The Karnataka Examinations Authority (KEA) has released the final stray vacancy round seat allotment results for NEET UG counselling 2026. A total of 493 seats—367 MBBS and 126 BDS—have been allocated to candidates. If you have received an allotment in this round, you face tight deadlines: fee payment closes on October 24, and you must report to your college by October 25. Missing these windows means losing your seat, so understanding the exact process and requirements is critical.
Candidates allotted seats in Karnataka's final stray vacancy round must complete fee payment by October 24 and report to their college by October 25, 2026, or forfeit their admission.
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Unlock My College ListWhat is the final stray vacancy round and who benefits?
The stray vacancy round is the last phase of NEET UG counselling in Karnataka. It fills seats that remain empty after all previous rounds of allotment—merit-based rounds and earlier vacancy rounds. This round gives candidates who did not secure a seat earlier, or who wish to upgrade to a better college or course, a final opportunity to secure admission.
In this 2026 cycle, 493 seats across MBBS and BDS programmes have been made available through this round. The breakdown is 367 MBBS seats and 126 BDS seats. These seats come from both government and private medical and dental colleges across Karnataka. For many aspirants, this represents the last chance to enter an MBBS or BDS programme this year.
How to download your seat allotment result from KEA
The official portal for accessing your allotment is cetonline.karnataka.gov.in/kea. The process is straightforward but requires careful attention to detail. Start by visiting the KEA website and navigating to the UGNEET 2026 section. From there, locate and click the link for the final stray vacancy round seat allotment result.
Once you access the allotment list, you will see separate PDFs for MBBS and BDS programmes. Download the relevant list for your course. To find your name quickly, use the search function (Ctrl + F on your keyboard) and enter your NEET UG rank or other candidate details. Verify the course and college name carefully before downloading and saving the PDF for your records.
- Visit cetonline.karnataka.gov.in/kea
- Open the UGNEET 2026 section
- Click the final stray vacancy round result link
- Select MBBS or BDS allotment list
- Use Ctrl + F to search by rank or candidate details
- Download and save the PDF
Critical deadlines: Fee payment and college reporting
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If your name appears in the allotment result, you must act immediately. The fee payment window is open from October 22 to October 24, 2026. This is a hard deadline—fees submitted after 4 pm on October 24 will not be accepted. The amount you pay is the medical course fee deposit as set by KEA; the exact amount depends on whether you have been allotted an MBBS or BDS seat and whether the college is government or private.
After paying fees, you must download your seat confirmation slip before 4 pm on October 24. This slip is proof of your fee payment and is essential for college reporting. Your final step is to report in person to your allotted college by 6 pm on October 25, 2026. Reporting means physically visiting the college with all required documents and completing the admission formalities. If you do not report by this deadline, your seat will be cancelled and offered to the next candidate on the waiting list.
- Fee payment window: October 22–24, 2026 (by 4 pm)
- Download seat confirmation slip: by 4 pm on October 24
- Report to college: by 6 pm on October 25, 2026
- Missing any deadline forfeits your seat
Documents and items to bring when reporting to college
KEA has issued specific instructions on what you must carry when you report to your allotted college. Bring all original documents—these include your NEET UG admit card, NEET result scorecard, 10th and 12th mark sheets, caste certificate (if applicable), income certificate, and any other documents mentioned in the KEA counselling brochure. Do not rely on photocopies for the initial verification; originals are mandatory.
In addition to originals, prepare two complete sets of photocopies of all documents. This is a standard requirement across most colleges and speeds up the admission process. Finally, keep your mobile phone with you and ensure it is charged. During admission, the college will send you a one-time password (OTP) via SMS to verify your identity and complete the digital admission process. Without your phone, you cannot receive this OTP and cannot complete admission.
- All original documents (NEET admit card, result scorecard, mark sheets, certificates)
- Two complete sets of photocopies of all documents
- Mobile phone (charged) to receive OTP
- Any other documents specified in the KEA counselling brochure
What happens if you miss the reporting deadline?
If you do not report to your allotted college by 6 pm on October 25, your seat will be automatically cancelled. KEA will not hold your seat beyond this time, and you will not be given a second chance in this round. Your seat will then be offered to the next candidate on the waiting list, and you will lose your opportunity to secure admission through the stray vacancy round.
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There is no provision for late reporting or extension of the deadline. If you have a genuine emergency that prevents you from reporting on time, you should contact KEA immediately, but understand that extensions are rarely granted. The best approach is to plan your travel and documentation well in advance and aim to report at least a few hours before the 6 pm deadline to avoid any last-minute issues.
