If you're a NEET UG 2026 candidate hoping to study MBBS or BDS in Kerala, the state's Commissioner for Entrance Examinations (CEE) has just released the seat matrix — the college-by-college list of how many seats exist and under which quota. This document is what you should be reading right now, because Round 1 option registration for Kerala's state quota counselling is already open and closes on August 22, 2026. Getting your preference list right at this stage matters more than most aspirants realise, since a wrongly ordered list can cost you a seat you were actually eligible for. This piece explains what the seat matrix contains and how to use it sensibly before the deadline.
Kerala NEET UG 2026 aspirants must cross-check the newly released seat matrix against their own rank and category before finalising Round 1 options, and submit choices on the CEE Kerala portal by August 22, 2026.
What the seat matrix actually shows
The seat matrix published by CEE Kerala at cee.kerala.gov.in lists MBBS and BDS seats available through the state quota counselling process. It covers government medical and dental colleges, self-financing institutions, and colleges run under the cooperative sector.
For each college, the matrix breaks seats down by quota — state merit, community-based reservation, management quota, and NRI seats — and further splits reservation seats into categories such as SEBC, SC, ST, EWS, PwD, and other special categories. In practice, this means the total seat count at a college can look large, but the number you are actually eligible to compete for under your specific category may be much smaller.
Key counselling dates to track
The seat matrix release is timed to fall in the middle of the Round 1 schedule, so candidates have only a short window to study it before submitting choices.
- NEET UG score submission deadline: August 11, 2026
- Profile defect correction deadline: August 13, 2026
- Round 1 option registration opened: August 13, 2026
- Seat matrix published: August 19, 2026
- Round 1 option registration closes: August 22, 2026
Why the matrix changes how you should build your preference list
A common mistake candidates make is picking colleges simply because a seat appears to be vacant on the matrix, without checking whether that seat is actually open to their category or rank range. Kerala's counselling, like most state quota systems, allocates seats strictly by category — so a college may show seats under community reservation while having zero seats left under general/state merit, or vice versa.
Before entering choices, match every college-course combination against your NEET UG 2026 rank, your reservation category (if applicable), and any special eligibility conditions such as domicile or minority status that some self-financing and cooperative colleges apply. Only after this filtering should you decide the order of preference, which should reflect your genuine priority — not a guess about what 'looks safe'.
Practical steps before August 22
Aspirants and parents should treat the next few days as active decision-making time, not just paperwork.
- Download the seat matrix PDF from cee.kerala.gov.in and search for colleges you're interested in.
- Note the exact seats available under your category at each shortlisted college.
- Log in to the candidate portal with your application number and password to access Option Registration.
- Build a preference list ranked by your actual priority, not just perceived seat availability.
- Recheck and confirm the list carefully — once August 22 passes, you cannot add fresh options for Round 1.
- After the deadline, watch for the Round 1 provisional allotment result and the fee payment window that typically follows soon after.
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See My CollegesFrequently asked questions
Where can I find the Kerala NEET UG 2026 seat matrix?
It is available as a PDF on the official CEE Kerala portal, cee.kerala.gov.in, under the NEET UG 2026 counselling or notifications section.
Does the seat matrix cover both MBBS and BDS?
Yes. It lists seats for both MBBS and BDS programmes across government, self-financing, and cooperative sector colleges under Kerala's state quota.
What is the last date to submit Round 1 options?
Round 1 option registration for Kerala NEET UG 2026 closes on August 22, 2026.
Can I add a college to my list if it shows a vacant seat but under a different category?
No. Seats are allocated strictly by the quota and category they are notified under. A vacant seat under community or management quota is not automatically available to a general or state-merit candidate.
What happens after option registration closes?
CEE Kerala will process the choices against the merit list and release the Round 1 provisional allotment result, followed by a fee payment window for allotted candidates.
Should I still consider colleges outside Kerala if my rank looks tight for state quota seats?
It's sensible to also track All India Quota counselling by the Medical Counselling Committee and other state counselling schedules in parallel, so you don't miss reporting deadlines elsewhere while focused only on Kerala's process.
With less than a week between the seat matrix release and the option registration deadline, Kerala NEET UG 2026 candidates should finalise their preference list now rather than at the last minute. Keep checking the CEE Kerala portal for the Round 1 allotment result and fee payment schedule that follows soon after August 22, 2026.
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