KEA NEET UG Stray Vacancy Round 2026: Schedule, Eligibility & Guidelines

Karnataka Examinations Authority (KEA), under Executive Director H. Prasanna, IAS, has published instructions regarding the UGNEET-26 Stray Vacancy Round. Unregistered candidates must finish their application, pay the registration fee (amount to be released), obtain the verification slip, deposit the caution amount, and complete option entry.

Candidates seeking MBBS and BDS admission in Karnataka should also review the complete Karnataka NEET UG Counselling 2026 process to understand the registration, verification, and choice-filling requirements.

KEA NEET UG Stray Vacancy Round 2026 Schedule Details

Candidates participating in the stray vacancy round must follow the timeline announced by KEA to complete new registration and option entry. The schedule is detailed below:

• New Registration: Eligible candidates who have not registered with KEA can apply during this active window.

• Option Entry: Registered candidates can select and lock choices for vacant medical and dental seats.

Candidates should complete their option entry within the announced deadline. They can also refer to this guide on NEET Seat Allotment 2026 to understand the general seat allotment process and the importance of checking counselling updates.

Caution Deposit Structure

Participation in option entry requires candidates to submit a caution deposit according to specific seat categories:

• ₹1,00,000 (₹1 Lakh): Grants access to Government Medical seats and all Dental categories.

• ₹12,00,117: Grants access to Government (G) and Private (P) Medical seats.

• ₹25,00,000 (₹25 Lakhs): Grants access to all categories of seats, including Private, NRI, and Management.

Eligibility Criteria and Guidelines

Candidates must meet the stated requirements before proceeding to option locking. Key guidelines include:

• Eligible candidates who have not yet registered with KEA must complete new registrations within the specified window.

• Candidates who were not allotted any seats in previous KEA rounds are eligible.

• Dental seat holders seeking an upgrade to a Medical seat are eligible.

• Candidates previously allotted seats (except dental candidates seeking a medical upgrade) are ineligible.

• Candidates must download the Verification Slip after successful payment of the fee and pay the requisite Caution Deposit prior to Option Entry.

Candidates preparing for Karnataka medical admissions can also review the NEET counselling process to understand the general steps involved in counselling and seat allocation.