If you have qualified for Karnataka NEET UG 2026 and are waiting for a seat in the special stray vacancy round, today is your final chance to submit your college preferences. The Karnataka Examination Authority will close the option entry window at the end of November 9, 2026. Candidates who miss this deadline will lose their opportunity to participate in this round. The allotment results will be announced on November 11, and successful candidates must complete fee payment and report to their allotted colleges by November 13.
Submit your college preferences for Karnataka NEET UG special stray vacancy today (Nov 9) — this is the final deadline, and missing it means losing your seat opportunity in this round.
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Unlock My College ListWhat is the special stray vacancy round in Karnataka NEET UG counselling?
The special stray vacancy round is an additional counselling phase conducted after the main and regular rounds of seat allotment. It is designed to fill any remaining vacant seats in MBBS and BDS programmes across Karnataka medical and dental colleges. This round gives candidates who were not allotted seats in earlier phases, or those who wish to upgrade their college or course choice, another opportunity to secure admission.
Participation in the special stray vacancy round is optional. Candidates who have already been allotted and joined a college in an earlier round can choose to participate if they wish to move to a different college or course. However, they must understand that accepting a new allotment in this round will cancel their previous seat.
Option entry deadline and how to submit your preferences
The window to enter your college and course preferences for the special stray vacancy round closes today, November 9, 2026. This is a hard deadline — no extensions are typically granted. Candidates must visit the official Karnataka NEET UG counselling portal at cetonline.karnataka.gov.in and complete the option entry process before the portal closes.
To submit your preferences, log in with your NEET registration credentials, review the seat matrix to understand which colleges and courses have vacant seats, and then select your preferred colleges in order of priority. You can modify your choices as many times as you wish until the final submission. Once you click the final submission button, your preferences are locked and cannot be changed.
- Visit cetonline.karnataka.gov.in
- Log in with your NEET registration number and password
- Click on the special stray vacancy option entry link
- Review the seat matrix to see available seats
- Select colleges and courses in order of preference
- Rearrange your choices if needed
- Click final submission to lock your preferences
Allotment result date and what happens next
The Karnataka Examination Authority will declare the allotment results for the special stray vacancy round on November 11, 2026. Candidates can check their results on the same official portal. If you are allotted a seat, you will be informed of the college, course, and category of seat assigned to you based on your preferences and merit rank.
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After the allotment is announced, you must act quickly. Successful candidates are required to complete their fee payment and report to their allotted college for final verification and admission between November 12 and 13, 2026. You must bring all required documents — including your NEET scorecard, 10th and 12th mark sheets, caste certificate (if applicable), and any other documents specified by the college. Failure to report within this window or non-payment of fees will result in forfeiture of your seat.
- Allotment result announced: November 11, 2026
- Fee payment and college reporting: November 12–13, 2026
- Bring original documents and certificates
- No choice of college after allotment — you must join the allotted college
- Missing the reporting deadline means losing your seat
Understanding the seat matrix before you enter your choices
Before you submit your preferences, the Karnataka Examination Authority releases a seat matrix that shows which colleges have vacant seats, how many seats are available in each course (MBBS or BDS), and the category breakdown (General, SC, ST, OBC, etc.). This matrix is critical — it tells you exactly which colleges and courses you are eligible to apply for based on your category and rank.
Study the seat matrix carefully. Look for colleges where seats are available in your category. Remember that seats in this round are typically limited and highly competitive. Your rank and category will determine which seats you can realistically expect. Do not waste preference slots on colleges where no seats are available in your category — instead, prioritize colleges where you have a genuine chance of allotment based on your rank.
- Seat matrix shows available seats by college, course, and category
- Check which colleges have MBBS or BDS seats in your category
- Use your rank to estimate realistic chances at each college
- Prioritize colleges strategically — do not fill preferences randomly
- Seat matrix link is available on the official portal
Who is eligible for the special stray vacancy round?
Candidates who have qualified for NEET UG 2026 and are eligible for Karnataka counselling can participate in the special stray vacancy round. This includes candidates who were not allotted seats in the main or regular rounds, as well as those who were allotted but wish to upgrade their college or course choice.
If you are already studying at a college after being allotted in an earlier round, you can still participate in the special stray vacancy round if you wish. However, understand that if you are allotted a new seat in this round, your previous allotment will be cancelled. This is a high-risk, high-reward decision — only participate if you are confident that the new allotment will be better than your current seat.
- NEET UG 2026 qualified candidates are eligible
- Candidates not allotted in earlier rounds can participate
- Already-allotted candidates can participate to upgrade
- Accepting a new allotment cancels your previous seat
- Ensure you meet Karnataka residency and other eligibility criteria
Common mistakes to avoid when entering your preferences
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Many candidates make costly errors during option entry. One of the most common is not reviewing the seat matrix before submitting preferences — this leads to wasting slots on colleges with no available seats. Another mistake is entering preferences in random order instead of strategically ranking colleges by your realistic chances. Some candidates also fail to submit their preferences before the deadline, thinking they have more time.
