Karnataka Examinations Authority announces UGNEET stray vacancy round schedule

The Karnataka Examinations Authority has released the seat allotment schedule for the stray vacancy round of admissions to medical and dental courses. Eligible candidates can submit fresh applications from October 13 to 16, 2026.

Application and Options

Executive Director H. Prasanna stated that students who qualified the UGNEET exam this year but have not registered with the authority can apply now. Applicants must pay the fee, download the verification slip, pay a caution deposit, and then enter their options. Fresh option entry is open from October 16 to 19, and the caution deposit is mandatory before option entry.

Deposit Tiers and Rules

Different caution deposit amounts give access to different seat categories. A deposit of one lakh rupees allows options for government medical seats and all dental seats. A deposit of twelve lakh eleven thousand seventeen rupees permits options for both government and private seats. A twenty-five lakh rupee deposit makes candidates eligible for all seat categories. Students who fail to report to their allotted college will lose their deposit and face a penalty.

Eligibility

Participants can include students who have not received any seat through the KEA so far, as well as those holding a dental seat who want a medical seat. However, students who already received seats in the first three rounds through the All India quota, deemed universities, or other state counselling boards cannot take part.

Context

Stray vacancy rounds are conducted at the very end of medical and dental admissions to fill any seats left empty after earlier counselling rounds. State authorities like the KEA manage these final phases carefully to ensure every training seat is filled before the academic term gets fully underway.