KEA UGNEET 2026 Round 3 Schedule Out: Check Important Dates, Caution Deposit Fees, and Option Entry Rules

Bengaluru.

The Karnataka Examinations Authority (KEA) has officially announced the Round 3 counselling schedule for UGNEET 2026 medical and dental admissions across Karnataka state colleges. Candidates seeking admission into vacant Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) and Bachelor of Dental Surgery (BDS) seats can now participate in this crucial third allotment round.

Round 3 aims to fill remaining seat vacancies created due to cancellations, forfeitures, or seat matrix updates following the completion of earlier rounds. With fresh option entry and mandatory caution deposit requirements in place, eligible aspirants must complete every procedure within the specified deadlines to retain their candidate status.

KEA UGNEET 2026 Round 3 Important Dates

Candidates must carefully observe the timeline outlined by the KEA to avoid missing critical registration and option entry deadlines.

Caution Deposit Requirements for Round 3

To ensure serious participation, KEA requires candidates to pay a mandatory caution deposit based on the category of seats selected during option entry:

• Medical – Government (G) Seats: ₹1 Lakh

• Medical – Private (P) Seats: ₹12 Lakh

• Medical – N/Q Categories: ₹25 Lakh

• Dental Seats (All Categories): ₹1 Lakh

Note on Caution Deposits: Candidates who have already reported to an allotted college in earlier rounds and are seeking an upgraded seat are exempt from paying the deposit again, subject to KEA regulations. Deposits made for engineering or other non-medical CET counselling streams will not be adjusted as the UGNEET Round 3 caution deposit.

Eligibility Guidelines for Participation

Who is Eligible?

1. Unallotted Candidates: Aspirants who did not secure an MBBS or BDS seat in earlier rounds.
2. Post-Penalty Formalities: Candidates who cancelled their previously allotted medical/dental seats after completing all required formalities and paying applicable penalties.
3. Upgradation Applicants: Candidates who joined a college in Round 1 or Round 2 and meet the eligibility requirements for seat upgradation.

Who is Ineligible?

• Candidates who were allotted a seat previously but failed to complete choice filling or admission formalities within prescribed deadlines.

• Candidates who selected Choice-4 during previous rounds to exit the state counselling process.

Step-by-Step Procedure for Round 3 Option Entry

All eligible candidates must complete fresh option entry for Round 3, as preferences entered during previous rounds will not automatically carry forward.

1.Check Vacancies on Official Portal:Review updated KEA seat matrix.

Visit the official KEA portal (cetonline.karnataka.gov.in) and examine the fresh seat matrix to identify vacant MBBS/BDS seats before structuring your choices.

2.Pay the Applicable Caution Deposit:Deadline: September 28, 2026.

Pay the designated caution deposit corresponding to the seat category (Government, Private, or NRI/Management) through the KEA online payment gateway.

3.Submit Fresh Option Entry:Window: Sept 25 (11 AM) – Sept 29 (11 AM).

Log into your candidate portal and enter preferred medical and dental colleges in priority order. Save and verify options before the submission deadline.

4.Monitor Allotment and Report:Strict deadline compliance required.

Track the provisional allotment results. Upon securing a seat, complete fee payment and college reporting procedures to prevent seat forfeiture or deposit penalties.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Will my options submitted in Round 1 or Round 2 carry over to Round 3?

No. Fresh option entry is compulsory for Round 3. Any choice entered in earlier rounds will not carry forward automatically.

2. What happens if I am allotted an upgraded seat in Round 3?

When a candidate receives an upgraded seat in Round 3, their previously allotted seat is automatically cancelled and reallocated to other deserving applicants.

3. What happens if a candidate fails to join the seat allotted in Round 3?

Failure to complete reporting or admission formalities after seat allotment in Round 3 may result in serious consequences, including forfeiture of the paid caution deposit as per KEA rules.

4. Where can I find more national and regional news updates?

For continuous updates on state admissions, policy announcements, and general coverage, visit Matribhumi Samachar English.

Disclaimer

This article is published for general informational and educational purposes based on the latest notification released by the Karnataka Examinations Authority (KEA). Admissions schedules, caution deposit rules, and eligibility criteria are subject to change per official KEA directives. Candidates are strongly advised to check the official KEA portal (cetonline.karnataka.gov.in) regularly for official circulars and updates.