If you are a NEET UG candidate participating in Karnataka's counselling process, you have one final day to lock in your college and course choices for Round 3. The Karnataka Examinations Authority (KEA) will close the online option entry window on September 29, 2026 at 11:00 AM. This is your last chance to submit fresh preferences for MBBS and BDS programmes before seat allotment results are announced. Missing this deadline means you will not be considered for Round 3 seat allocation.
Submit your college and course preferences by September 29, 2026 at 11:00 AM on cetonline.karnataka.gov.in, and pay your caution deposit by October 1 to secure your Round 3 seat.
What is Karnataka Round 3 Option Entry and Why It Matters
Option entry, also called choice filling, is the process where you tell KEA which colleges and courses you want to be considered for during seat allotment. In Round 3, you are given a fresh opportunity to change or update your preferences based on the results from earlier rounds and your current priorities.
This round is critical because it directly determines which college and course you will be offered. If you do not participate or submit your preferences, you will not receive a seat in Round 3, even if you are eligible. The entire process is conducted online through the official KEA portal.
How to Fill Your Preferences: Step-by-Step Process
The option entry process is straightforward and entirely online. You will need your login credentials (usually your NEET roll number and password) to access the candidate portal on the KEA website.
- Visit cetonline.karnataka.gov.in
- Click on the 'UG NEET 2026' link under the 'Admission' tab
- Log in to your candidate portal using your assigned credentials
- Locate and click the 'Option Entry' link
- Select your preferred colleges and courses in order of priority
- Review your selections carefully before submitting
- Click the submit button to finalize your preferences
Critical Dates You Must Remember
Timing is everything in counselling. Missing even one deadline can affect your admission. Here are the key dates for Round 3:
| Activity | Deadline / Date |
|---|---|
| Option Entry Window | September 25–29, 2026 (until 11:00 AM on Sept 29) |
| Caution Deposit Payment | Extended until October 1, 2026 |
| Provisional Seat Allotment Result | To be announced by KEA |
Why You Should Not Wait Until the Last Minute
Although the deadline is September 29 at 11:00 AM, waiting until the final hours is risky. On the last day, the KEA portal often experiences heavy traffic, which can cause slow loading, login failures, or submission errors. If your submission fails in the final minutes, you will miss the deadline entirely and lose your chance at Round 3.
Additionally, if you encounter any technical issues or have questions about your preferences, you will have no time to resolve them. Submitting your choices early—ideally by September 27 or 28—gives you a buffer to troubleshoot problems and confirm your submission was successful.
The Caution Deposit: What You Need to Know
After your preferences are submitted, you must pay a caution deposit to confirm your willingness to accept a seat. This deposit is mandatory and must be paid by October 1, 2026. The caution deposit is a refundable amount that secures your place in the allotment process.
Only candidates who pay the caution deposit within the deadline will be eligible for seat allotment. If you do not pay, your preferences will not be processed, and you will not receive a seat in Round 3. Make sure you have the required funds ready and complete this payment as soon as your preferences are submitted.
What Happens After You Submit Your Preferences
Once you submit your preferences and pay the caution deposit, KEA will process all submissions and generate the provisional seat allotment results. The exact date for these results has not yet been announced, but KEA will publish it on the official website.
When results are declared, you will be offered a seat based on your rank, your preferences, and the availability of seats in your chosen colleges and courses. If you are allotted a seat, you will then need to report to your assigned college, pay the full course fees, and complete admission formalities to confirm your admission.
What If You Do Not Get Your First Choice?
Seat allotment is based on merit (your NEET rank), your preferences, and seat availability. You may not always receive your first choice. If you are allotted a seat in a college or course lower on your preference list, you have the option to accept it or wait for a future round.
If you accept the seat, you must pay the full fees within the stipulated time to confirm your admission. If you reject it and wait for the next round, you will need to participate in Round 4 (if available) and submit fresh preferences again. Plan your preference list carefully, ranking colleges and courses in a realistic order based on your rank and cutoff trends.
Common Mistakes to Avoid During Option Entry
Many candidates make preventable errors during choice filling that cost them their seat. Be aware of these pitfalls:
- Submitting preferences without reading the college and course details carefully
- Ranking colleges in an unrealistic order (e.g., all top colleges when your rank does not qualify)
- Forgetting to lock or submit your preferences after selecting them
- Not paying the caution deposit by the deadline
- Using incorrect login credentials or forgetting your password
- Attempting to submit preferences after 11:00 AM on September 29
- Assuming you will get a seat without actively participating in the process
How to Prepare Your Preference List Before Submitting
Do not rush into option entry without a plan. Before you log in, research the colleges and courses you are eligible for based on your NEET rank and previous round cutoffs. Make a written list of colleges ranked by your preference, considering factors like location, college reputation, course quality, and placement records.
Check the seat matrix (the number of MBBS and BDS seats available in each college) and understand which colleges have seats in your category. Discuss your choices with your parents, teachers, or a counsellor. Once you have a clear preference list, you can submit it confidently during option entry.
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See My CollegesFrequently asked questions
When does Karnataka NEET UG Round 3 option entry close?
Option entry closes on September 29, 2026 at 11:00 AM. You must submit your preferences before this deadline. After 11:00 AM on September 29, the portal will close and no further submissions will be accepted.
Where do I submit my preferences for Karnataka NEET UG Round 3?
You submit your preferences on the official KEA website at cetonline.karnataka.gov.in. Log in with your assigned credentials, navigate to the 'Option Entry' section under 'UG NEET 2026', and select your preferred colleges and courses.
What is the caution deposit and when must I pay it?
The caution deposit is a refundable amount you must pay to confirm your participation in seat allotment. It must be paid by October 1, 2026. Only candidates who pay the caution deposit will be eligible for Round 3 seat allotment.
Can I change my preferences after submitting them?
The source does not specify whether preferences can be edited after submission. However, during the option entry window (September 25–29), you can typically log back in and modify your choices before the final deadline. Once the window closes at 11:00 AM on September 29, no changes are allowed.
What happens if I do not submit my preferences by September 29?
If you do not submit your preferences by the deadline, you will not be considered for Round 3 seat allotment. You will miss this round entirely and may have to wait for Round 4 (if available) to participate again.
When will the Round 3 seat allotment results be announced?
The exact date for provisional seat allotment results has not been announced yet. KEA will publish the date on the official website. You should check cetonline.karnataka.gov.in regularly for updates.
What should I do if I face technical issues while submitting my preferences?
If you encounter technical problems, try logging in again or use a different browser. If issues persist, contact KEA support or visit the official website for help. To avoid last-minute problems, submit your preferences well before the September 29 deadline.
Is the caution deposit refundable?
Yes, the caution deposit is refundable. However, you must pay it by October 1, 2026 to be eligible for seat allotment. The refund process and timeline will be communicated by KEA after the counselling process is complete.
Mark September 29, 2026 at 11:00 AM as your hard deadline and submit your preferences well before then to avoid technical issues. Remember to pay your caution deposit by October 1 to secure your eligibility for Round 3 seat allotment. Monitor cetonline.karnataka.gov.in for the announcement of provisional seat allotment results.
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