The Karnataka Examinations Authority (KEA) has extended the deadline for candidates to enter their college and course preferences in the stray round of NEET UG 2026 counselling. The new cutoff is 9 AM on October 19, 2026, on the official KEA portal. This round offers 664 MBBS seats across government and private medical colleges in Karnataka—making it the final opportunity for qualified NEET UG 2026 candidates who did not secure a seat in earlier counselling rounds. Understanding the process, fees, and penalties is critical to avoid losing your chance at a medical seat this year.
If you qualified for NEET UG 2026 but missed earlier rounds, you must register and lock your college preferences by 9 AM on October 19 to compete for 664 remaining MBBS seats in Karnataka.
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Unlock My College ListWhat Is the Stray Round and Who Can Apply?
The stray round is the final counselling phase for NEET UG 2026 in Karnataka. It is open only to candidates who qualified the NEET UG exam but were not allotted a seat in the first three rounds of counselling. If you missed registration in earlier phases or did not participate, you can register fresh for this round.
Importantly, candidates who already hold a dental seat allotment can still apply for medical seats in the stray round. However, if you have already been allotted and accepted a medical seat in an earlier round, you cannot participate. The stray round is strictly for unplaced or newly registering candidates seeking medical (MBBS) seats only—no dental seats remain available after the third round.
664 MBBS Seats Available Across Government and Private Colleges
A total of 664 MBBS seats are on offer in this stray round. These vacancies span both government and private medical colleges throughout Karnataka, as well as seats reserved under NRI and management quotas. The seat matrix, published on October 8, 2026, lists all vacant positions by college, course, and quota type, allowing you to see exactly which institutions and seat categories have openings.
Most of the available vacancies are in private medical colleges. The seat matrix is accessible on the KEA portal (cetonline.karnataka.gov.in), and you should review it carefully before deciding which colleges to list in your preference order. Additional vacancies may emerge if candidates who were allotted seats in earlier rounds decline their admission or fail to report.
Important Dates: Registration, Option Entry, and Allotment
The stray round follows a compressed timeline. The seat matrix was published on October 8. New registration opened on October 13 and closed on October 16, 2026. If you did not register during this window, you cannot participate in this round.
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Option entry (the process of selecting and ranking your preferred colleges) opened on October 16 at 11 AM and now closes on October 19 at 9 AM—the extended deadline. You must complete this step before the cutoff time. After the deadline, KEA will process allotments, and the provisional seat allotment list is expected shortly after October 19. Reporting instructions will follow on the KEA portal.
- Seat matrix published: October 8, 2026
- New registration window: October 13–16, 2026
- Option entry opens: October 16, 2026 at 11 AM
- Option entry closes (extended): October 19, 2026 at 9 AM
- Provisional allotment list: Expected after October 19
Caution Deposit and Fee Structure by Seat Category
Before you can enter your college preferences, you must pay a caution deposit (also called course fee) online. The amount depends on the seat category you are applying for. This deposit is mandatory and must be paid through net banking, debit card, or credit card. Once payment is confirmed, you can download a verification slip.
Government quota (G) seats require a deposit of ₹1,00,000. Private quota (P) seats require ₹12,00,117. NRI and management quota seats (N and Q) require ₹25,00,000. All dental seats require ₹1,00,000, though dental seats are not available in this round. Pay the deposit well before the October 19 deadline to avoid last-minute technical issues.
- Government quota (G seats): ₹1,00,000
- Private quota (P seats): ₹12,00,117
- NRI and management quota (N and Q seats): ₹25,00,000
- All dental seats: ₹1,00,000 (not available this round)
How to Enter Your College Preferences: Step-by-Step
Option entry is the final and most critical step. Visit cetonline.karnataka.gov.in and log in using your user ID and password from registration. Pay the caution deposit for your chosen seat category online. Once payment is confirmed, download the verification slip—you will need this.
Next, enter and arrange all your preferred colleges and courses in priority order. KEA asks you to list all colleges you are interested in, even those not currently shown in the seat matrix (in case vacancies open). Rank them carefully: your first choice is your strongest preference. Save your preference list and lock it before 9 AM on October 19. Once locked, you cannot make changes, so review thoroughly before finalizing.