Do not assume you will be allotted a seat at a top college just because you have a decent rank. Be realistic about your chances based on the seat matrix and previous year's cutoffs. Also, do not leave your preferences incomplete — submit all the slots you are eligible for, as this increases your chances of allotment. Finally, after submission, take a screenshot or note of your submitted preferences for your records.
- Do not skip reviewing the seat matrix
- Do not enter preferences randomly — rank strategically
- Do not wait until the last minute to submit
- Do not assume you will get a top college without checking cutoffs
- Do not leave preference slots empty if you are eligible
- Do take a screenshot of your final submitted preferences
What to do if you are allotted a seat
If your name appears in the allotment result on November 11, congratulations — you have been offered a seat. However, your admission is not final until you complete the next steps. You must pay the admission fee as specified by your allotted college and report to the college in person with all required documents between November 12 and 13, 2026.
When you report to the college, bring your original NEET scorecard, 10th and 12th mark sheets, caste certificate (if applicable), domicile certificate, and any other documents the college has listed. The college will verify your documents and complete the admission formalities. If you fail to report within the deadline or do not pay the fee, your seat will be cancelled and offered to the next candidate on the waiting list.
- Check allotment result on November 11 on cetonline.karnataka.gov.in
- Pay admission fee immediately after allotment
- Report to college between November 12–13, 2026
- Bring all original documents and certificates
- Complete document verification at the college
- Obtain admission confirmation letter from the college
What if you are not allotted a seat in this round?
If your name does not appear in the allotment result on November 11, it means no seat matching your preferences and rank was available in this round. This does not mean your NEET qualification is invalid — it simply means the special stray vacancy round did not have a suitable seat for you. You can still explore other options, such as private medical colleges, deemed universities, or counselling in other states if you are eligible.
Some candidates also choose to take a gap year and reappear for NEET in the following year to improve their rank. Before making any decision, consult with your parents and a counsellor to understand all available pathways. Do not feel discouraged — many successful doctors have taken unconventional routes to their medical degree.
- Not being allotted does not invalidate your NEET score
- Explore private medical college options
- Consider deemed universities or central universities
- Check if you are eligible for counselling in other states
- Consider taking a gap year to reappear for NEET
- Seek guidance from a counsellor or mentor
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See My CollegesFrequently asked questions
What is the last date to enter preferences for Karnataka NEET UG special stray vacancy?
The option entry window closes on November 9, 2026. This is the final deadline, and no extensions are granted. Candidates must submit their preferences before the portal closes on this date.
When will the allotment result be announced?
The Karnataka Examination Authority will declare the allotment result on November 11, 2026. Candidates can check their results on cetonline.karnataka.gov.in using their NEET registration credentials.
What documents do I need to bring when reporting to the college?
You must bring your original NEET scorecard, 10th and 12th mark sheets, caste certificate (if applicable), domicile certificate, and any other documents specified by your allotted college. Check the college's website or admission letter for the complete list.
Can I change my preferences after submitting them?
You can modify your preferences as many times as you wish before the final submission deadline. However, once you click the final submission button, your preferences are locked and cannot be changed. Make sure you are satisfied with your choices before final submission.
What happens if I do not report to the college by November 13?
If you fail to report to your allotted college and complete the admission process by November 13, 2026, your seat will be cancelled. The seat will then be offered to the next candidate on the waiting list. There are no extensions for reporting.
Can I participate in the special stray vacancy round if I am already studying at a college?
Yes, you can participate even if you are already allotted and studying at a college. However, if you are allotted a new seat in this round, your previous allotment will be cancelled. Only participate if you are confident the new allotment is better than your current seat.
How do I know which colleges have vacant seats in my category?
The Karnataka Examination Authority releases a seat matrix before the option entry deadline. This matrix shows which colleges have vacant seats in MBBS and BDS, broken down by category (General, SC, ST, OBC, etc.). Review this matrix carefully before entering your preferences.
What if I am not allotted a seat in the special stray vacancy round?
If you are not allotted, it means no seat matching your preferences and rank was available in this round. You can explore other options such as private medical colleges, deemed universities, or counselling in other states. You may also consider taking a gap year to reappear for NEET.
Today is your final opportunity to submit preferences for Karnataka NEET UG special stray vacancy — do not delay. Review the seat matrix, enter your choices strategically, and submit before the portal closes. Once allotted on November 11, act immediately to pay fees and report to your college by November 13 to secure your seat.
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