Kerala NEET Counselling 2026 is the state-level admission process for MBBS, BDS, and allied medical courses in Kerala’s government and private medical colleges. It is conducted by the Commissioner for Entrance Examinations (CEE), Kerala, the state’s designated conducting authority, through its official website cee.kerala.gov.in.
Admission to 85% of MBBS/BDS seats in Kerala (State Quota) is handled by CEE Kerala through its Centralized Allotment Process (CAP), while the remaining 15% All India Quota (AIQ) seats are counselled separately by the Medical Counselling Committee (MCC) on behalf of the Directorate General of Health Services. Both rounds are open only to candidates who have qualified NEET UG 2026, conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA).
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The original NEET UG 2026 exam held on 3 May 2026 was cancelled and a Re-NEET exam was conducted on 21 June 2026, the Kerala counselling schedule this year is running later than usual, CEE Kerala is expected to release its official notification and registration dates soon. This article covers everything you need to know about Kerala NEET 2026 Counselling from dates, eligibility, registration, choice filling, documents, reservation policy, fees, merit list, cutoff, and the top medical and dental colleges in the state.
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Kerala NEET Counselling 2026 Highlights
Here's a quick snapshot of the key facts about Kerala NEET Counselling 2026 before we get into the details.
| Particulars | Details |
|---|---|
| Counselling Name | Kerala NEET UG Counselling 2026 |
| Conducting Authority | Commissioner for Entrance Examinations (CEE), Kerala |
| Official Website | cee.kerala.gov.in |
| Courses Covered | MBBS, BDS, BAMS, BHMS, BSMS, BUMS and allied courses (Agriculture, Forestry, Veterinary, Fisheries, Co-operation & Banking) |
| Based On | NEET UG 2026 score/rank (Re-NEET held 21 June 2026) |
| Quota Split | 85% State Quota (CEE Kerala) + 15% All India Quota (MCC) |
| Mode | Online registration, choice filling & allotment |
| Counselling Rounds | Registration, Trial Allotment, Round 1, Round 2, Mop-Up Round, Stray Vacancy Round |
| Total Medical Colleges & Seats | 37 colleges, 5,554 seats |
| Total Dental Colleges & Seats | 27 colleges, 2,020 seats |
| Nativity Categories | Keralite, Non-Keralite Category I (NK-I), Non-Keralite Category II (NK-II) |
Latest News & Notifications
A quick summary of the most recent updates on Kerala NEET UG Counselling 2026. Bookmark this section for the latest happenings.
| Date | Latest Notification | Download / View |
|---|---|---|
| 23 July 2026 | Fresh applications invited for Medical & Medical Allied Courses; KEAM applicants can add Medical courses and reservation claims. | Download Notification PDF |
| 13 July 2026 | Facility provided to rectify defects in NRI documents for Medical Course applicants. | Download Notification PDF |
| 16 July 2026 | NTA declared the NEET UG 2026 (Re-Exam) Result, including AIR, scorecards, and category-wise qualifying cut-offs. | Download Result Notice |
| 21 June 2026 | NEET UG 2026 Re-Examination conducted for eligible candidates across India. | Download Official Notice |
| To Be Announced | Kerala NEET Counselling 2026 Prospectus | Download PDF (Available Soon) |
| To Be Announced | Kerala NEET Counselling 2026 Detailed Schedule | Download PDF (Available Soon) |
| To Be Announced | Online Registration / Profile Submission Schedule | Download PDF (Available Soon) |
| To Be Announced | Document Verification & Certificate Upload Schedule | Download PDF (Available Soon) |
| To Be Announced | Kerala State Rank List | Download PDF (Available Soon) |
| To Be Announced | Round 1 Option Registration (Choice Filling) | Download PDF (Available Soon) |
| To Be Announced | Round 1 Seat Allotment Result | Check Result |
| To Be Announced | Round 2 Counselling Schedule | Download PDF (Available Soon) |
| To Be Announced | Round 2 Seat Allotment Result | Check Result |
| To Be Announced | Mop-up Round Schedule | Download PDF (Available Soon) |
| To Be Announced | Mop-up Round Seat Allotment Result | Check Result |
| To Be Announced | Stray Vacancy Round Schedule | Download PDF (Available Soon) |
| To Be Announced | Stray Vacancy Round Seat Allotment Result | Check Result |
| To Be Announced | Revised Notifications / Corrigendum | Download PDF |
| To Be Announced | Reporting & Admission Guidelines | Download PDF (Available Soon) |
| To Be Announced | Final Admission / Joining Instructions | Download PDF (Available Soon) |
Kerala NEET Counselling 2026 Dates
The official Kerala NEET Counselling 2026 schedule will be notified by CEE Kerala on its official website after the NEET UG 2026 result is declared. Given the Re-NEET exam on 21 June 2026, the entire cycle is expected to be pushed back by roughly six to eight weeks compared to a normal year.
