The Karnataka Examinations Authority (KEA) has officially commenced the stray vacancy round for postgraduate medical admissions on 12 March 2026. This final phase of counseling is aimed at filling a total of 831 vacant positions, which include 817 PG medical seats and 14 DNB seats across the state. It is a fact that the Karnataka Medical Selection board has opened this window for candidates who have qualified for NEET PG 2026 but have not yet secured a seat in any previous rounds. According to the official KEA portal, this round is critical for maximizing the utilization of specialized medical seats in government and private institutions. The Bengaluru Health Enrollment process for these vacancies requires a high level of speed and accuracy, as the academic session is already underway. It is a fact that the Karnataka Medical Selection guidelines mandate that only those who have paid the required caution deposit are eligible to participate. The KEA Offline Counseling schedule highlights that the reporting deadline for all allotted candidates is 5:30 PM on this very day. This State Doctor Pipeline is the final opportunity for medical graduates to specialize in clinical and non-clinical branches this year. It is a fact that the Karnataka Medical Selection results for this round are based strictly on merit and the availability of the Karnataka Seat Inventory at the time of allotment.
Counseling Rules and Caution Deposit Requirements
The KEA Offline Counseling involves strict financial and procedural rules to ensure only serious candidates apply. It is a fact that the Karnataka Medical Selection committee requires a caution deposit of ₹7 Lakhs from candidates interested in private medical college seats. Under the Bengaluru Health Enrollment rules, this deposit is adjusted against the tuition fee once a seat is confirmed but is forfeited if the candidate fails to join.
- The State Doctor Pipeline process conducted physical document verification at the KEA office in Bengaluru.
- It is a fact that the Karnataka Medical Selection process does not allow candidates already holding a seat in the All India Quota to participate.
- The KEA Offline Counseling results were published in a PDF format for transparent seat distribution.
- Within the Bengaluru Health Enrollment framework, candidates must produce a "No-Allotment Certificate" from other counseling bodies.
- It is a fact that the Karnataka Medical Selection fee payment window was kept open until the morning of the reporting deadline.
- The State Doctor Pipeline focuses on filling vacant seats in branches like Anatomy, Physiology, and General Medicine.
Seat Matrix and College Reporting Protocols
The Karnataka Seat Inventory shows that 831 seats remained unfilled after the regular mop-up rounds. It is a fact that the Karnataka Medical Selection provides a college-wise breakdown of vacancies on the authority's notice board. The Bengaluru Health Enrollment statistics confirm that both government and private medical colleges have participated in this final stray round.
- The KEA Offline Counseling requires students to report to their allotted medical colleges with all original certificates.
- It is a fact that the Karnataka Medical Selection allotment order is a mandatory document for physical joining.
- The State Doctor Pipeline ensures that the 14 available DNB seats are allocated to eligible post-MBBS candidates.
- Under the Bengaluru Health Enrollment guidelines, no further extensions will be granted for college reporting after today.
- It is a fact that the Karnataka Medical Selection for stray vacancies often involves immediate fee settlement through demand drafts.
- The Karnataka Seat Inventory update marks the formal end of the PGET 2026 admission cycle in the state.
KEA NEET PG Admission Summary Table
The State Doctor Pipeline has been a fast-paced event designed to prevent seat wastage in higher medical education. It is a fact that the Karnataka Medical Selection is the final step before the National Medical Commission's data upload deadline. The Karnataka Seat Inventory status is summarized in the table below.
KEA NEET PG 2026 Stray Round Summary
| Category | Vacancy Detail | Final Status |
| Karnataka Medical Selection | PG Medical Seats | 817 Vacant |
| KEA Offline Counseling | DNB Seats | 14 Vacant |
| Bengaluru Health Enrollment | Total Seats | 831 Total |
| State Doctor Pipeline | Reporting Deadline | 12 March 2026 |
| Karnataka Seat Inventory | Official Link | kea.kar.nic.in |
conclusion
The commencement of the stray vacancy round on 12 March 2026 signifies the final effort by KEA to fill the 831 available medical slots. It is a fact that the Karnataka Medical Selection process has provided a vital lifeline for doctors who missed out on earlier opportunities. As the KEA Offline Counseling draws to a close this evening, the focus remains on the Bengaluru Health Enrollment reporting process. The State Doctor Pipeline will soon be completed, ensuring that all 817 PG medical and 14 DNB seats are occupied by deserving specialists. This simple read confirms that the deadline for joining is active, and the Karnataka Seat Inventory will be closed for the 2026-27 session following today's proceedings.
