NEET UG counselling: 664 MBBS seats unfilled after round 3 in Karnataka

The Karnataka Examinations Authority (KEA) on 8 October 2026 released a list detailing 664 MBBS seats that remain unfilled across 34 medical colleges in Karnataka following the third round of NEET UG 2026 counselling. This information has been made available to inform eligible candidates about the vacant seats ahead of the upcoming Karnataka NEET Stray Vacancy Round 2026.

The vacant seats are spread across various institutions, with the KEA’s official website, cetonline.karnataka.gov.in, serving as the portal for students to access college-wise vacancy details. The final count of vacant seats may be subject to change before the stray vacancy round due to potential cancellations or forfeitures.

Vacant MBBS SEATS After Round 3 Counselling

The KEA’s list indicates that 664 MBBS seats are currently vacant across 34 medical colleges in Karnataka. Among the institutions with the highest number of vacancies, Srinivasa Institute of Medical Research Centre in Mangalore has 74 seats, followed by Adichunchanagiri Institute of Medical Sciences with 35 seats, and Navodaya Medical College with 33 vacant seats. Bidar Institute of Medical Sciences has only one vacant seat.

The total number of vacant seats from 16 specifically listed colleges amounts to 326, with the remaining vacancies distributed among other colleges in the complete KEA list. The KEA had previously issued its third-round medical and dental allotment notice on 23 September 2026.

Eligibility for the Stray Vacancy Round

Candidates intending to participate in the upcoming stray vacancy round must adhere to the KEA UGNEET stray vacancy eligibility rules. Eligibility for this round may depend on a candidate’s prior counselling and seat allotment status. The KEA has outlined specific conditions for participation in Round 3, which are expected to inform the stray vacancy round as well.

Candidates who were not allotted a medical seat in the first and second rounds, or those who cancelled a medical or dental seat by paying the penalty, were eligible for Round 3. Additionally, candidates who reported to a medical or dental college and sought upgradation were also eligible. However, candidates who were allotted a medical or dental seat in Round 1 or 2 and failed to exercise a choice, or those who selected Choice 4, were ineligible for Round 3.

Medical Caution Deposits for Counselling

For Round 3 of the counselling process, candidates were required to pay a medical caution deposit. The amount varied based on the seat options sought by the candidate. This deposit structure was part of the KEA’s third-round medical and dental allotment notice issued on 23 September 2026.

Comparison with Previous Round Vacancies

The current figure of 664 vacant MBBS seats after Round 3 indicates an increase compared to the previous round. The ‘UGNEET 2026 Vacant Seat After 2nd Round’ list had shown 459 vacant seats across 23 colleges. All seats in the Round 2 PDF were listed with the course-code suffix MQ and the category OTH.

Candidates are advised to regularly check the KEA official website for the official notification regarding the Stray Vacancy Round, which will detail registration, choice filling, and allotment dates. You can’t ignore for candidates to review their eligibility, college name, location, fee structure, and seat type before making choices in the upcoming round.

Further reading

• WB AYUSH UG round 2 merit list released: admission based on NEET UG 2026 scores
• WB NEET UG 2026 Round 3 merit list out; fill choices by October 4
• National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (UG) cutoff: previous closing ranks and marks Next step
• NEET PG 2026: Register for Round 1 by October 12, fill choices by October 22
• KCET: Apply for SJM College of Pharmacy B.Pharm, D.Pharma, Pharm.D by 2026 admissions
• National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (UG): 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.

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