| Event | Expected/Tentative Timeline |
|---|---|
| NEET UG 2026 result declaration | Late July 2026 (expected) |
| CEE Kerala counselling notification | Soon after NEET UG result |
| Online registration & option/choice filling | Expected to start August 2026 |
| Document verification | After registration closes |
| Trial allotment | Before Round 1 |
| Round 1 seat allotment | Expected September 2026 |
| Round 1 reporting/admission | Within the window specified in the allotment result |
| Round 2 seat allotment | After Round 1 reporting |
| Mop-Up Round | After Round 2, for vacant seats |
| Stray Vacancy Round | Final round for any remaining seats |
Types of Kerala NEET Counselling 2026
Kerala NEET Counselling 2026 is primarily classified into the following:
- State Quota Counselling: 85% of seats are managed by CEE Kerala where MBBS/BDS seats are allocated for candidates who are Kerala natives.
- All India Quota (AIQ) Counselling: where Medical Counseling Committee (MCC) fills 15% of government medical or dental seats. This is open to candidates from all over the country.
- Management Quota Counselling: where self-financing/private colleges announce a quota of seats and fill it through their management.
- NRI Quota Counselling: The seats are reserved in private/self-financed institutions for NRI candidates who fill them by following their own set of rules.
- AYUSH Counselling: This type of counselling is also conducted by CEE Kerala under the broader Centralized Allotment Process for Ayurveda and other schools.
- Central Counselling: Held for deemed institutions where deemed universities in Kerala manage their counseling process without the help of CEE Kerala.
Kerala NEET Counselling Eligibility Criteria
Before applying, candidates must satisfy the eligibility conditions laid down by CEE Kerala. Missing even one criterion can lead to rejection at the verification stage.
| Criteria | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Qualifying Exam | Must have qualified NEET UG 2026 conducted by NTA |
| Minimum Percentile | 50th percentile (General/EWS); 40th percentile (SC/ST/OBC-SEBC); 45th/40th percentile (PwBD categories) |
| Nationality | Indian citizen (OCI/PIO eligible for general seats, not for reservation benefits) |
| Nativity | Keralite, Non-Keralite Category I (NK-I – parent is a Kerala native settled outside), or Non-Keralite Category II (NK-II – studied in Kerala but not a native) |
| Age | Minimum 17 years as on 31 December 2026 |
| Academic Qualification | Pass in Class 12 (or equivalent) with Physics, Chemistry, Biology/Biotechnology, and English as core subjects |
| Minimum Marks in Qualifying Exam | 50% aggregate in PCB for General category; 40% for SC/ST/SEBC; 45% for PwBD (as applicable) |
| Registration | Must complete online registration on the CEE Kerala portal within the notified window |
Kerala NEET Counselling Process Step by Step
Kerala NEET UG Counselling proceeds sequentially according to the following stages each year:
1. Notification Issue: CEE Kerala releases the information bulletin/ prospectus and the schedule of counselling.
2. Online Registration: Candidates log in to the CEE portal and fill in the online registration form after feeding the NEET UG application number, personal and academic details.
3. Document Upload and Fee Payment: Candidates upload the scanned certificates in the designated format and remit the registration fees.
