Karnataka NEET UG Counselling 2026 - Merit List, Cut-off, and Fees

New Update

Latest update - (Tentative as of Feb 2026)
KEA will release the First Round Provisional Allotment Results for UGCET/NEET & other professional courses 2026.

KEA Releases Karnataka NEET UG Rank List 2026

The Karnataka Examinations Authority (KEA) will publish the NEET UG rank list and marks of candidates who will be selected for Karnataka in their NEET UG application and qualified for medical admission. The Directorate of Medical Education prepared the list, and it is now available on the official KEA website. KEA will also announce the NEET UG 2026 counselling registration link.

Overview

The Karnataka Examinations Authority (KEA) is a government organisation that helps students get admission into various professional courses in Karnataka. It conducts exams like KCET for engineering, pharmacy, agriculture, and more, ensuring fair and transparent admissions based on marks and state reservation rules. KEA aims to make the admission process smooth so students can focus on their education.

Besides KCET, KEA manages the CET-2026 process for medical and dental courses like MBBS, BDS, and AYUSH. To join these, students must pass NEET and then register with KEA for counselling. This registration is essential for admission to government and private medical colleges in Karnataka.

Counselling Schedule

New Registration Dates

• Start Date: July (to be expected)
• End Date: Mid – July (expected)

Candidates must carefully complete all the registration steps and submit their application on time to take part in the counselling process.

Key Steps for Registration:

1. Visit the official KEA website: https://cetonline.karnataka.gov.in/kea/
2. Select the "UGCET-2026 Online Application" link.
3. Enter your 10th marks card details and fill in all required information accurately.

Why is Registration Important?

Registration for UGCET 2026 is mandatory for all candidates who want to participate in the Karnataka NEET UG counselling. Even if a candidate has appeared for the NEET UG 2026 exam, they will not be eligible for the counselling process if they fail to register. Registration ensures that candidates are considered for seat allocation based on their NEET UG scores and preferences.

Karnataka UG NEET-2026 Eligibility Criteria

The Karnataka Examinations Authority (KEA) has given specific eligibility criteria for candidates seeking admission to various professional courses in the state. These criteria make sure that only students who are qualified and deserving can participate in the admission process.

General Eligibility Criteria:

1. Educational Qualification:
   • Candidates must have passed their 10th (SSLC) and 12th (PUC) exams from a recognised board.
• For medical (MBBS), dental (BDS), and AYUSH courses, candidates are required to appear for UGNEET-2026.
2. Counselling Registration:
   • Only candidates who have successfully registered through the KEA MBBS Counselling Registration process will be eligible to participate in further counselling rounds.
3. Seat Allocation Based on Domicile Status:
   • Government Seats:
• Only Karnataka domicile students are eligible to apply for government quota seats.
• Candidates must fulfil domicile requirements by providing continuous residency and education in Karnataka as per KEA guidelines.

• Students from other states are eligible to apply for seats in private and deemed universities only.
• Admission to private and deemed colleges is open to candidates across India, subject to eligibility conditions.

Documents Required

To register for Karnataka NEET UG Counselling through CET, you'll need to provide the following documents:

• SLC / 10th MARKS CARD to Enter Register Number and Date of Birth.
• 12th / 2nd PUC MARKS CARD (In case of Previous year students).
• All the Reservation Certificates to enter RD Number /Caste (Category, Income, Non-Creamy layer Certificate (NCLC), Hyderabad-Karnataka(HK) Certificates), whichever you want to claim.
• Details of studies in Karnataka.
• Candidate's Latest Passport-size photograph in .jpg format (Max 50 KB Size)
• Candidate Signature in .jpg format (Max 50 KB Size).

Eligibility for Government Seats

Important Notes:

1. Income Certificate: Required for SC/ST/Cat-1 candidates to claim fee exemption under SNQ (Supernumerary Quota).
2. Caste Certificate: Must be in the candidate's name to claim reservation benefits.
3. Kannada Language Test: Mandatory for candidates claiming eligibility under clauses c and d.

Reservation Benefits: Available only under clauses a, b, f, h, j, k, l, o, but not under c, d, e, g, i, m, n.

