UGNEET: Stray vacancy round schedule announced

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Candidates will be allowed to submit fresh applications from October 13 to 16, 2026.

The Karnataka Examinations Authority (KEA) announced the seat allotment schedule for the stray vacancy round of admissions to medical and dental courses on Friday.

Candidates will be allowed to submit fresh applications from October 13 to 16, 2026.

Candidates who qualified in the current year’s UGNEET examination but have not yet registered with the KEA can apply afresh, said H. Prasanna, Executive Director of the authority.

Mr. Prasanna advised candidates to pay the application fee, download the verification slip, pay the caution deposit and then enter their options. Fresh option entry will be permitted from October 16 to 19. Payment of the caution deposit is mandatory before entering options, he said.

Candidates who pay a ₹1,00,000 caution deposit will be eligible to enter options for government medical seats and all categories of dental seats. Candidates who pay a ₹12,00,117 caution deposit will be eligible to enter options for both ‘G’ (Government) and ‘P’ (Private) seats. Those who pay a ₹25 lakh caution deposit will be eligible to enter options for all categories of seats, the Executive Director said.

He warned that candidates who fail to report to the allotted college after seat allotment would forfeit their caution deposit and would also have to pay a penalty as per the rules.

Candidates who have not been allotted any seat through the KEA so far, as well as those who have been allotted a dental seat but wish to seek admission to a medical seat, can participate in this round, he said.

Candidates who were allotted seats in any of the first three rounds through the All India quota, deemed universities or any other State counselling authorities would not be eligible to participate in this round, he said.

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