4. Document verification: CEE verifies the submitted certificates/documents for nativity, category and claims of eligibility.
5. Publication of Rank List/Merit List: Candidate wise rank list is prepared strictly on NEET UG 2026 rank and category.
6. Option/Choice filling: Candidates enter the list of colleges and courses, both in preferred order, of their choice.
7. Trial allotment: Candidates will be provided with the trial allotment so that they can rearrange/change their options/choices if required.
8. Seat Allotment: (Round 1, Round 2, Mop-Up and Stray Vacancy): Seats are allotted according to the rank, category, reservation and the choice filled in.
9. Fee Remittance & Joining to the college: Candidates allotted seats for the admission have to remit the required fees and join the college within the given date.
10. Admission to the college: Original certificates of the students will be verified and the admission will be confirmed by the college.
Kerala NEET Counselling Registration Process
Candidates wishing to register for the Kerala NEET Counselling 2026 should adhere to the following process on the official CEE Kerala site (cee.kerala.gov.in):
1.Go to the official CEE Kerala website and click the link corresponding to “NEET UG Counselling / Medical Admissions.”
2.Select “New Registration,” and provide your NEET UG 2026 roll number, application number and other basic personal information.
3.Set up a login ID and passwords for future reference.
4.Provide the academic information such as nativity category etc. (Keralite/NK-I/NK-II, SC/ST/SEBC/EWS, etc.)
5.Upload the copies of the required documents and photo in the properly specified format and size.
6.Make an online payment of the registration/counselling fee through the available payment gateway.
7.Submit your application and save/download the printout of the acknowledgement page for future reference.
Besides, you must appear for document verification (in physical or digital mode, as applicable) within the specified timeline.
Kerala NEET Counselling Choice Filling
Candidates after registration/document verification enter the option/choices filling stage. It is the most important stage of the process:
- Sign on to the CEE Kerala counselling portal. Use the username and password that you registered with.
- Browse the list of participating colleges, courses (MBBS/BDS/BAMS/BHMS/BSMS/BUMS), and available seats under each quota.
- Arrange your preferred college-course combinations in the order you want them, starting with your most preferred option.
- You can add, delete, or re-order options any number of times until the choice-filling window closes.
- A trial allotment is published so you can see where you would likely be allotted based on current options, use this to refine your list.
- Lock your choices before the deadline; only submitted/locked options are considered for the actual seat allotment.
- Fill in as many realistic options as possible, a longer, well-thought-out option list improves your chances across multiple rounds.
Kerala NEET Counselling 2026 Documents Required
Keep the following documents ready (originals plus self-attested photocopies) for registration, verification, and reporting:
- NEET UG 2026 admit card and rank/scorecard
- Class 10 certificate (proof of date of birth)
- Class 12 mark sheet and pass certificate (with Physics, Chemistry, Biology/English)
- Transfer certificate (TC) and conduct certificate from the last institution attended
- Nativity certificate (Keralite/NK-I/NK-II, as applicable)
- Community/caste certificate (for SC/ST/SEBC/OEC candidates)
- Income certificate (for EWS/fee concession claims)
- Disability certificate (for PwBD candidates, issued by a competent medical board)
- Passport-size photographs (as per specified format) and signature scan
- Aadhaar card or other valid photo ID proof
- NRI sponsorship/relationship certificate (for NRI quota candidates, where applicable)
- Category-specific certificates for special reservations (Sports, NCC, Defence/Ex-servicemen, Fisherman, Agriculturist, etc.)
Kerala NEET Counselling Reservation Policy
Kerala follows a structured reservation policy across State Merit, socially and economically backward categories, and special reservations:
| Reservation Category | Reservation (%) |
|---|---|
| State Merit (SM) | 50% |
| Economically Weaker Section (EWS) | 10% |
| Socially & Educationally Backward Classes (SEBC) | 30% |
| Scheduled Castes (SC) & Scheduled Tribes (ST) | 10% |
| Persons with Benchmark Disabilities (PwBD) | 5% (Horizontal) |
| All India Quota (AIQ) | 15% of Government MBBS/BDS Seats |
Seat Allotment & Important Rules
- Seat allocation during each round will depend upon only NEET UG rank, category, reserved status of candidates, availability of seat and filling of options by candidates.
