Karnataka Examinations Authority (KEA) has released the schedule and detailed instructions for the 3rd Round Online Seat Allotment for UG Medical and Dental Courses under UGCET/UGNEET 2026. The third round will be conducted for the remaining MBBS and BDS seats after the completion of the second round of seat allotment.
According to the KEA notice dated September 23, 2026, seats that remained vacant after the second round, along with seats cancelled or surrendered, will be offered in the third round. The seat matrix will also be published on the KEA website, and eligible candidates will be allowed to participate in the online third-round seat allotment.
Karnataka NEET UG 2026 Round 3: Important Dates
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Caution Deposit Payment | 24 September to 28 September 2026 |
| Option Entry | 25 September 2026, 11:00 AM to 29 September 2026, 11:00 AM |
| 3rd Round Seat Allotment | To be announced by KEA |
| Provisional Results | To be published on KEA website after the relevant allotment process |
| Final Admission After Allotment | As per KEA schedule |
KEA has advised candidates to regularly check the official website for the publication of the seat matrix and allotment results.
Who Can Participate in Karnataka NEET UG Round 3?
The following candidates are eligible to participate in the third round:
- Candidates who were not allotted any medical or dental seat in Round 1 or Round 2.
- Candidates whose medical/dental seat was cancelled after payment of the prescribed penalty.
- Candidates who have already reported to a medical or dental college and wish to participate for upgradation, as permitted under the relevant rules.
Candidates Not Eligible for Round 3
The following candidates are not eligible to participate:
- Candidates who were allotted a medical/dental seat in Round 1 or Round 2 but failed to exercise their choice.
- Candidates who were allotted a medical/dental seat in Round 1 or Round 2 and selected Choice-4.
Karnataka NEET UG 2026 Round 3 Caution Deposit
KEA has prescribed different caution deposit amounts depending on the type of medical or dental seats in which a candidate is interested.
The caution deposit payment window is September 24 to September 28, 2026.
Medical Seat Caution Deposit
| Seats Interested In | Caution Deposit | Eligible Options |
|---|---|---|
| ‘G’ Seats | Rs.1,00,000 | ‘G’ seats and other ‘G’, ‘P’, ‘N’, ‘Q’ dental seat options |
| ‘P’ Seats | Rs.12,00,000 | ‘G’ and ‘P’ medical seats and ‘P’ dental seats in Private Universities, subject to applicable balance fee |
| ‘N’ / ‘Q’ Seats | Rs.25,00,000 | All types of medical seat options, subject to applicable balance fee |
Dental Seat Caution Deposit
| Seats Interested In | Caution Deposit |
|---|---|
| Dental Seats | Rs.1,00,000 |
All category candidates interested in participating in the third round are required to pay the prescribed caution deposit within the notified dates.
Candidates who have already reported to a Medical/Dental College are not required to pay the caution deposit.
Important Rules Regarding Caution Deposit
KEA has issued several instructions regarding the caution deposit:
- The amount paid for other courses will not be considered as the caution deposit for the third-round medical/dental seat allotment.
- Candidates must pay the prescribed caution deposit separately if they want to participate in the third round.
- If a seat is allotted in Round 3, the caution deposit will be adjusted as applicable.
- If a candidate is allotted a seat but fails to take admission or cancels the seat, the caution deposit will be forfeited, subject to the applicable rules.
- Such a candidate will also not be eligible to participate in future years of medical counselling, including All India counselling, as stated in the KEA notice.
- Candidates who were not allotted any seat during Round 2 or Round 3 will have their caution deposit returned after completion of the counselling process.
Karnataka NEET UG Round 3 Option Entry
The option-entry window will open on September 25, 2026, at 11:00 AM. Candidates can enter their choices until September 29, 2026, 11:00 AM. Only candidates who have paid the prescribed caution deposit will be allowed to enter options for medical and dental courses.
KEA has specifically advised candidates to carefully study the fee structure and seat availability before entering their choices. Candidates should enter all courses and colleges in which they are genuinely interested, in the order of their preference.
Candidates Advised to Check Fee Structure Before Option Entry
KEA has highlighted that candidates and parents should understand the applicable fee structure before participating in the third-round seat allotment.
The authority has stated that candidates are informed about the fee structures during each counselling round. Candidates are therefore advised to enter options only after confirming that they are willing and able to pay the applicable fee for the allotted course and college.
If a candidate does not want to join a particular college/course because of the fee structure, that option should not be entered.
Candidates Already Reported to Colleges
Candidates who have already reported to a college and participate in the third round are considered to be seeking upgradation.
KEA has clarified that if such candidates receive a new seat in the third round, their earlier seat will be automatically cancelled and will no longer be available to them.
Candidates will then have to report to the newly allotted college within the prescribed timeline.
No Reversion to Earlier Seat
If a candidate receives an upgraded seat in Round 3 but subsequently does not want to join the new college, the candidate cannot return to the earlier allotted seat.
KEA has advised candidates to participate in the third round only after carefully considering their preferences.
Karnataka NEET UG 2026 Third Round Provisional Results
For admission to medical and dental courses, the third-round allotment will be conducted on the basis of merit and the priority of options entered by candidates.
The provisional result of the third-round seat allotment will be published on the KEA website after the relevant All India Quota allotment process.
Candidates who participated in the third round of All India Quota counselling and subsequently receive a seat through KEA can retain the KEA seat only by submitting a written request to KEA within the prescribed time after the announcement of the provisional results.
Otherwise, such candidates will not be considered for KEA’s third-round final seat allotment, and the caution deposit paid will not be refunded.
Candidates Admitted to Other Courses
KEA has also issued instructions for candidates who have already taken admission to Engineering, Agriculture, Veterinary or other courses.
Such candidates should participate in the medical/dental third round only if they are genuinely interested in taking admission to a medical or dental seat.
Candidates are responsible for obtaining their original documents from the college where they are currently studying and submitting them to the newly allotted college within the prescribed period.
If a candidate does not take admission to the seat allotted in the third round, the candidate will lose the seat and will not be entitled to a refund of any fee paid.
What Happens After Final Round 3 Allotment?
Candidates who are allotted a seat in the third-round final results must:
- Check the final allotment result.
- Pay the applicable fees after adjusting the caution deposit, as per KEA’s schedule.
- Complete the required admission formalities.
- Report to the allotted college within the prescribed deadline.
- Submit the required original documents.
KEA has stated that candidates who receive allotments must comply with the fee-payment and reporting requirements within the specified timeline. Failure to do so may result in action under the applicable rules.
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