KEA NEET 2026 counselling registration for Karnataka State Quota is expected to open on June 23, 2026, at the official KEA portal — cetonline.karnataka.gov.in/kea.

Karnataka Examinations Authority (KEA) conducts counselling for 85% of MBBS and BDS seats in the state. Students who qualified NEET UG 2026 and hold Karnataka domicile must register on the KEA portal to be considered for seat allotment. The process covers government medical colleges, private unaided colleges, and minority institutions under the Karnataka State Quota.

  • Registration start date (expected): June 23, 2026
  • Official portal: cetonline.karnataka.gov.in/kea
  • Courses covered: MBBS and BDS under Karnataka State Quota (85% seats)
  • Students need a valid NEET UG 2026 score and Karnataka domicile to participate.
  • Registration, document upload, choice filling, and fee payment are all completed online.
Direct Link — KEA NEET 2026 Counselling Registration Portal (UPCOMING)
cetonline.karnataka.gov.in/kea

KEA NEET 2026 Counselling Overview

KEA is the state authority responsible for filling 85% of MBBS and BDS seats in Karnataka — the Karnataka State Quota. The remaining 15% go through All India Quota counselling by MCC. KEA typically holds two main rounds followed by a mop-up round. Seats span government medical colleges, private unaided medical colleges, and private aided and minority colleges under the state quota.

Detail Information
Conducting Authority Karnataka Examinations Authority (KEA)
Courses Covered MBBS, BDS
Quota Karnataka State Quota (85% seats)
Counselling Mode Online — registration, choice filling, allotment
Official Portal cetonline.karnataka.gov.in/kea
Registration Date (Expected) June 23, 2026
Counselling Rounds Round 1, Round 2, Mop-up Round

Eligibility for Karnataka State Quota

Only students who meet all of the following criteria can register under the Karnataka State Quota:

  • NEET UG 2026 qualification: Must have appeared and passed NEET UG 2026.
  • Minimum NEET percentile: General — 50th percentile; SC/ST/OBC (Karnataka) — 40th percentile; PwD — 45th percentile.
  • Karnataka domicile: The student or their parent must hold Karnataka domicile. This includes students born in Karnataka or those who have studied in Karnataka as per KEA norms.
  • Age: Must have completed 17 years as of December 31, 2026.
  • Academic background: Must have passed Class 12 (or equivalent) with Physics, Chemistry, Biology/Biotechnology, and English.

Students from Karnataka who studied outside the state may still qualify under certain domicile categories. Refer to the official KEA 2026 notification at cetonline.karnataka.gov.in/kea for exact domicile criteria.


KEA NEET 2026 Counselling Important Dates

The table below lists expected dates based on the anticipated registration opening of June 23, 2026, and previous-year counselling timelines. Official dates will be published at cetonline.karnataka.gov.in/kea.

Event Expected Date
Counselling registration opens June 23, 2026 (expected)
Last date to register July 2026 (expected)
Document verification July 2026 (expected)
Choice filling and locking July 2026 (expected)
Round 1 seat allotment result Late July 2026 (expected)
Round 1 reporting to college August 2026 (expected)
Round 2 seat allotment result August 2026 (expected)
Mop-up round September 2026 (expected)

How to Register for KEA NEET 2026 Counselling

Registration is completely online. Follow these steps once the portal opens on June 23, 2026:

  1. Visit the KEA official portal — open cetonline.karnataka.gov.in/kea in your browser and look for the NEET UG 2026 Counselling link on the homepage.
  2. Create your login — enter your NEET UG 2026 roll number, date of birth, and a valid mobile number to generate your unique KEA login credentials.
  3. Fill in the registration form — provide personal details, Class 12 academic details, NEET UG 2026 score, domicile details, and category accurately.
  4. Choose your category — select your correct reservation category (General/SC/ST/OBC/EWS/PwD). Have the supporting certificate ready to upload.
  5. Upload your documents — scan and upload each required document in the specified format and file size as per KEA guidelines.
  6. Pay the registration fee — complete online payment via net banking, UPI, debit card, or credit card. Save the payment receipt immediately.
  7. Review and submit — check every entry before submitting. KEA may not allow corrections after submission.
  8. Download the acknowledgment — save or print the acknowledgment slip as proof of registration for future reference.

