Karnataka NEET PG Round 1 Counselling Dates Out: Schedule

Karnataka NEET PG Round 1 Counselling Dates have been officially released by the Karnataka Examinations Authority (KEA) for medical graduates seeking MD, MS, and PG Diploma admission. The online registration portal is live at cetonline.karnataka.gov.in from October 5, 2026, to October 15, 2026. Offline document verification at the KEA Bangalore office starts on October 8, 2026. If you qualified in NEET PG 2026, you can now register, verify your documents, and take part in the state seat allotment process.

Karnataka NEET PG Round 1 Counselling Dates Out: KEA PGET Schedule

Every year, thousands of doctors across India participate in Karnataka state counselling. Karnataka is one of the most popular states for postgraduate medical education because it has top-ranked government medical colleges and reputed private medical institutes open to candidates from all states. To help you plan your admission steps without any stress, we have explained the full schedule, eligibility rules, document checklist, and option entry process below.

Karnataka NEET PG Round 1 Counselling Dates and Official Schedule

The Karnataka Examinations Authority has announced the official calendar for the first phase of medical PG admissions. You must complete your registration and pay the required fee before the deadline. Here are the confirmed Karnataka NEET PG Round 1 Counselling Dates and event details.

Counselling Event	Official Dates	Status / Action Required
Online Registration and Fee Payment Start Date	October 5, 2026	Active (Online on KEA portal)
Last Date to Complete Online Registration (Without Late Fee)	October 15, 2026	Active (Closes at midnight)
Offline Document Verification at KEA Bangalore	Starts from October 8, 2026	In-person verification as per rank schedule
Release of Verified Seat Matrix	To be announced officially	Expected after document verification
Round 1 Option Entry (Choice Filling) Window	To be announced officially	Online entry using Secret Key
Round 1 Mock Allotment Result	To be announced officially	Trial allotment to check seat chances
Round 1 Final Seat Allotment Result	To be announced officially	Final allotment list publication
Choice Selection, Fee Payment, and College Reporting	To be announced officially	Reporting with original documents

Note: If you want to check which clinical or non-clinical branch matches your NEET PG rank and budget across Karnataka and All India Quota, use the All India College Predictor Hub. You can also Book a Free Admission Counselling Session with our senior admission mentors for step-by-step guidance.

Who is Eligible for Karnataka NEET PG Round 1 Counselling?

Understanding candidate eligibility is important before registering under the Karnataka NEET PG Round 1 Counselling Dates. KEA divides medical seats into four distinct categories:

Government Seats (G Quota): These seats are reserved strictly for Karnataka domicile candidates who completed their MBBS in Karnataka or meet state domicile clauses (Clause A to O). They have the lowest tuition fees.
Private / Open Seats (P Quota): These seats in private medical colleges are open to all eligible Indian citizens on merit basis, regardless of state domicile.
Management Seats (Q Quota): These are institutional quota seats in private colleges open to candidates from across India.
NRI Seats (N Quota): Reserved for Non-Resident Indian candidates, Overseas Citizens of India (OCI), and NRI-sponsored candidates.

To participate, you must satisfy these basic criteria:

You must have qualified NEET PG 2026 by scoring at or above the qualifying cut-off percentile declared by NBEMS.
You must hold an MBBS degree or a provisional passing certificate recognized by the National Medical Commission (NMC).
You must have completed your compulsory 1-year rotatory internship on or before the cut-off date set by NMC.
You must hold permanent or provisional registration with the NMC or any State Medical Council.

Step-by-Step Registration Process for KEA NEET PG Round 1

Following the announced Karnataka NEET PG Round 1 Counselling Dates, here is how candidates must apply online:

Portal Access: Visit the official website at cetonline.karnataka.gov.in and click on the PGET 2026 Medical Admission link.
Registration & Login Creation: Enter your NEET PG testing ID, roll number, name, and date of birth. Create a secure password.
Fill Application Details: Fill in your personal details, MBBS college details, internship completion date, and state medical council registration number.
Upload Required Files: Upload your passport photograph, signature, and left thumb impression according to the specified file size guidelines.
Application Fee Payment: Pay the non-refundable registration fee online via net banking, debit card, or credit card.
Print Confirmation Page: Download and save multiple copies of your filled application form for the verification round.

Offline Document Verification and Secret Key Collection

Unlike many other states where verification happens entirely online, KEA conducts physical document verification in Bangalore for Karnataka candidates, and releases specific guidelines for non-domicile candidates. Missing your scheduled date under the Karnataka NEET PG Round 1 Counselling Dates can result in losing your seat eligibility.

When you complete document verification at the KEA center, the officials will issue a Verification Slip. This slip contains your unique Secret Key. You need this secret key to log in for option entry, select college preferences, and lock your choices.

