KEAM 2026 CAP Option Registration: Steps, Documents Required and Key Dates

The KEAM 2026 rank list was published on June 26, 2026, and CAP option registration opens on June 30, 2026 at cee.kerala.gov.in — students have until July 4, 2026 to submit their college and course preferences.

Every student who secured a rank in the KEAM 2026 Engineering, Pharmacy, or Architecture rank list must now register college-course preferences through the Centralised Allotment Process (CAP). The first seat allotment is expected on July 8, 2026. This article covers the exact registration steps, documents to keep ready, and the full schedule for all allotment rounds.

• Rank list published: June 26, 2026 by CEE Kerala
• CAP option registration window: June 30 to July 4, 2026
• First allotment expected: July 8, 2026
• All students in the rank list are eligible — no separate registration fee
• You can add unlimited college-course combinations and rearrange them until the deadline
• Seats are allotted strictly by rank, category eligibility, and the preference order you submit

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What is KEAM CAP and Who Can Register

The Centralised Allotment Process (CAP) is the single-window, fully online seat allotment system run by the Commissioner for Entrance Examinations (CEE), Kerala. It allocates seats across Government, Aided, and eligible Self-Financing colleges offering Engineering, Pharmacy, and Architecture programmes based on merit rank, category reservation, and the preference order submitted by each student.

Every student whose name appears in the KEAM 2026 rank list — across Engineering, Pharmacy, or Architecture streams — is automatically eligible for CAP. Students who did not appear in the rank list cannot participate. There is no additional application or fee for option registration; students log in with their KEAM credentials and submit preferences directly on the portal.

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KEAM 2026 CAP Key Dates

The schedule below reflects the dates announced by CEE Kerala. Dates from July 8 onward are expected dates based on the official announcement and may be updated on cee.kerala.gov.in.

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How to Register Options in KEAM 2026 CAP

Follow these steps to complete CAP option registration before the July 4, 2026 deadline. The portal goes live on June 30 at cee.kerala.gov.in.

1. Open the official portal: Go to cee.kerala.gov.in/keam2026 and click the CAP Option Registration link active from June 30, 2026.
2. Log in with your KEAM credentials: Enter your application number and the password you created during the KEAM 2026 application to access the CAP dashboard.
3. Verify your profile details: Check that your name, date of birth, community category, nativity status, and income details are shown correctly. Any mismatch must be resolved with CEE Kerala before you proceed.
4. Browse the college and course list: The portal displays all approved Government, Aided, and Self-Financing institutions along with available branches and seats. You can filter by district, institution type, or course name.
5. Add options in preference order: Select every college-course combination you would genuinely accept and arrange them from most preferred to least preferred. You can add as many combinations as you want — there is no cap on the number of options.
6. Use the trial allotment feature: If the portal offers a trial allotment preview (as in past years), review it to see what seat you would get at your current preference order. Rearrange your options if the result is not what you want.
7. Submit and lock your options: Click Submit to finalise your preference list. You can return and edit your options as many times as needed until July 4, 2026. After the portal closes, no changes are accepted under any circumstances.
8. Save your confirmation: Download the submitted option list and the confirmation page. Keep a screenshot as backup.

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Documents Required for KEAM 2026 CAP

You do not need to upload documents during option registration — just your login credentials are sufficient. However, keep the originals and self-attested photocopies of all the documents listed below ready for verification after seat allotment, when you report to your allotted college.

Students claiming special reservation — sports quota, differently abled, ex-servicemen dependants, or NRI quota — must also carry the relevant certificates issued by the competent authority as specified in the KEAM 2026 prospectus.

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Allotment Rounds and What Happens Next

After option registration closes on July 4, CEE Kerala processes all submissions and releases the first allotment list on or around July 8, 2026 (expected). The CAP process for KEAM 2026 is expected to have three regular allotment rounds followed by a mop-up round.

• First allotment (July 8, expected): You receive a provisional allotment memo through the portal. Pay the required tuition fee online within the specified deadline to confirm your seat.
• Higher option retention: If you accept your first-round seat and pay the fee, you automatically stay in consideration for any higher-preference option you listed. You do not need to re-register for subsequent rounds.
• Second and third allotment rounds: Seats released by non-acceptance or fee non-payment are reallocated. Students with accepted seats may be upgraded to a higher option if a seat opens up at their rank.
• Mop-up round (August, expected): Remaining vacant seats are filled in a final round. Physical document verification at a designated help centre may be required for mop-up allotments.
• College reporting: After your final allotment memo is issued, report to the allotted college within the date shown on the memo, carrying all original documents listed above.

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Tips for Filling Options Effectively

• Add every option you would accept — the algorithm picks the highest preference available at your rank. There is no penalty for listing more options.
• Put your most desired college-course combination first — the system works top-down through your preference list.
• Include both Government and Self-Financing colleges to maximise your chances, particularly if your rank falls near the closing rank of popular institutions.
• Check previous-year closing ranks as a guide — closing ranks shift every year based on applicant demand. Use 2024 and 2025 data as a reference range, not as a guarantee.
• Register options across streams if eligible — if you appear in both the Engineering and Pharmacy rank lists, add options from both.
• Submit before July 4 — the portal closes hard at the deadline and CEE Kerala has not announced any extension. Do not wait until the last hour.