Do not share your login credentials. All KEA communications go to your registered mobile number and email ID.


Documents Required for KEA NEET 2026 Counselling Registration

Keep scanned copies of all documents ready before you start. Uploading incorrect or mismatched documents can lead to rejection at the verification stage.

Document Purpose
NEET UG 2026 Admit Card Identity and exam verification
NEET UG 2026 Score Card Score and percentile proof
Class 10 Certificate / Marksheet Date of birth proof
Class 11 Marksheet Academic eligibility
Class 12 Marksheet and Pass Certificate Academic eligibility (PCB subjects)
Karnataka Domicile / Nativity Certificate State quota eligibility
Caste / Category Certificate Reservation benefit (SC/ST/OBC/EWS)
Income Certificate EWS category / fee concession
Aadhar Card or Government-issued Photo ID Identity verification
Transfer Certificate (TC) School-leaving proof
Passport-size Photographs (recent) Registration form and college reporting

Self-attest all documents and check KEA’s official notification for exact file-size and format requirements for each upload.


KEA NEET 2026 Counselling Registration Fee

The registration fee is paid online during registration. Based on previous-year KEA fee structures, the expected fees for 2026 are:

Category Expected Registration Fee
General / OBC Rs. 1,000 (expected, based on 2025 trends)
SC / ST Rs. 750 (expected, based on 2025 trends)

The official 2026 fee will be confirmed in the KEA notification. The fee is non-refundable once paid. Ensure the payment is successful before closing the browser window and save your payment confirmation email.


After Registration: What Comes Next

Registration is step one. Here is the full flow from registration to admission:

  • Document verification: KEA checks your uploaded documents. If any document is rejected, you will be notified to re-upload or appear in person at a designated verification centre.
  • Choice filling: Verified students log in during the choice-filling window and rank preferred colleges and courses in order of preference. Add as many choices as possible — a longer list improves your chances of getting a seat in your desired institution.
  • Locking choices: Once satisfied with your preference list, lock your choices. Locked choices cannot be changed after the deadline.
  • Seat allotment: KEA allots seats based on your NEET rank, category, and choice order. The allotment result is published on the portal.
  • Reporting to the allotted college: If you receive an allotment, report to the college within the specified deadline with original documents and pay the seat-acceptance fee.
  • Subsequent rounds: Students not allotted a seat or not satisfied with their Round 1 allotment can participate in Round 2 and the mop-up round if seats remain.

KEA NEET 2026 Counselling FAQs

Ques. When does KEA NEET 2026 counselling registration start?

Ans. KEA NEET 2026 counselling registration is expected to open on June 23, 2026, at cetonline.karnataka.gov.in/kea. Visit the official portal on that date to register.

Ques. Who is eligible for Karnataka State Quota seats in NEET 2026?

Ans. Students who qualified NEET UG 2026, hold Karnataka domicile, and meet the minimum NEET percentile — 50th for General and 40th for SC/ST/OBC from Karnataka — are eligible for the Karnataka State Quota.

Ques. What documents do I need for KEA NEET 2026 counselling registration?

Ans. You need your NEET UG 2026 admit card and score card, Class 10 and 12 marksheets, Karnataka domicile/nativity certificate, category certificate if applicable, Aadhar card, and recent passport-size photographs. The full list is in the Documents section above.

Ques. What is the registration fee for KEA NEET 2026 counselling?

Ans. Based on 2025 trends, the expected fee is Rs. 1,000 for General/OBC students and Rs. 750 for SC/ST students. The confirmed fee will be published in the official KEA 2026 notification at cetonline.karnataka.gov.in/kea.

Ques. How many rounds does KEA conduct for NEET counselling?

Ans. KEA typically conducts two main rounds — Round 1 and Round 2 — followed by a mop-up round for remaining vacant seats. Students not allotted a seat in earlier rounds can participate in subsequent rounds.

Ques. Can students who studied outside Karnataka apply for the Karnataka State Quota?

Ans. Domicile eligibility depends on specific KEA criteria — such as being born in Karnataka or having Karnataka-resident parents. Students who studied outside the state may still qualify under certain domicile categories. Check the official KEA 2026 notification for exact rules.