- Visit cetonline.karnataka.gov.in
- Log in with your registration credentials
- Pay the caution deposit for your seat category
- Download the verification slip after payment
- Enter and rank all preferred colleges in priority order
- Save and lock your final preference list before 9 AM on October 19
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Strict Penalties for Non-Reporting and Seat Forfeiture
If you are allotted a seat in the stray round, you must report to the college on the date and time specified by KEA. Failing to report or declining admission after allotment carries severe consequences. KEA will forfeit your entire caution deposit and impose an additional penalty of ₹1,00,000.
More critically, you will lose eligibility for medical counselling in Karnataka for the next three years. This means you cannot participate in any future NEET UG counselling rounds in the state for three years. Only accept a seat if you are genuinely committed to joining that college. If circumstances change, contact KEA immediately rather than simply not reporting.
- Caution deposit will be forfeited
- Additional penalty of ₹1,00,000 will be charged
- Medical counselling eligibility lost for 3 years in Karnataka
Why This Is Your Last Chance for MBBS in Karnataka This Year
The stray round is the final counselling phase for NEET UG 2026 in Karnataka. After October 19, no further rounds will be conducted this year. If you do not secure a seat now, your only options would be to pursue MBBS outside Karnataka, consider other medical courses, or wait for next year's NEET UG cycle.
This round is particularly valuable for late entrants—candidates who missed earlier registration windows or those who want to try again after being unplaced in earlier rounds. It is a genuine second chance, but the window is narrow. Treat the October 19 deadline as absolute and plan your actions accordingly.
Action Checklist for Candidates Before October 19
To avoid missing this opportunity, follow this checklist. First, confirm that you registered for the stray round between October 13 and 16. If you did not, you cannot participate. Keep your NEET UG 2026 scorecard and identity proof (Aadhaar, passport, or other valid ID) ready—you may need them for verification or reporting.
Calculate and arrange the caution deposit amount for your chosen seat category. Pay it online well before October 19 to allow time for confirmation and slip download. Review the seat matrix on the KEA portal and prepare a ranked list of colleges you wish to apply for. Enter your preferences on the portal, save them, and lock the list before 9 AM on October 19. After locking, watch the KEA portal for the allotment result and reporting instructions.
- Confirm registration between October 13–16
- Keep NEET UG scorecard and ID proof ready
- Arrange caution deposit for your seat category
- Pay deposit online before October 19
- Download verification slip after payment
- Review seat matrix and prepare preference list
- Enter and lock preferences before 9 AM on October 19
- Monitor KEA portal for allotment result
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See My CollegesFrequently asked questions
What is the new deadline for option entry in Karnataka NEET UG 2026 stray round?
The deadline for option entry has been extended to October 19, 2026 at 9 AM on cetonline.karnataka.gov.in. You must lock your college preferences before this time. No extensions will be granted after 9 AM.
How many MBBS seats are available in the stray round?
A total of 664 MBBS seats are available in the stray round. These are spread across government and private medical colleges in Karnataka, including seats under NRI and management quotas. No dental seats remain after the third round.
Who is eligible to apply for the stray round?
You are eligible if you qualified NEET UG 2026 and were not allotted a seat in the first three rounds of counselling. You can also apply if you missed registration in earlier phases and register fresh now. Candidates holding a dental seat can apply for medical seats, but those already allotted a medical seat cannot participate.
What is the caution deposit amount for private medical college seats?
For private quota (P) seats, the caution deposit is ₹12,00,117. For government quota (G) seats, it is ₹1,00,000. For NRI and management quota seats, it is ₹25,00,000. You must pay this before entering your preferences.
What happens if I do not report to the allotted college?
If you are allotted a seat but do not report, KEA will forfeit your entire caution deposit, charge an additional penalty of ₹1,00,000, and you will lose medical counselling eligibility in Karnataka for three years. Only accept a seat if you are committed to joining.
Can I change my preferences after locking them?
No. Once you lock your preference list before the October 19 deadline, you cannot make any changes. Review your choices carefully before finalizing and locking.
When will the allotment result be announced?
The provisional seat allotment list is expected to be released after October 19, 2026. KEA will publish it on the official portal along with reporting instructions and dates.
Is this the last counselling round for NEET UG 2026 in Karnataka?
Yes. The stray round is the final counselling phase for NEET UG 2026 in Karnataka. After October 19, no further rounds will be conducted this year. If you do not secure a seat now, you will need to explore options outside Karnataka or wait for next year's cycle.
The October 19 deadline is your final opportunity to secure an MBBS seat in Karnataka for 2026. Register immediately if you have not already, arrange your caution deposit, and lock your preferences well before 9 AM. Monitor the KEA portal closely for the allotment result and reporting instructions after the deadline.
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