The Karnataka Examinations Authority (KEA) has opened UGNEET 2026 Round 3 fresh option entry today, September 25, 2026, from 11:00 AM, for medical and dental admissions. This is an important step for MBBS and BDS aspirants, because KEA has been clear that options entered in Round 1 and Round 2 won’t count for Round 3. In short, you’ll need to enter your preferences all over again to be considered for Round 3 seat allotment.
As per the Round 3 notification dated September 23, 2026, the fresh option entry window stays open till September 29, 2026, 11:00 AM. It’s better not to leave this for the last day, since arranging your preferences properly — and double-checking eligibility and fee conditions — takes a bit of time.
Caution deposit window and amounts
KEA has also opened a caution deposit payment window from September 24 to September 28, 2026. How much you pay determines which seat categories you’re eligible to opt for in Round 3.
Here’s the reported deposit structure:
- Medical G seats: ₹1,00,000
- Medical P seats: ₹12,00,000
- Medical N/Q seats: ₹25,00,000
- Dental seats: ₹1,00,000
Just to be clear, this is a caution deposit — not your full tuition fee. The final fee payment happens separately, after allotment, following KEA and college norms.
KEA has also indicated that candidates who are already admitted or reported at a medical/dental college, and are participating in Round 3 just for a permissible upgrade, may not need to pay the caution deposit again — subject to the Round 3 rules.
Who can — and can’t — take part in Round 3
Round 3 generally covers:
- Candidates who didn’t get any seat in Round 1 or Round 2
- Candidates who cancelled an allotted seat by paying the applicable penalty and are eligible to re-participate
- Candidates already admitted, where upgradation is allowed under KEA rules or court directions
That said, KEA has also listed some exclusions. For instance, candidates who chose Choice-4 (exit from counselling) in earlier rounds are usually not eligible for Round 3. Since eligibility can depend on your exact actions and status in Round 1/2, it’s worth checking the official notification for your specific case.
A key caution for already admitted candidates
If you’re already holding a seat from Round 2 and hoping to upgrade, keep this in mind: if you get allotted a new seat in Round 3, your previous seat can get cancelled automatically. So only enter options — college, course, category — that you’re genuinely willing to join.
KEA has also warned that not reporting after a Round 3 allotment, or leaving the seat after allotment, could lead to your caution deposit being forfeited, along with other penalties, as applicable.
When will Round 3 results come out?
KEA hasn’t announced a fixed date for the Round 3 allotment result yet. According to the notification, KEA’s Round 3 result will come out after the MCC NEET UG Round 3 results, so if you’re participating in both counsellings, keep an eye on both timelines.
What to do today
- Log in to the KEA counselling portal and enter your options fresh — don’t assume your old ones will carry forward
- Pay the caution deposit within September 24–28, if it applies to you
- Arrange your options in your true order of preference, since priority matters in allotment
- Avoid adding “backup” choices you don’t actually intend to join, since that can lead to financial penalties