In this article, you’ll find Karnataka NEET UG Counselling 2026 dates for MBBS/BDS, the online registration form, the counselling process, eligibility criteria for participating in Karnataka NEET Counselling, Participating institutes of Medical & dental colleges, Merit List, Seat Allotment, Documents required at document verification centre, category-wise seat reservation criteria, NEET release cutoff.
Karnataka NEET UG Counselling 2026: Karnataka NEET UG Counselling 2026 will be conducted online by the Karnataka Examinations Authority (KEA). The process covers MBBS and BDS admissions through two main rounds, followed by Mop-Up and Stray Vacancy rounds. KEA handles 85% state-quota seats in government colleges and all seats in private medical and dental colleges in Karnataka.
Karnataka NEET Counselling 2026 Quick Summary
| Particular | Details |
|---|---|
| Counselling Name | Karnataka NEET UG Counselling |
| Effective Entrance Exam | NEET UG Conducted by the NTA |
| Counselling Conducting Authority | Karnataka Examinations Authority (KEA) |
| No. of Counselling Rounds | Round 1, Round 2, Round 3 & Stray Vacancy |
| Mode of Counselling | Online |
| Eligibility Criteria | Must qualify NEET UG 2026 and be a Karnataka domicile for 85% State Quota seat |
| State NEET Counselling Start Date | Late July or Early August 2026 (Expected) |
| No. of Government MBBS Seats in Karnataka | 3,949 |
| No. of Private MBBS Seats in Karnataka | 10,145 |
| No. of Government BDS Seats in Karnataka | 185 |
| No. of Private BDS Seats in Karnataka | 3,180 |
| Official State Counselling Website | https://cetonline.karnataka.gov.in/kea/ |
Important Instructions for Option Entry and Seat Allotment Process
No new option entries will be allowed after the last date for the first round; this applies to all subsequent rounds:
Counselling Process Timeline
| Stage | Details | Date & Time |
|---|---|---|
| Option Entry (Round 1) | Candidates can add, delete, modify, or reorder their choices for the 1st round of seat allotment. | August 7 – 13, 2026 |
| Provisional Result | Announcement of the provisional seat allotment result for the 1st round. | August 19, 2026 (After 10:00 AM) |
| Final Result | Announcement of the final seat allotment result for the 1st round. | To be announced |
| Choice Entry (Special Courses) | Option entry enabled for Yoga & Naturopathy, Homoeopathy, and Architecture courses as per respective seat matrices. | To be announced |
Important Notes
- Further instructions for procedures after choice selection will be announced separately for UGCET and UGNEET courses.
- Mock result cut-off ranks and other details are published on the KEA official website.
- Since the seat matrix is not available for Ayurveda and Unani, candidates cannot enter options for these courses yet.
Re NEET UG Cutoff Marks 2026: Qualifying Percentile
Check the category-wise qualifying percentile and minimum marks required to pass NEET UG 2026:
| Category | Cut-Off Percentile | Cut-Off Score |
|---|---|---|
| UR / EWS | 50th Percentile | 715 – 213 |
| OBC | 40th Percentile | 212 – 177 |
| SC | 40th Percentile | 212 – 177 |
| ST | 40th Percentile | 212 – 177 |
| UR / EWS & PwBD | 45th Percentile | 212 – 194 |
| OBC & PwBD | 40th Percentile | 193 – 177 |
| SC & PwBD | 40th Percentile | 193 – 177 |
| ST & PwBD | 40th Percentile | 191 – 177 |
Karnataka NEET UG Counselling 2026 Schedule
| Round | Event | Dates & Deadlines (2026) |
|---|---|---|
| Round 1 | Display of Seat Matrix (Medical, Dental, Engineering, Farm Science, Veterinary, etc.) | 07 August 2026 |
| Round 1 | Option Entry (Add/Modify/Delete/Re-order choices) | 7:00 PM, 07 August – 9:00 AM, 13 August 2026 |
| Round 1 | Surrender of First Round Allotted Seat (Choice-1, Choice-2) – In person at KEA Bengaluru | On or before 11:00 AM, 13 August 2026 (Penalty applies after this) |
| Round 1 | Provisional Seat Allotment Result (UGNEET Round 1 & UGCET Round 2) | 19 August 2026, after 10:00 AM |
Karnataka NEET Counselling Eligibility Criteria
Below is the information on Karnataka NEET UG Counselling Eligibility Criteria:
| Criteria | Details |
|---|---|
| NEET Qualification | Must qualify NEET UG 2026 |
| Min. Percentile | Gen: 50%, OBC/SC/ST: 40%, PwD (Gen): 45% |
| Domicile (State Quota) | Karnataka Domicile or passed 10 & 12 from Karnataka |
| Age Limit | Min. 17 years as on 31 Dec 2026, no upper age limit (as per NEET rules) |
| NRI/Management Seats | NEET qualified, no domicile needed |
Karnataka NEET UG Counselling Registration Process (registration-process)
| Step | Action | Key Points |
|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | Visit the Official Website | • Go to the official Karnataka Examinations Authority (KEA) counselling portal • Click on the Karnataka NEET UG Counselling 2026 registration link on the homepage |
| Step 2 | Complete Online Registration | • Enter the required details and create your login credentials • Required Information: – NEET UG 2026 Roll Number – Candidate Name, Mobile Number, Email ID – Date of Birth – Academic Information |
| Step 3 | Fill the Application Form | • Carefully enter Personal Information • Educational Qualifications • Category Details • Domicile Information • Reservation Claims • Review before proceeding |
| Step 4 | Upload Required Documents | • Upload scanned copies of: – NEET UG 2026 Scorecard – NEET UG 2026 Admit Card – Class 10th & 12th Certificates – Passport-size Photograph – Signature – Category/Domicile Certificates (if applicable) |
| Step 5 | Pay the Registration Fee | • Pay online via: – Debit Card – Credit Card – Net Banking – UPI • Application remains incomplete until payment is successful |
| Step 6 | Choice Filling & Locking | • Select and save your college/course preferences in order of priority • Once saved, options lock automatically after the scheduled deadline • An OTP is sent to your registered mobile number — enter it and click “Confirm” to finalize your choices • No new option entries are allowed after the deadline for a given round |
| Step 7 | Final Submission | • Verify all entered details • Submit the application • Download the confirmation page • Keep a printout for future reference |
Karnataka NEET UG Counselling Application Fees
Candidates applying for Karnataka NEET UG Counselling 2026 must pay the prescribed registration fee to complete the application. The KEA NEET UG counselling fee varies by category and quota. Candidates can pay online using Debit Card, Credit Card, Net Banking, or UPI.