Seat Matrix

Karnataka Seat Matrix for UGNEET-2026 Admissions:
There is a total of 66 medical colleges in Karnataka offering MBBS seats:

Counselling Procedure

The Karnataka Examinations Authority (KEA) conducts the UGNEET state counselling process for admissions into MBBS, BDS, and AYUSH courses in government, private, and deemed universities in Karnataka. The counselling process is conducted in multiple rounds, including seat allotment based on NEET-2026 scores and reservation criteria.

Step-by-Step KEA UGNEET-2026 Counselling Process:

1. Registration Process

Candidates must register for the counselling process on the official KEA website by following these steps:

• Visit the KEA official website
• Click on the “UGNEET-2026 Counselling” link.
• Fill out the online application form with personal details, educational qualifications, and NEET-2026 details.
• Upload the required scanned documents.
• Pay the non-refundable registration fee online via debit/credit card or net banking.

2. Document Verification

Candidates must visit the designated KEA centres for physical document verification. The following documents are required:

• UGNEET-2026 Admit Card & Scorecard
• SSLC (10th) and PUC (12th) Marks Card
• Transfer Certificate (TC)
• Study Certificate (for Karnataka domicile candidates)
• Caste/Category Certificate (if applicable)
• Domicile Certificate (for Karnataka government quota seats)
• Income Certificate (for fee concessions/SNQ)
• Parent's Study Certificate (if applicable)
• Aadhaar Card (for identity verification)
• KEA Registration Confirmation Printout

After verification, candidates receive a verification slip with unique login credentials for choice filling.

3. Choice Filling & Locking

• Candidates must log in to the KEA portal to fill in their preferred choices of colleges and courses in order of preference.
• Available seat matrices will be displayed for government, private, and deemed colleges.
• Candidates can modify their choices before the deadline.
• Once satisfied, they must lock their choices, after which no further changes can be made.

4. Seat Allotment Rounds

The seat allotment is conducted based on:

1. NEET-2026 rank (when released)
2. Category/Reservation criteria
3. Availability of seats

The allotment process includes multiple rounds:

• Round 1: Initial seat allotment for registered candidates.
• Round 2: Includes candidates who were not allotted seats or who wish to upgrade.
• Mop-Up Round: For vacant seats after the first two rounds.
• Stray Vacancy Round: Final filling of remaining seats through manual counselling.

Candidates can check their seat allotment results on the KEA website by logging into their account.

5. Post Allotment Choices (Options Entry)

After seat allotment, candidates have the following options:

6. Payment of Fees

Once a seat is allotted, candidates must pay the admission fee online via the KEA portal and download the Admission Order. The fee structure depends on the college type (Government/Private/Deemed) and the reservation category.

7. Reporting to the Allotted College

After fee payment, candidates must:

1. Report to the allotted college within the given timeframe.
2. Submit the original documents.
3. Complete the admission formalities.

Failure to report will result in seat cancellation.

8. Mop-Up Round (If Necessary)

The mop-up round is conducted for vacant seats after the main counselling rounds. It includes:

• Fresh registration for unregistered candidates.
• Eligible candidates who didn’t receive a seat earlier.
• Allotment of seats on a merit basis and availability.

9. Stray Vacancy Round (College-Level Counselling)

If seats remain vacant after all rounds, the concerned colleges conduct spot admissions based on KEA guidelines and NEET rank.

KEA UGNEET-2026 Seat Reservation Criteria

The seat reservation for government quota seats is as follows:

Important Points to Remember

1. Karnataka domicile candidates can apply for government, private, and deemed colleges.
2. Non-Karnataka candidates can apply only for private and deemed colleges.
3. Admission is strictly based on NEET-2026 scores and the seat matrix.
4. Rural quota and Kannada medium quota seats require additional documents.
5. Candidates must track the official KEA website for updates and notifications.

Top Medical Colleges in Karnataka

Explore the Top 10 Medical Colleges in Karnataka for NEET 2026

FAQs

Conclusion

The KEA Counselling process is a vital step for aspiring medical, dental, and AYUSH students. With structured timelines and a transparent approach, candidates can secure admissions to top colleges in Karnataka. Ensure you register early, prepare all necessary documents, and stay updated via the official KEA website.

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