Karnataka NEET UG 2026 Round 1 Final Allotment Declared: Fee Payment and Reporting Deadlines Every Candidate Must Track

If you registered for Karnataka's state quota NEET UG counselling this year, the Round 1 final allotment result is now out, and the clock is already running on what you do next. The Karnataka Examinations Authority (KEA) has allotted a large number of MBBS and BDS seats in this round, and every allotted candidate now has to make a choice, pay fees, and physically report at a college within a short window. Missing any of these steps — even by a few hours — can mean losing the seat entirely, which is why this update matters far more than a routine notification. This piece breaks down the dates, the four choices KEA offers, and what a smart candidate should do before the deadlines close.

What Happened in This Round

KEA released the Round 1 provisional allotment first, gave candidates a short grievance window, and then finalised the list. The final allotment for Round 1 has now been published on the official portal, cetonline.karnataka.gov.in, and can be checked by logging in with the CET number and password.

This round has allotted 11,874 MBBS seats and 2,689 BDS seats under the state quota. That is a substantial chunk of Karnataka's total state quota capacity, which is why how candidates respond in Round 1 has a direct bearing on what remains for Round 2 and the mop-up round.

The Key Dates to Remember

KEA has laid out a tight, sequential timeline. Candidates who are used to a slower pace in some other state counselling processes should note that Karnataka moves fast between allotment and reporting.

• Round 1 provisional allotment: August 23, 2026
• Grievance submission window: closed August 24, 2026, 4 PM
• Round 1 final allotment released: August 28, 2026
• Choice selection window: August 28 (4 PM) to September 2 (11:59 PM)
• Fee payment and confirmation slip: August 29 (11 AM) to September 3, during banking hours
• Last date to report at the allotted college: September 4, 2026, by 6 PM

Understanding the Four Choices

KEA gives every allotted candidate four distinct options, and picking the right one depends on how happy you are with the seat and college you have received.

Choosing carefully matters because two of the four options are irreversible for this counselling cycle, so read the terms before you click.

• Choice 1 — Accept and Join: You are satisfied with the seat. Pay the full fee and report to the college; you exit the upgrade pool.
• Choice 2 — Accept but Upgrade: You pay the fee and join the college now, but you also remain eligible for a better seat in Round 2 if one becomes available.
• Choice 3 — Reject and Try Again: You decline this seat with no penalty and stay in the counselling process for Round 2.
• Choice 4 — Exit Counselling: You leave the KEA process entirely. This is final — you cannot re-enter in any later round of this counselling.

Fee Payment and Document Checklist

KEA accepts fee payment only through digital modes this round — net banking, debit or credit card, UPI, or NEFT/RTGS/IMPS challan. There is no option to pay cash at any counselling office, so candidates should keep their bank accounts or cards ready in advance rather than scrambling on the last day.

When reporting physically to the allotted college, candidates need to carry a complete file of original documents, since verification happens on the spot and incomplete paperwork can delay or block admission.

• Printed KEA admission order
• NEET UG 2026 scorecard and admit card
• Class 10 and Class 12 marksheets and certificates
• Transfer certificate and study certificates
• Caste, income, and domicile certificates, where applicable
• Aadhaar card and recent passport-size photographs
• Proof of fee payment

What This Means for Your Counselling Strategy

Round 1 typically fills the majority of state quota seats, so a candidate who exits now through Choice 4 gives up any further chance at a Karnataka state quota MBBS or BDS seat this cycle. If you are unsure whether a better seat might come up, Choice 2 (accept and upgrade) is generally the safer route — you secure your current seat while still keeping a shot at something better in Round 2.

Karnataka will next open the Round 2 seat matrix and option entry schedule, so candidates who selected Choice 2 or Choice 3 should keep checking the official portal for those dates rather than waiting for a separate announcement elsewhere.

Frequently asked questions

If you have a Karnataka state quota allotment in hand, decide your choice today rather than waiting till the last day — banking delays and document gaps are the most common reasons candidates lose seats at this stage. Keep watching the KEA portal for the Round 2 seat matrix and schedule, since that will decide what remains for candidates who chose to upgrade or wait.