- A candidate allotted a particular seat will have to either report and join it or his/her seat may be allotted to another candidate after the stipulated time period.
- Those candidates who do not report without proper reasons to the allotted seat may incur penalties or caution deposit/fee may be forfeited and repeated failure in reporting will have some adverse effect in future rounds.
- Candidate allotted a seat during Round 1 is allowed to participate in other rounds for improvement provided that he/she has chosen a proper "float/freeze" option at the time of joining.
- Allotment goes up in the order of State Merit and then reserved category seats are allotted, so that even the reserved category candidates are given preference for State Merit if the rank qualifies.
- Admissions in MBBS courses will need candidates to sign a rural service bond according to state government norms.
- If a candidate is found to provide false certificate or misrepresentation regarding nativity/category his/her candidature/admission can be cancelled at any point of time.
Kerala NEET Counselling 2026 Fees
| Fee Component | Approximate Amount |
|---|---|
| Registration/Application Fee (General) | Rs.900 – Rs.950 (approx.) |
| Registration/Application Fee (SC/ST) | Concessional/reduced fee as notified |
| Caution Deposit/Admission Fee (varies by college & quota) | As fixed by CEE Kerala/college management |
| Government Medical College Tuition Fee | Nominal, heavily subsidised (a few thousand rupees per year) |
| Private/Self-Financing College Tuition Fee | Government-fixed fee, significantly higher than government colleges |
| NRI Quota Fee | Substantially higher, fixed separately by college management |
| Liquidated Damages (if seat vacated after joining) | Higher amount for MBBS, comparatively lower for BDS/other courses, as per rules |
Kerala NEET Counselling 2026 Merit List
Kerala NEET UG merit/rank list is prepared by CEE Kerala strictly on the basis of NEET UG 2026 marks/rank, applicable nativity, and category. Separate category-wise merit lists are published for State Merit, SEBC sub-categories, SC/ST, EWS, PwBD, and special reservations. Only candidates appearing in the relevant merit list can participate in choice filling and seat allotment for that category.
Downloadable PDF – Merit List
| Merit List | Download |
|---|---|
| Government Quota Merit List | Download PDF – Coming Soon |
| Management Quota Merit List | Download PDF – Coming Soon |
| NRI Quota Merit List | Download PDF – Coming Soon |
| Local Quota Merit List (Ahmedabad/Surat) | Download PDF – Coming Soon |
Kerala NEET Counselling Cut Off
Kerala NEET UG cutoff is the closing rank/marks at which the last candidate was allotted a seat in a particular college, course, and category in a given round. Cutoffs also differ round-to-round, with Round 1 usually being the most competitive and the Mop-Up/Stray Vacancy rounds opening up seats at comparatively relaxed ranks. Once CEE Kerala publishes the 2026 round-wise allotment data, category-wise and college-wise cutoff trends will be updated here.
Downloadable PDF – OR-CR (Opening Rank-Closing Rank)
| Round | Download |
|---|---|
| Round 1 OR-CR | Download PDF – Coming Soon |
| Round 2 OR-CR | Download PDF – Coming Soon |
| Mop-Up Round OR-CR | Download PDF – Coming Soon |
Top Medical Colleges in Kerala
Kerala has a total of 37 medical colleges offering 5,554 MBBS seats which includes 14 government colleges (1,855 seats) and 23 private colleges (3,699 seats). Below is a look at some of the most sought-after government and private medical colleges in the state.
