KEA Round 1 NEET UG 2026 Choice Filling: Steps, Schedule & Last Date

 

The Karnataka Examinations Authority (KEA) is responsible for conducting the state’s NEET UG 2026 counselling process. The KEA round 1 NEET UG 2026 counselling schedule was released by the Karnataka Examinations Authority (KEA) on its official website on August 7th, 2026. Candidates must visit the official website to view the KEA round 1 NEET UG 2026 counselling schedule and also to stay updated with all the latest news & notifications. This article provides an overview of KEA round 1 NEET UG 2026 counselling, steps to complete the choice filling process, and other vital information.

Overview of KEA Round 1 NEET UG 2026 Counselling

The Karnataka Examinations Authority (KEA) conducts the state’s NEET UG 2026 counselling process for admissions to MBBS/BDS courses in medical colleges. It sets the rules & regulations and dates & deadlines for each step in the KEA NEET UG counselling 2026 process. The authority released the KEA round 1 NEET UG 2026 counselling schedule on its official website on 7th August, 2026.

 

The KEA round 1 NEET UG 2026 counselling process is the gateway for admissions to medical colleges across the state. This round is followed by round 2, round 3 (mop up round), and stray vacancy round. It is vital for candidates to complete each step in the KEA round 1 NEET UG 2026 counselling process carefully within the specified deadlines to have a chance of admission in their preferred medical colleges. 

 

 

Also Read MCC NEET UG Counselling 2026: Round 1 Choice Filling Starts

KEA Round 1 NEET UG 2026 Choice Filling Process

The choice filling for KEA round 1 NEET UG 2026 counselling commenced at 7:00 p.m. on 7th August, 2026. Candidates can view the KEA NEET UG 2026 seat matrix in medical and dental colleges to understand the opportunities across the institutes before proceeding to the choice filling process. The KEA round 1 NEET UG 2026 choice filling deadline is up to 9:00 a.m. on 13th August, 2026. Candidates must ensure to complete the KEA round 1 NEET UG 2026 choice filling and locking procedures before the deadline.

 

Also, according to the official KEA NEET UG 2026 information bulletin, the options entered for round 1 will also be considered for round 2. This means that candidates will not be able to enter any new options in the choice filled page for round 2 KEA NEET UG counselling 2026. Only if any new colleges are added after the round 1 KEA NEET UG counselling 2026 will candidates be given the opportunity to make changes to the choice filled page.

KEA Round 1 NEET UG 2026 Choice Filling Steps

Candidates must complete the KEA round 1 NEET UG 2026 choice filling process carefully and avoid any possible errors. Here are the KEA round 1 NEET UG 2026 choice filling steps to help candidates complete the choice filling process successfully:

 

• Visit the Official Website: Candidates must visit the official website to complete the KEA round 1 NEET UG 2026 choice filling process. They must not use any third-party websites to complete the KEA round 1 NEET UG 2026 choice filling process. Candidates must report such websites immediately to KEA.
  
  
• Access the Option Entry Link: After accessing the official website, candidates must click on ‘Admissions’, which is at the top left corner. They must then choose ‘UGNEET-2026 (Medical/Dental/Ayush)’ from the dropdown. After scrolling down a bit, candidates can view the online option entry link.
  
  
• Login to the Option Entry Portal: Candidates must login using the ‘QR Code’ or by entering the ‘CET Number’. They will have to authenticate the login by entering the OTP sent via SMS, WhatsApp, or email. 
  
  
• Complete the KEA Round 1 NEET UG 2026 Choice Filling Process: Candidates can then access the KEA round 1 NEET UG 2026 choice filling page. They must choose their preferred colleges and courses in the order of preference. Candidates can enter as many options as possible. They must ensure to click on ‘save’ once in a while so that the entered options are saved and not removed due to timeout. Candidates can choose to delete or reorder options even after saving.
  
  After entering all the college preferences, candidates must review the choice filled page one final time and make changes, if any. They must then lock the choices and take a printout of the KEA round 1 NEET UG 2026 choice filled page for future reference. 

Additional Points for KEA NEET UG Counselling 2026

Here are a few additional points for KEA NEET UG counselling 2026:

 

• Enter Options in the Order of Preference: It is very important for candidates to enter choices in the order of preferences. This is because the counselling authority allots seats to eligible candidates based on their top preferred colleges among other parameters.
  
  
• Adhere to the Deadlines: Strict adherence to deadlines is vital during the KEA NEET UG counselling 2026 process. Any misses in the deadlines would mean missing out on opportunities in prestigious medical colleges. 
  
  
• Stay Updated: Candidates must stay updated with all the latest news & notifications released on the official website. The dates for the stages within the KEA NEET UG counselling 2026 process are subject to change. Staying updated by checking the official website at least twice everyday will ensure that candidates do not miss out on vital deadlines in KEA NEET UG counselling 2026.

 

 

Also Read MCC NEET Counselling 2026 AIQ Dates: Rounds 1, 2, 3 & Stray Vacancy