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 October 19 at 9 AM on the official portal. This round offers 664 MBBS seats across government and private medical colleges in Karnataka—making it the final opportunity for qualified candidates who did not secure a seat in earlier counselling rounds. If you missed earlier rounds or are looking to upgrade your college choice, understanding the stray round process and deadlines is critical.
If you qualified for NEET UG 2026 but did not get a seat in earlier rounds, you must register and lock your college preferences by October 19, 9 AM on cetonline.karnataka.gov.in to compete for 664 available MBBS seats.
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Unlock My College ListWhat Is the Stray Round and Who Can Apply?
The stray round is the final counselling phase in Karnataka's NEET UG 2026 admission cycle. It is open exclusively to candidates who qualified in NEET UG but were not allotted a seat in the first three rounds of counselling. Candidates who missed registration in earlier phases can also register fresh and participate in this round.
Importantly, if you currently hold a dental seat allotment, you are still eligible to apply for MBBS seats in the stray round. However, if you have already been allotted and accepted an MBBS seat in an earlier round, you cannot participate. The stray round is designed to fill genuine vacancies that remain after all previous rounds conclude.
664 MBBS Seats Available Across Government and Private Colleges
A total of 664 MBBS seats are being offered in this stray round. These seats span both government and private medical colleges throughout Karnataka, distributed across general, reserved, NRI, and management quota categories. The seat matrix, published on October 8, lists all vacant positions by college, course, and quota type, allowing you to see exactly which seats are available before you enter your preferences.
Notably, no dental seats remain after the third round of counselling, so the stray round is exclusively for MBBS candidates. The majority of vacancies are in private medical colleges, though government seats may also be available depending on candidate choices and withdrawals from earlier rounds.
Key Dates and Timeline for Option Entry
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. Option entry (the process of selecting and ranking your college preferences) opened on October 16 at 11 AM and has now been extended to close on October 19 at 9 AM.
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This extended deadline gives you additional time to research colleges, check the seat matrix, arrange your preferences in priority order, and complete the payment process. However, do not delay—the 9 AM cutoff on October 19 is firm, and late submissions will not be accepted.
- 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
Mandatory Caution Deposit and Fee Structure
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 will receive a verification slip that you must download and keep for your records.
The deposit amounts vary significantly by seat type. Government quota seats require ₹1,00,000, while private quota seats require ₹12,00,117. NRI and management quota seats are substantially higher at ₹25,00,000. All dental seats (if applicable in future rounds) carry a deposit of ₹1,00,000. Ensure you have sufficient funds and a working payment method before the deadline.
| Seat Category | Caution Deposit (₹) |
|---|---|
| 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 |
How to Enter Your Preferences: Step-by-Step Process
Option entry is the final and most critical step before seat allotment. You must complete this process on the official KEA portal at cetonline.karnataka.gov.in. Log in using the user ID and password you created during registration. If you are registering fresh in this round, you will receive new credentials.
After logging in, pay the caution deposit for your chosen seat category and download the verification slip. Then, enter all your preferred colleges and courses in priority order. You can list colleges even if they do not currently show vacancies in the seat matrix—new vacancies may open if other candidates withdraw. Once you have arranged all your preferences, save and lock your final list. This locking step is essential; without it, your preferences will not be submitted.
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- Visit cetonline.karnataka.gov.in
- Log in with your registration credentials
- Pay the caution deposit for your chosen seat category online
- Download the verification slip after payment confirmation
- Enter and arrange all college and course choices in priority order
- Save and lock your final preference list before 9 AM on October 19
Penalties for Non-Reporting and Withdrawal After Allotment
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 the entire caution deposit you paid. Additionally, you will be charged an extra penalty of ₹1,00,000.
More critically, candidates who do not report or withdraw after allotment will lose eligibility for medical counselling for three years. This means you cannot participate in any KEA counselling round for the next three years, effectively blocking your path to an MBBS seat in Karnataka during that period. Take your college choice seriously and only lock preferences for colleges you genuinely intend to join.
Why the Stray Round Matters for Your MBBS Journey
The stray round is your last chance to secure an MBBS seat in Karnataka for the 2026 academic year. If you did not get a seat in the first three rounds, this is a genuine opportunity to enter medical college. The round also benefits candidates who wish to upgrade from a lower-ranked college to a better option, provided seats are available.
For late entrants who missed earlier registration windows, the stray round offers a fresh entry point into the counselling process. However, it is also the final phase—after this round concludes and allotments are made, no further counselling rounds will be held in Karnataka for NEET UG 2026. Treat this deadline with urgency.
What Happens After October 19: Next Steps
After the option entry deadline closes on October 19 at 9 AM, KEA will process all submitted preferences and generate a provisional seat allotment list. This list is expected to be released shortly after the deadline. You will be able to view your allotment status on the KEA portal using your login credentials.
Once allotments are announced, KEA will publish reporting instructions on the portal, including the date, time, and venue for reporting to your allotted college. You must report within the specified timeframe with all required documents (NEET scorecard, ID proof, and other documents as per college requirements). Failure to report will trigger the penalties mentioned earlier.
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See My CollegesFrequently asked questions
What is the extended deadline for option entry in Karnataka NEET UG 2026 stray round?
The deadline to enter and lock your college preferences is October 19, 2026 at 9 AM on cetonline.karnataka.gov.in. This deadline was extended from an earlier date to give candidates more time to research and finalize their choices.
How many MBBS seats are available in the Karnataka stray round?
A total of 664 MBBS seats are available in the stray round. These seats are distributed across government and private medical colleges in Karnataka, spanning general, reserved, NRI, and management quota categories. No dental seats are available in this round.
Who is eligible to apply for the Karnataka stray round?
You are eligible if you qualified in NEET UG 2026 but did not receive a seat in the first three rounds of counselling. Candidates who missed earlier registration can also register fresh and participate. If you hold a dental seat allotment, you can still apply for MBBS seats. However, if you already have an MBBS seat allotment from an earlier round, you cannot participate.
What is the caution deposit amount for government quota MBBS seats?
The caution deposit for government quota (G seats) MBBS is ₹1,00,000. For private quota seats, it is ₹12,00,117. NRI and management quota seats require ₹25,00,000. This deposit must be paid online before you can enter your preferences.
What happens if I do not report to the college after getting a seat in the stray round?
If you are allotted a seat but do not report or decline admission, KEA will forfeit your entire caution deposit and charge an additional penalty of ₹1,00,000. More importantly, you will lose eligibility for medical counselling for three years, meaning you cannot participate in any KEA counselling round during that period.
Can I list colleges in my preferences even if they do not show vacancies in the current seat matrix?
Yes, you can list colleges even if they do not currently show vacancies. New vacancies may open if other candidates withdraw their seats after allotment. It is advisable to include all your preferred colleges in your preference list.
When will the seat allotment result be announced?
The provisional seat allotment list is expected to be released after October 19. KEA will publish the result on cetonline.karnataka.gov.in. You can check your allotment status using your login credentials. Reporting instructions will follow on the portal.
What documents do I need to have ready for the stray round?
Keep your NEET UG 2026 scorecard and ID proofs (Aadhaar, PAN, or passport) ready. You will need these during registration and reporting. Also ensure you have a working payment method (net banking, debit card, or credit card) to pay the caution deposit online.
The stray round is your final opportunity to secure an MBBS seat in Karnataka for 2026. Register immediately if you have not already done so, research the available colleges using the seat matrix, arrange your preferences carefully, and lock them before 9 AM on October 19. After this deadline, no further counselling rounds will be held.
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