The Karnataka Examinations Authority (KEA) has opened Round 1 of state NEET UG 2026 counselling for MBBS and BDS seats, and the clock is now running on option entry. Candidates who cleared NEET UG 2026 and registered with KEA can log into the counselling portal to view the seat matrix and lock their college and course preferences. Because Round 1 usually fills the largest share of seats in Karnataka's government and private medical and dental colleges, how carefully a candidate ranks their choices in this round can shape the rest of their admission journey. This is a time-bound process with a firm deadline, so aspirants and parents need to act quickly and accurately.
Karnataka NEET UG 2026 candidates must lock their Round 1 college and course preferences on the KEA portal by August 13, with the provisional seat allotment result due on August 19.
What KEA has announced
KEA has published the Round 1 counselling schedule for Karnataka NEET UG 2026 on its official portal, cetonline.karnataka.gov.in. The MBBS and BDS seat matrix — the list of available seats by college and course — went live on August 7, 2026, the same day the option entry window opened for candidates.
Candidates have until August 13, 2026 to submit and lock their preferences online. The provisional seat allotment result, which tells candidates which college and course they have been tentatively allotted, is scheduled to be declared on August 19, 2026. Fee payment and reporting-to-college dates have not yet been announced and will follow separately.
| Activity | Date |
|---|---|
| MBBS and BDS seat matrix display | August 7, 2026 |
| Round 1 option entry window | August 7 – August 13, 2026 |
| Provisional seat allotment result | August 19, 2026 |
| Fee payment and reporting to college | To be announced by KEA |
Who can participate in this round
Only candidates who qualified NEET UG 2026 and completed registration with KEA are eligible to take part. Karnataka's counselling process also involves eligibility 'clauses' — categories such as B through O that cover various domicile, category and reservation situations. Candidates falling under these clauses are required to complete document verification with KEA before they are allowed to enter their options.
If you registered but have not yet completed verification under your applicable clause, check the KEA portal or your registered login for pending steps before the option entry deadline, since incomplete verification can hold up your participation in the round.
How to complete option entry
The option entry process is done entirely online through the KEA portal, under the UGNEET 2026 section. Candidates log in using their CET registration number and password, then select and arrange their preferred MBBS and BDS colleges and courses in strict order of priority.
Because seat allotment is based on rank, category and the order in which preferences are listed, small errors in sequencing can affect which seat a candidate actually receives. It is worth reviewing entries more than once before final submission, since once the window closes on August 13, changes will not be possible for this round.
- Log in with CET number and password at cetonline.karnataka.gov.in
- Open the Option Entry link for Round 1 under the UGNEET 2026 section
- Select MBBS/BDS colleges and courses you are eligible for
- Arrange all choices strictly by your genuine order of preference
- Review carefully, then save and lock before August 13, 2026
Documents and information to have ready
Having the right information at hand before logging in saves time and reduces the chance of errors during the option entry window. Most of these documents will also be needed later for verification and reporting once a seat is allotted.
- NEET UG 2026 scorecard and All India Rank (AIR)
- KEA CET registration number and password
- Category, income and domicile certificates (as applicable)
- Class 10 and Class 12 mark sheets for reference and cross-checking
Why Round 1 preferences matter
Round 1 is typically when the bulk of seats in Karnataka's well-known government and private medical and dental colleges get filled, because it draws candidates across the full range of eligible ranks before later rounds narrow down the remaining vacancies. Listing as many valid, genuinely acceptable choices as possible — rather than only a handful of top colleges — improves the chances of securing a seat in this round itself and avoids depending entirely on Round 2 or later mop-up rounds.
At the same time, candidates should not enter colleges or courses they are not actually willing to join, since accepting an allotted seat usually comes with reporting and fee obligations, and backing out can have consequences for participation in subsequent rounds under Karnataka's counselling rules.
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See My CollegesFrequently asked questions
What is the last date to enter options for Karnataka NEET UG 2026 Round 1?
Candidates must submit and lock their preferences on the KEA portal by August 13, 2026.
When will the Round 1 seat allotment result be declared?
KEA has scheduled the provisional seat allotment result for August 19, 2026.
Where can I check the seat matrix and enter my options?
Both are available on the official KEA counselling portal, cetonline.karnataka.gov.in, under the UGNEET 2026 section.
Do I need document verification before entering options?
Candidates under eligibility clauses B through O must complete document verification with KEA before they can enter their preferences for Round 1.
Has KEA announced fee payment and reporting dates yet?
No. As of this schedule, fee payment and college reporting dates have not been announced and will be released separately after the allotment result.
How many college choices should I enter in Round 1?
There is no indication of a fixed cap in this schedule, but entering a wide, genuinely acceptable range of choices in true order of preference generally improves your chance of an allotment in this round rather than waiting for later rounds.
Karnataka NEET UG 2026 candidates should treat August 13 as a hard deadline for locking Round 1 preferences and keep watch on the KEA portal for the August 19 allotment result and the fee-and-reporting schedule that follows. Keep your NEET scorecard, CET login and certificates ready now so there's no last-minute scramble.
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