Top Government Medical Colleges in Kerala
| College Name | College Website |
|---|---|
| Government Medical College, Thiruvananthapuram | Click Here |
| Government Medical College, Kozhikode | Click Here |
| Government Medical College, Kottayam | Click Here |
| Government Medical College, Ernakulam (Kalamassery) | Click Here |
| Government Medical College, Thrissur | Click Here |
| T.D. Medical College, Alappuzha | Click Here |
| Government Medical College, Palakkad (IIMS) | Click Here |
Top Private Medical Colleges in Kerala
| College Name | College Website |
|---|---|
| Amrita School of Medicine, Kochi | Click Here |
| Jubilee Mission Medical College & Research Institute, Thrissur | Click Here |
| Pushpagiri Institute of Medical Sciences, Thiruvalla | Click Here |
| Believers Church Medical College Hospital, Thiruvalla | Click Here |
| Amala Institute of Medical Sciences, Thrissur | Click Here |
Top Dental Colleges in Kerala
Kerala has 27 dental colleges offering 2,020 BDS seats which includes 6 government colleges (300 seats) and 21 private colleges (1,720 seats).
Top Government Dental Colleges in Kerala
| College Name | College Website |
|---|---|
| Government Dental College, Thiruvananthapuram | Click Here |
| Government Dental College, Kozhikode | Click Here |
| Government Dental College, Kottayam | Click Here |
| Government Dental College, Alappuzha | Click Here |
Top Private Dental Colleges in Kerala
| College Name | College Website |
|---|---|
| Pushpagiri College of Dental Sciences, Thiruvalla | Click Here |
| Amrita School of Dentistry, Kochi | Click Here |
| Annoor Dental College, Muvattupuzha | Click Here |
| Educare Institute of Dental Sciences, Malappuram | Click Here |
| Malabar Dental College & Research Centre, Edappal | Click Here |
Kerala NEET Counselling 2026 Seat Matrix
The seat matrix showing college-wise, course-wise, and category-wise seat availability is released by CEE Kerala before each round of counselling (Round 1, Round 2, and Mop-Up). It helps candidates understand exactly how many seats are open under State Merit, SEBC, SC/ST, EWS, Management, and NRI quotas at each participating college.
Downloadable PDF – Seat Matrix
| Round | Download |
|---|---|
| Round 1 Seat Matrix | Download PDF – Coming Soon |
| Round 2 Seat Matrix | Download PDF – Coming Soon |
| Mop-Up Round Seat Matrix | Download PDF – Coming Soon |
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. When will Kerala NEET Counselling 2026 registration start?
A. CEE Kerala is expected to release the official notification and open registration soon, likely around August 2026. The exact date will be published on cee.kerala.gov.in.
Q. Who conducts Kerala NEET Counselling 2026?
A. The Commissioner for Entrance Examinations (CEE), Kerala conducts the State Quota counselling (85% seats), while the Medical Counselling Committee (MCC) conducts the All India Quota counselling (15% seats).
Q. What is the minimum NEET UG percentile required for Kerala counselling?
A. Candidates need at least the 50th percentile (General/EWS), 40th percentile (SC/ST/SEBC), or 45th/40th percentile (PwBD categories), as prescribed by NTA.
Q. How many medical and dental colleges are there in Kerala?
A. Kerala has 37 medical colleges (5,554 seats) and 27 dental colleges (2,020 seats), spread across government and private institutions.
Q. What are the nativity categories in Kerala NEET Counselling?
A. Kerala classifies candidates as Keralite, Non-Keralite Category I (NK-I), or Non-Keralite Category II (NK-II), which determines eligibility for certain seats and reservations.
Q. How many rounds are there in Kerala NEET Counselling?
A. The process typically includes Registration, Trial Allotment, Round 1, Round 2, Mop-Up Round, and a Stray Vacancy Round (if seats remain vacant).
Q. What happens if I don't join my allotted college on time?
A. If a candidate fails to report and join within the stipulated time without valid reason, the allotment may be cancelled, the seat released for the next round, and penalties/forfeiture of fees may apply.
My name is Rajesh Mishra. For the past 18 years, I have been helping students get admission into the right colleges. I believe that even students with average or low ranks deserve admission in good colleges—without chasing agents, falling for false promises, or paying donations.
To share my experience and guidance with more students, I write blogs on NEET, Engineering, and AYUSH counselling.
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