Commissioner for Entrance Examinations (CEE), Kerala, has issued a notification regarding the KEAM 2026 Stray Vacancy Allotment for MBBS and BDS courses, inviting eligible candidates on the Kerala State Medical Rank List to register fresh options for the stray vacancy round.
According to the notification, the online option-registration facility opens on 17 October 2026, and the last date to register options is 20 October 2026, up to 6:00 PM. Vacancies that have arisen in government and self-financing medical and dental colleges after the third phase of allotment will be considered for filling through this round.
Candidates must register their options through the official CEE Kerala website, www.cee.kerala.gov.in, by selecting “Stray Vacancy Option Registration” on the home page. As vacancies may arise during the allotment process, candidates are advised to enter options for all colleges and courses they are genuinely willing to join.
Who Is Eligible for the Stray Vacancy Round?
The notification specifies several conditions for participation. Candidates should check their eligibility carefully before registering.
- Candidates who are continuing in admitted status following Phase I, Phase II or Phase III allotments are not eligible to participate.
- Candidates who received a seat in the third-phase allotment are not eligible for the stray vacancy round.
- Candidates who vacated their seat after 7 October 2026, 10:00 AM are not eligible.
- Candidates included in the list of admitted candidates shared by the Medical Counselling Committee (MCC) after the third All India Quota round, as well as candidates allotted seats in the AIQ stray round as per the list to be shared by MCC, will not be considered for this round, even if they register options.
- A seat allotted through the stray vacancy round cannot be changed under any circumstances.
Candidates should therefore confirm their eligibility before paying the registration fee or entering options.
KEAM 2026 Stray Vacancy Registration Fee
Candidates participating in the stray vacancy round must pay the applicable registration fee to the Commissioner for Entrance Examinations before registering their options.
| Course options selected | Registration fee |
|---|---|
| Government MBBS/BDS courses only | Rs.10,000 |
| Both Government and Self-Financing MBBS/BDS courses | Rs.25,000 |
| Eligible SC/ST/OEC candidates and specified eligible categories under the notification | Rs.5,000 |
The Rs.5,000 fee concession is subject to the conditions mentioned in the notification. Candidates from the specified categories who opt for Minority/NRI quota seats in self-financing colleges will not be eligible for this concession.
The registration fee is fixed according to the details entered on the candidate registration page. Once paid, the fee will not be changed. Candidates are advised to select their course options carefully and pay the applicable amount before completing registration.
What Happens to the Registration Fee?
The notification also clarifies the treatment of the registration fee after allotment:
- For candidates allotted seats in government medical or dental colleges, the registration fee will be adjusted against the tuition fee of the allotted course.
- For candidates who do not receive an allotment, the registration fee will not be refunded.
- For candidates allotted seats in private self-financing medical or dental colleges, the fee will be refunded after the closing date of admission, provided the candidate has taken admission.
- Candidates who do not join within the stipulated time after allotment, or who leave a seat after joining through the stray vacancy process, will face the prescribed penalty, and the registration fee will not be refunded.
- Candidates admitted through previous CEE allotments who vacated their seats may be required to pay the balance registration fee if the fee already paid is lower than the applicable amount.
Kerala NEET UG 2026 Stray Vacancy Round: Complete Schedule
CEE Kerala has published the following tentative schedule for the stray vacancy allotment round.
| Event | Date and time |
|---|---|
| Online option registration opens | 17 October 2026 |
| Last date for option registration | 20 October 2026, 6:00 PM |
| Provisional allotment publication | 21 October 2026 |
| Final allotment publication | 22 October 2026 |
| Joining at the allotted college after fee payment or balance payment, if applicable | 23–26 October 2026, up to 4:00 PM |
| Updating details of admitted candidates through OAMS | 26 October 2026, 5:00 PM |
Candidates should follow the official CEE Kerala website for any subsequent changes to this schedule.
Important Warning: Choose Only Colleges You Are Willing to Join
CEE Kerala has issued a strict warning regarding unnecessary option entry. Candidates who enter options but do not take admission after being allotted a seat may face significant penalties.
According to the notification, candidates who fail to join an allotted course or college during this round may be liable to pay a penalty of ₹10 lakh for MBBS and ₹5 lakh for BDS. Their candidature may also be cancelled, and they may be debarred from appearing in entrance examinations and/or allotments conducted by CEE for a period not exceeding two years.
Candidates should therefore enter options only for those courses and colleges where they are genuinely prepared to take admission.
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.
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