The Commissioner for Entrance Examinations (CEE), Kerala, has officially extended the deadline for the third phase of option registration for NEET PG 2025 counseling. In a move that provides much-needed relief to thousands of doctors across the state, candidates can now register or modify their preferences for PG Medical Degree and Diploma seats until 5:00 PM on February 10, 2026. This extension also applies to the rectification of defects in uploaded documents, ensuring that no eligible candidate is excluded due to minor administrative errors.
For regular updates follow Only Education News as we track the final seat matrix releases for Kerala's medical colleges.
New Counseling Calendar: Key Dates
The extension has led to a cascade of changes in the subsequent allotment and joining dates. Candidates should update their schedules according to the revised timeline provided by CEE Kerala:
| Event | New Date/Deadline | Time |
| Option Registration Deadline | February 10, 2026 | 5:00 PM |
| Relinquishment (No Penalty) | February 10, 2026 | 5:00 PM |
| Final Revised Rank/Category List | February 11, 2026 | Morning |
| Provisional Allotment Result | February 12, 2026 | Afternoon |
| Final Allotment Result | February 13, 2026 | Evening |
| Physical Joining Period | Feb 14 – Feb 17, 2026 | 4:00 PM |
Stringent Rules for Vacating Seats
CEE Kerala has emphasized that February 10 (5:00 PM) serves as a hard cutoff for two critical actions:
- Option Entry: No fresh options or changes to existing preferences will be allowed after this time.
- Relinquishment: This is the absolute last window to vacate a seat without incurring the state-mandated penalty. Candidates who vacate their seats after this deadline will be barred from participating in the third phase and any subsequent counseling rounds for the 2025-26 academic year.
Rectification of Documents
Aspirants who were flagged for deficient documents—such as community certificates, NRI sponsorship papers, or service certificates—must utilize this extension to upload the correct versions. The final revised rank list, which will be the basis for the Round 3 allotment, is set to be published on February 11, incorporating all corrected data.
The Road Ahead: Mop-up Preparation
With the Round 3 allotment finalizing by February 13, the medical fraternity is closely watching the vacancies in top-tier clinical branches like Orthopaedics, Surgery, and OB-GYN. This extension allows candidates to strategically re-order their options based on the latest available seat matrix. For a deep-dive analysis of the "NRI Quota" document checklist and state-wise bond comparisons, follow Only Education News.