Bengaluru, Oct 17: Here is some good news for MBBS and BDS aspirants in Karnataka who are still without a seat. The Karnataka Examinations Authority (KEA) has extended the last date for caution deposit payment and fresh option entry in the UGNEET 2026 Stray Vacancy Round. The extension was first reported by The Times of India on October 16.
If you did not get a seat in the earlier rounds, this extended window gives you one more chance to take part.
Revised Deadlines You Should Not Miss
KEA has fixed two different cut-off times on October 19, 2026. Please do not mix them up:
- Caution deposit payment: till 11:00 AM, October 19
- Fresh option entry: till 1:00 PM, October 19
Filling choices alone is not enough. You must first pay the applicable deposit and then lock your fresh preferences on the official portal: cetonline.karnataka.gov.in/kea.
Caution Deposit: How Much Should You Pay?
The deposit you pay decides which seats you can opt for:
|
Seat Category |
Caution Deposit |
Seats You Can Opt For |
|
Medical G |
₹1,00,000 |
Medical G seats and various Dental seats |
|
Medical P |
₹12,00,117 |
Medical G, Medical P and Private University P seats |
|
Medical N/Q |
₹25,00,000 |
All types of Medical seats |
|
Dental |
₹1,00,000 |
Dental options only |
A quick clarification for parents: this is a caution deposit, not the full college tuition fee. For the P and N/Q categories, the balance fee may have to be paid after allotment. Please check your category and the final payable amount on the KEA portal before you pay.
Who Can Take Part?
- Candidates without any seat: You benefit the most. KEA has allowed seatless candidates to participate after paying the deposit.
- Already registered and verified candidates: Simply log in and check your eligibility for the Stray Round.
- Candidates holding a BDS seat: Be careful. A fresh allotment may automatically cancel your earlier admission.
Please note: The fresh registration window (October 13 to October 16) is already over. This extension is only for deposit payment and option entry, not for new registration.
How to Fill Fresh Choices in 5 Simple Steps
Old choices will not work, so everyone has to fill their choices again.
- Visit the KEA website and open the UGNEET-2026 Stray Vacancy Round link.
- Check your login and verification status, and download the verification slip if needed.
- Pay the correct deposit for the seat category you want.
- Enter colleges and courses in your true order of priority.
- Submit, and save the payment receipt and option-entry confirmation safely.
3 Tips Before You Lock Your Choices
- Plan your budget: Besides the deposit, think about the total tuition, hostel and other charges.
- More seats may appear: Some cancelled or forfeited seats may also be added to the pool for allotment.
- Do not skip reporting: If you are allotted a seat, report to the college on time. Otherwise, you may lose both the seat and the deposit.