Mandatory Documents Checklist

Keep the original certificates and two sets of self-attested photocopies ready for verification:

NEET PG 2026 Admit Card and Official Scorecard
KEA PGET 2026 Online Application Form Confirmation Page
Class 10 / SSLC Marks Card (as proof of date of birth)
MBBS 1st, 2nd, and 3rd (Part I & II) Professional Mark Sheets
MBBS Degree Certificate or Provisional Degree Certificate
Compulsory Rotatory Residential Internship (CRRI) Completion Certificate
Permanent or Provisional Medical Registration Certificate from NMC / State Medical Council
Karnataka Domicile / Study Certificate (for candidates claiming Karnataka Quota seats)
Caste and Income Certificate (for SC, ST, Category-1, 2A, 2B, 3A, 3B if applicable)
Valid Government Photo Identity Proof (Aadhaar Card, PAN Card, or Passport)

Option Entry and Choice Filling Strategy for Round 1

Once KEA publishes the seat matrix after the initial Karnataka NEET PG Round 1 Counselling Dates registration phase, the option entry portal opens. Choice filling in KEA is a single-window process where you can add as many college and course combinations as you wish.

Here is how you should organize your preference list:

Priority Order: Always list your dream colleges and top clinical branches at the very top, regardless of rank.
Check College Fees: Carefully verify the annual tuition fee of private colleges under ‘P’ and ‘Q’ quotas before adding them to your list.
Seat Matrix Study: Compare the category-wise seat distribution across government medical colleges (such as BMCRI Bangalore, MMCRI Mysore, and KIMS Hubballi) and top private institutions (such as MS Ramaiah, St. John’s, and Father Muller).
Locking Options: Ensure you save your entered choices before the closing window. Unlocked choices are automatically submitted when the deadline ends.

Understanding Round 1 Post-Allotment Choices (Choice 1 to Choice 4)

When KEA announces the seat allotment result under the Karnataka NEET PG Round 1 Counselling Dates, candidates who receive a seat must choose one of four options:

Allotment Choice	Meaning and Action	Impact on Further Rounds
Choice 1	Candidate is fully satisfied with the allotted seat, pays tuition fee, downloads admission order, and reports to college.	Exits counselling. Not eligible for subsequent rounds.
Choice 2	Candidate is satisfied with the seat but wishes to participate in Round 2 for higher college options.	Current seat remains booked while candidate competes for higher preferences in Round 2.
Choice 3	Candidate is not satisfied with the allotted seat, rejects the current seat, and participates in Round 2.	Allotted seat is surrendered back to seat pool; candidate participates in Round 2.
Choice 4	Candidate is not satisfied, rejects the seat, and chooses to exit Karnataka state counselling.	Exits Karnataka counselling completely. Not eligible for further rounds.

Key Mistakes to Avoid During Karnataka NEET PG Round 1

Doctors often face confusion during state counselling. Keeping track of the Karnataka NEET PG Round 1 Counselling Dates and avoiding these common errors will protect your admission:

Missing Document Verification: Failing to attend physical verification means you will not receive a Secret Key, making option entry impossible.
Not Checking Bond Conditions: Karnataka government medical colleges require mandatory government service (compulsory rural bond) as per state health department rules. Review bond conditions before finalizing choices.
Ignoring Fee Structures: Private college fees vary widely between government quota, private quota, and management quota. Make sure your financial planning aligns with the selected options.
Careless Choice Filling: Never add a branch or college you are not willing to join. If allotted under Choice 1 or Choice 2, you may face financial or seat forfeiture penalties if you do not follow rules.

For detailed rank analysis and college options tailored to your category and budget, explore the All India College Predictor Hub or Book a Free Admission Counselling Session with our experts.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Karnataka NEET PG Round 1 Counselling Dates

Q1: When did Karnataka NEET PG 2026 Round 1 registration start?

Answer: The online registration started on October 5, 2026, on the official KEA portal at cetonline.karnataka.gov.in.

Q2: What is the last date to register for Karnataka NEET PG Round 1 counselling?

Answer: The last date to complete online registration and fee payment without a late fee is October 15, 2026.

Q3: Can non-Karnataka candidates apply for Karnataka NEET PG counselling?

Answer: Yes. Non-Karnataka candidates who qualified in NEET PG 2026 can apply for Private (P Quota), Management (Q Quota), and NRI (N Quota) seats in private medical colleges across Karnataka.

Q4: Where will document verification take place for Karnataka NEET PG?

Answer: Offline document verification is conducted at the KEA Headquarters in Malleshwaram, Bangalore, starting from October 8, 2026.

Q5: What is the KEA Secret Key and why is it required?

Answer: The Secret Key is a unique security code printed on your Document Verification Slip after successful document verification. You must enter this key on the KEA website to unlock option entry and fill your college choices.

Q6: What happens if I choose Choice 2 in Round 1 seat allotment?

Answer: Choice 2 allows you to hold your Round 1 allotted seat safely while participating in Round 2 to try for higher college preferences. If you get upgraded in Round 2, your Round 1 seat is released to another candidate.

Sources Checked and Editorial Verification

Update Policy: This page will be revised immediately when the counselling authority publishes a new official notification or revised schedule.