Karnataka NEET UG 2026 Round 1 Choice Filling Started

🚨 Critical KEA UGNEET Update

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Karnataka Examinations Authority has started UGNEET-2026 Round 1 Option Entry for MBBS and BDS.

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Choice Filling Started: 7 August 2026 — 7:00 PM

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Choice Filling Last Date: 13 August 2026 — 9:00 AM

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KEA has also released the 2026 provisional MBBS and BDS Seat Matrix.

This is now the main active counselling stage for Karnataka MBBS/BDS candidates.

Current Karnataka UGNEET Stage

Round 1 — Choice Filling / Option Entry Ongoing

Candidates can:

• Add options
• Modify existing options
• Delete options
• Re-order options

for eligible Medical and Dental colleges.

Important Dates

⚠️ Do not wait until 13 August morning.

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KEA closes MBBS/BDS option entry at 9:00 AM, not at the end of the day.

Important — UGNEET Round 1 vs UGCET Round 2

KEA is conducting:

• UGCET 2026 — Second Round
• UGNEET 2026 — First Round

through the same combined allotment schedule.

For MBBS/BDS candidates, this is the FIRST ROUND of UGNEET counselling.

Do not label MBBS/BDS as Round 2 simply because the common KEA document also refers to UGCET Round 2.

MBBS Seat Matrix Released

KEA has published the:

MEDICAL (MBBS) PROVISIONAL SEAT MATRIX — 2026

The matrix contains college-wise and quota/category-wise seats including applicable:

• Government categories
• Karnataka reservation categories
• HK/KK seats
• Private quota
• Management seats
• NRI
• Minority
• Special categories
• Defence / Ex-Defence
• CAPF / Ex-CAPF
• PwD
• Other applicable KEA categories

Candidates should use this 2026 seat matrix instead of relying on the previous year's seat numbers.

BDS Seat Matrix Released

KEA has separately released the BDS provisional seat matrix for 2026.

MBBS and BDS matrices should remain separately mapped in the HGE database.

Verification Slip — Important

KEA specifically states that eligible candidates can include:

• Pharmacy
• Medical
• Dental

options after downloading the Verification Slip.

Candidates should therefore ensure that their updated eligibility/verification slip is available before finalising Medical/Dental options.

Who Can Participate?

Only candidates who satisfy the applicable KEA UGNEET eligibility and verification requirements can exercise Medical/Dental options.

Eligibility can differ for:

• Government seats
• Private seats
• Minority seats
• NRI / NRI Ward claims
• St. John's eligibility
• Kannada / Rural claims
• Special-category claims

Do not add a quota/category simply because it appears in the seat matrix unless you are officially eligible for it.

How to Fill MBBS/BDS Choices

1. Open the official KEA Option Entry portal.
2. Login using your candidate credentials.
3. Download/check the latest Verification Slip.
4. Review the official 2026 MBBS and BDS Seat Matrix.
5. Add every college you would genuinely accept.
6. Arrange options in true preference order.
7. Check fee and quota before placing each college.
8. Recheck Minority/NRI/Management eligibility.
9. Save options regularly.
10. Complete final review well before 13 August at 9:00 AM.

Preference Order Matters

Do not arrange colleges simply according to last year's cutoff.

Your option list should reflect:

Which college would I choose if all these seats were available to me?

Put the most preferred college first, followed by the next preferred college.

Candidates With Previous UGCET Seats

The common KEA schedule also contains instructions for candidates holding seats from UGCET Round 1.

Candidates interested in surrendering applicable previously allotted seats must follow the KEA surrender rules.

The current schedule states that applicable candidates wishing to surrender a first-round allotted seat must do so:

On or before 13 August 2026 at 11:00 AM

at KEA Bengaluru in person, with applicable penalty as per rules.

This provision should be applied only to candidates to whom the surrender rule actually applies.

UGNEET Has Four Choices

KEA specifically clarifies that:

There will be four choices for UGNEET courses because this is the first round.

Candidates should therefore understand the Choice-1 / Choice-2 / Choice-3 / Choice-4 implications after allotment before confirming their post-allotment decision.

Provisional Round 1 Allotment

KEA has scheduled publication of the:

UGNEET 2026 First Round Provisional Seat Allotment Result

for:

19 August 2026 after 10:00 AM

This is currently the next major Karnataka counselling stage after option entry.

Important Choice-Filling Checks

Before finalising options, check:

• College name and KEA code
• MBBS vs BDS
• Government / Private status
• Quota
• Category eligibility
• Tuition fee
• NRI / Management fee where applicable
• Minority eligibility
• Bond/service conditions
• Location
• Clinical exposure
• Previous cutoffs
• Your NEET AIR
• Your willingness to actually join the college

Do Not Mix AYUSH Into This Alert

KEA's UGNEET section also covers AYUSH.

However, HGE should keep AYUSH seat-matrix and admission-stage updates separate from MBBS/BDS where the seat matrix or admission route differs.

This alert is specifically for:

• MBBS
• BDS

Official Links

KEA UGNEET-2026

https://cetonline.karnataka.gov.in/kea/ugneet2026

Option Entry

https://keaonline.karnataka.gov.in/main/index.php

Official UGNEET Round 1 Schedule

https://cetonline.karnataka.gov.in/keawebentry456/ugneet2026/UGNEET_SEAT_ALT_SCHEDULE_07082026english.pdf

MBBS Provisional Seat Matrix

https://cetonline.karnataka.gov.in/keawebentry456/ugneet2026/Medical_merged_07082026kannada.pdf

BDS Provisional Seat Matrix

https://cetonline.karnataka.gov.in/keawebentry456/ugneet2026/KEA_Dental_CompleteLogReport_07082026kannada.pdf

Hire Guide Education Advice

Karnataka is one of the counselling systems where quota eligibility and preference order are especially important.

Do not fill options only by cutoff.

First confirm your KEA eligibility and Verification Slip, then check the 2026 seat matrix, fee, quota and college preference before arranging your final MBBS/BDS options.

Most importantly, complete your option list before 13 August 2026 at 9:00 AM.