for results after 12:30 pm on November 13, and be prepared to complete admission on the same day.