| Category | Application Fee (Expected) |
|---|---|
| General Merit | ₹2,500 |
| OBC Candidates | ₹2,500 |
| SC / ST / Category-I Candidates | ₹500 |
| PwD Candidates | ₹500 |
| NRI / OCI / PIO / Foreign Nationals | ₹5,500 |
Karnataka NEET UG Counselling 2026 Security Deposit
Candidates applying for Karnataka MBBS counselling 2026 may need to pay a refundable security deposit. The deposit amount varies based on the college type and quota selected during counselling.
| Quota Type | Expected Security Deposit |
|---|---|
| Government Medical Colleges | ₹10,000 |
| Private Medical Colleges | ₹1,00,000 |
| Deemed Universities | ₹2,00,000 |
Refund Rules: The security deposit is generally refundable per KEA guidelines. Candidates who join their allotted college within the prescribed deadline may receive an adjustment or refund; those who resign after the deadline may face deduction or forfeiture:
Documents Required For NEET 2026 Counselling For Karnataka MBBS Admission
- 10th Certificate.
- 12th Certificate.
- 12th Mark Sheet.
- NEET UG 2026 Admit Card.
- NEET UG 2026 Result/Scorecard.
- Category Certificate (if applicable).
- Domicile Certificate (for Karnataka candidates only).
- Certificate of Sub Category, If Applicable.
- ID Proof (Aadhaar Card/Voter card etc)
- Two recent passport-size photographs.
- The final printout of the Online Application Form.
- Proof of having paid the application fees
- Study Certificate counter signed by the concerned BEO / DDPI
Participating Colleges in Karnataka NEET UG Counselling (participating-colleges)
Karnataka NEET UG Counselling covers admissions across a wide network of institutions, including:
| Type | Details |
|---|---|
| Government Medical Colleges | Offer MBBS seats under 85% state quota, generally at lower fees |
| Private Medical Colleges | Offer a mix of state quota and management quota seats |
| Deemed Universities | Admit through their own fee structure and quota split |
| Government Dental Colleges | Offer BDS seats under state quota |
| Private Dental Colleges | Offer BDS seats under state quota and management quota |
Candidates are advised to compare colleges on affiliation, fee structure, past-year cutoff ranks, and hostel/infrastructure facilities before finalizing their choice order.
Karnataka NEET UG Merit List & Cutoff (merit-list-cutoff)
- Merit List Preparation: KEA prepares the Karnataka NEET UG merit list based on NEET UG 2026 scores, category, and domicile status.
- State Quota Ranking: The list includes registered and NEET-qualified candidates eligible for state quota seats and determines the order of seat allotment.
- Cutoff Variation: NEET UG cutoff ranks vary each year according to the college, course, category, and counselling round.
- Government College Cutoffs: Government medical colleges generally have more competitive closing ranks compared with private and deemed institutions.
- Previous-Year Trends: Candidates should check previous-year round-wise closing ranks of preferred colleges while using them only as a reference.
- Factors Affecting Cutoff: Actual 2026 cutoffs may change depending on NEET difficulty, number of applicants, seat availability, and candidate preferences.
Karnataka NEET UG Counselling 2026 Reservation Policy
The Karnataka NEET UG Counselling 2026 reservation policy follows Karnataka Government norms and KEA guidelines. Eligible candidates can claim reservation benefits by submitting valid category certificates during document verification.
| Category | Reservation Percentage |
|---|---|
| SC (Scheduled Castes) | 15% |
| ST (Scheduled Tribes) | 3% |
| OBC (Other Backward Classes) | 32% |
| EWS (Economically Weaker Sections) | 10% |
| PwD (Persons with Disabilities) | 5% (Horizontal Reservation) |
FAQs
Q. Who conducts Karnataka NEET UG counselling?
A. Karnataka NEET UG counselling is conducted by the Karnataka Examinations Authority (KEA) for government, private, and deemed medical colleges in the state.
Q. Is NEET mandatory for MBBS admission in Karnataka?
A. Yes, qualifying NEET-UG is compulsory for admission to MBBS/BDS seats in all Karnataka medical colleges, including management and NRI quota seats.
Q. What is the eligibility for Karnataka NEET UG counselling?
A. Candidates must have passed 10+2 with Physics, Chemistry, Biology, secured the minimum NEET qualifying percentile, and meet KEA domicile/eligibility norms.
Q. How many rounds are there in Karnataka NEET UG counselling?
A. KEA conducts Round 1, Round 2, Mop-Up Round, and Stray Vacancy Round depending on seat availability.
Q. Can non-Karnataka students participate in KEA counselling?
A. Yes, non-Karnataka candidates can apply for private, management, and NRI quota seats, but government seats are reserved for Karnataka domicile students only.
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