Understanding MBBS vs BDS seat allocation in this round
Of the 493 seats allotted in this final stray vacancy round, 367 are MBBS (Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery) and 126 are BDS (Bachelor of Dental Surgery). MBBS is a 5.5-year programme leading to a medical degree, while BDS is a 4-year programme in dentistry. The higher number of MBBS seats reflects the greater demand for medical seats compared to dental seats.
If you have qualified for NEET UG, you are eligible for both MBBS and BDS based on your rank and the cutoff scores set by KEA. Your allotment in this round will be to one specific course at one specific college. You cannot change your allotted course or college after the allotment is declared. If you are unhappy with your allotment, you have the option to not report and forfeit the seat, but you will then have no seat for this year.
Why some seats remain vacant and reach the stray round
Seats reach the stray vacancy round for several reasons. Some candidates allotted seats in earlier rounds may not report or may decline their seats. Others may be allotted seats at colleges far from their home or in programmes they did not prefer. Additionally, some colleges may have had fewer eligible candidates apply for their seats in earlier rounds. The stray round is KEA's mechanism to ensure that as many seats as possible are filled and no college remains significantly under-enrolled.
For aspirants, the stray round is a valuable opportunity. If you did not secure a seat in earlier rounds, or if you wish to upgrade to a better college or location, the stray round gives you a final chance. However, the seats available are typically fewer and the colleges or locations may be less preferred. It is still a valid pathway to begin your MBBS or BDS journey.
What to do if your name does not appear in the allotment list
If you do not see your name in the final stray vacancy round allotment result, it means you have not been allotted a seat in this round. This can happen if your rank is below the cutoff for available seats, or if all seats matching your category and preferences have been filled. In this scenario, you have limited options within the NEET UG counselling process for 2026.
You may contact KEA to verify that your application was processed correctly and to understand why you were not allotted a seat. Some candidates choose to pursue admission through management quota seats (if available at private colleges) or to prepare for NEET UG 2027. It is also worth checking if any college is offering seats through a separate admission process or if there are any appeals or review mechanisms available. However, the standard counselling process for 2026 will have concluded after the stray round.
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See My CollegesFrequently asked questions
When is the fee payment deadline for the final stray vacancy round in Karnataka NEET UG 2026?
The fee payment window is open from October 22 to October 24, 2026. You must complete your fee payment by 4 pm on October 24. Any payment made after this time will not be accepted, and you will lose your seat.
What is the last date to report to my allotted college in Karnataka NEET UG stray vacancy round?
You must report to your allotted college by 6 pm on October 25, 2026. Reporting means physically visiting the college with all original documents and completing the admission process. If you do not report by this deadline, your seat will be cancelled.
How many MBBS and BDS seats have been allotted in the final stray vacancy round?
A total of 493 seats have been allotted: 367 MBBS seats and 126 BDS seats. These seats are distributed across government and private medical and dental colleges in Karnataka.
Where can I download my seat allotment result for the stray vacancy round?
You can download your result from the official KEA website at cetonline.karnataka.gov.in/kea. Navigate to the UGNEET 2026 section, click the final stray vacancy round result link, select the MBBS or BDS list, and search for your name using your NEET rank.
What documents do I need to carry when reporting to my allotted college?
Bring all original documents (NEET admit card, result scorecard, mark sheets, caste and income certificates), two complete sets of photocopies of all documents, and your mobile phone (charged) to receive the OTP required for digital admission.
What happens if I do not report to my college by the deadline?
If you do not report by 6 pm on October 25, 2026, your seat will be automatically cancelled. Your seat will then be offered to the next candidate on the waiting list, and you will lose your opportunity to secure admission in this round.
Can I change my allotted course or college after the result is declared?
No. Once the allotment is declared, you cannot change your allotted course or college. You must either accept and report to the allotted seat or forfeit it. If you forfeit, you will have no seat for this year.
Why is my mobile phone required during college reporting?
Your mobile phone is needed to receive a one-time password (OTP) via SMS during the admission process. This OTP is used to verify your identity and complete the digital admission formalities. Without it, you cannot complete admission.
If your name appears in the final stray vacancy round allotment, act immediately: verify your allotment online, arrange your documents, pay fees by October 24, and report to your college by October 25. Missing any deadline will result in automatic cancellation of your seat. For any clarifications, contact KEA directly through their official website.
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