Karnataka NEET UG 2026 stray round registration begins: apply by October 16

The Karnataka Examinations Authority (KEA) has initiated online registration for the Karnataka NEET UG 2026 Stray Vacancy Round for medical and dental seats. The registration window opened today, October 13, 2026, and will remain active until October 16, 2026, on the official KEA website: https://cetonline.karnataka.gov.in/kea/.

This round aims to fill eligible vacant medical and dental seats for the 2026 admission process, including 664 unallocated MBBS seats from Round 3 and other seats that may have become available due to cancellations or forfeitures. A notice regarding this stray vacancy round was issued by KEA on October 8, 2026.

Eligibility and Registration Process

Candidates must have qualified NEET UG 2026 to be eligible for this round. Those who have not yet registered with KEA can complete a fresh registration during the announced period. Candidates who have not been allotted an MBBS seat in any previous round of KEA counselling are eligible for medical seats. Individuals who secured a dental seat previously can apply for medical seats by paying the required fees.

However, candidates who accepted and joined seats in the for starters three rounds of All India Quota, deemed universities, or any other institution are not eligible for medical seats. Similarly, candidates who received a seat in the fourth round of MCC or an MBBS seat through KEA are also ineligible for medical seats. Applicants are required to complete registration, pay the application fee, and obtain a verification slip.

Key Dates and Option Entry

The option-filling process for the stray vacancy round will begin on October 16, 2026, at 11 AM and will conclude by 9 AM on October 19, 2026. Options entered during previous rounds will not be considered; candidates must enter their preferences afresh for this round.

Seat Availability and Fee Structure

There are 664 unallocated MBBS seats from Round 3 that might be allotted in this stray vacancy round. While no dental seats were left unallocated at the time of the KEA notice, cancelled or forfeited dental seats may be included. Candidates who were not allotted a seat in the previous third round had their caution fee refunded and must pay the prescribed medical course fee deposit to participate in this round.

The medical course fee deposit varies based on the seat category. This deposit will be forfeited if a candidate fails to take admission after allotment, cancels the seat, or does not report to the allotted college. Penalties for failure to join an allotted seat also include additional penalties under the UGNEET 2026 Information Booklet, which can amount to Rs. 5,000, Rs. 5,000, and Rs. 1,00,000, along with a one-year debarment.

Further reading

• Karnataka M.Sc Nursing exam postponed, AYUSH NEET UG round 1 option entry open until October 12
• Assam NEET UG round 3 result out: report to colleges by 14 October
• NEET admit card: release date and how to download Next step
• CUET 2027 law course admissions: UG registration in January, PG exams in March
• AIIMS Paramedical application form: eligibility, dates and how to apply
• NEET: complete exam guide

Written by Nishit Kumar

Nishit Kumar is a senior EdTech industry leader with over a decade of experience in building and scaling education platforms, shaping their product, content, and growth strategy. At FindMyCollege, Nishit oversees content and editorial strategy, guiding topic selection and content frameworks to ensure accuracy, relevance, and student-first value across the website.

View all posts →