191 Medical Seats, One Last Chance: KEA Opens Special Stray Round, Register Nov 2-4
191 medical seats in Karnataka are still without students, and the Karnataka Examinations Authority (KEA) has opened one more round to fill them. Fresh registration starts on November 2, and the allotment result comes out on November 11.
KEA announced the special stray vacancy round on November 1, a day after the Medical Counselling Committee (MCC) announced its own special counselling schedule. The round covers undergraduate medical seats that stayed vacant even after several earlier rounds. For students who missed a seat so far, this is a fresh window, not a repeat of an old one. New candidates can register, and candidates who never got a medical seat can try again.
Why 191 seats are still empty after so many rounds
The number is striking because Karnataka usually fills its medical seats. Reports from last week said seven rounds of counselling had already taken place, and this was the first time in five years that medical seats stayed vacant at the end of the process. After the second stray vacancy round, 273 medical seats were still open. Two more allotment rounds on one day filled 84 of them, which left 191 seats with no takers. All dental seats, by contrast, are full.
KEA Executive Director H Prasanna confirmed the shape of the round in statements reported on November 1. He said candidates who have not registered so far will also be allowed to apply online and take part, and candidates who have not been allotted a medical seat are also eligible. Students who already hold a dental seat are not shut out, but they can take part only for medical seats.
“Candidates who have not registered so far will also be allowed to apply online and participate in this round.”
KEA special stray vacancy round: full schedule
The dates below come from the schedule KEA announced. Each step opens the door to the next one, so missing registration means missing the whole round.
- November 2 to 4: Fresh registration for candidates who have not applied earlier.
- November 4 to 6: Payment of advance fees, Rs 25 lakh for medical seats and Rs 1 lakh for dental seats.
- November 6 to 9: Fresh option entry, where candidates pick their college and course choices in order of preference.
- November 11, 1 pm: Seat allotment result announced.
- By November 13: Candidates who get a seat must pay the remaining fees and complete admission formalities at the allotted college.
One detail in this schedule catches many students out. Option entry is fresh. Choices filled in an earlier round do not carry over, so every candidate in this round must enter options again between November 6 and 9, even if they filled choices before.
How to take part, step by step
Start on the official KEA portal. Candidates should apply on the official KEA portal and avoid third-party sites that ask for login details or money.
- Register online between November 2 and 4 if you have not registered with KEA earlier. Candidates already registered with no medical seat can move straight to the next steps.
- Pay the advance fee between November 4 and 6: Rs 25 lakh for a medical seat, Rs 1 lakh for a dental seat.
- Enter fresh options between November 6 and 9, listing colleges in your true order of preference.
- Check the allotment result on November 11 at 1 pm on the KEA portal.
- If you get a seat, pay the remaining fees and report to the college with your documents by November 13.
Students tracking Karnataka admissions will see a familiar pattern here. In the Karnataka PGCET 2026 extended round old options also did not count, and in the UP NEET UG Round 3 merit list process, choice filling on time decided who stayed in the race.
What to check before you pay the advance fee
Rs 25 lakh is a large sum, and it is only the advance. Before paying, check the fee structure of the colleges on your option list, and whether you can arrange the remaining fee by November 13. A seat in this round comes with a short reporting deadline, and candidates who cannot finish the formalities in time risk losing it.
Also check your documents now, not on November 11. Keep your NEET UG scorecard, identity proof, and academic certificates ready. Colleges verify documents at reporting, and a missing paper can delay admission past the deadline. Read the KEA notice on the official portal before you register.
Frequently asked questions
When does fresh registration open for the KEA special stray vacancy round?
November 2 to 4, 2026, for candidates who have not registered with KEA so far.
Who can take part in this KEA stray round?
Candidates who have not been allotted a medical seat so far, and candidates who have not registered earlier. Dental seat holders can apply only for medical seats.
When will the KEA special stray vacancy allotment result come out?
November 11, 2026, at 1 pm. Seat holders must pay the remaining fees and finish admission by November 13.
How much advance fee must be paid in this round?
Rs 25 lakh for a medical seat and Rs 1 lakh for a dental seat, payable between November 4 and 6, 2026.
Frequently Asked Questions
When does fresh registration open for the KEA special stray vacancy round?
November 2 to 4, 2026. Candidates who have not registered with KEA so far can apply online in this window and take part in the round.
Who can take part in this KEA stray round?
Candidates who have not been allotted a medical seat so far, and candidates who have not registered earlier. Candidates who already hold a dental seat can apply, but only for medical seats.
When will the KEA special stray vacancy allotment result come out?
November 11, 2026, at 1 pm. Candidates who get a seat must pay the remaining fees and finish admission formalities at the college by November 13.
How much advance fee must be paid in this round?
Rs 25 lakh for a medical seat and Rs 1 lakh for a dental seat, payable between November 4 and 6, 2026.
