Bengaluru, 25 August 2026: Karnataka Examinations Authority (KEA) has announced important updates for candidates participating in the 2026 counselling process for engineering and other professional courses, as well as medical and dental admissions.
KEA Executive Director H. Prasanna said the final seat-allotment result for the second round of UGCET-2026 counselling has been published, while the provisional first-round allotment result for UGNEET-26 medical and dental courses has also been released.
Speaking to the KEA Vikasana YouTube channel, Prasanna explained the next steps candidates must take after the latest allotments.
Engineering and other courses: admission by August 28
Prasanna said candidates allotted seats in engineering, veterinary, agriculture-related, nursing and other courses covered by the CET counselling must complete their admission within the stipulated period.
Candidates allotted seats in these courses will have the relevant choices available through the KEA system. Those accepting their allotted seat must complete the admission process at the respective college, while candidates opting to exit the counselling process must follow the applicable exit option.
KEA has provided August 25 to August 28 for candidates to complete admissions in these courses.
Prasanna said the shortened timeline was necessary because the counselling process has to be completed within the prescribed schedule and KEA needs to conduct another round for the remaining courses.
Medical, dental candidates get free-exit option
A key decision announced by KEA concerns candidates who have received seats through both KEA and the Medical Counselling Committee (MCC). Candidates who have secured a medical or dental seat through MCC and wish to take that seat instead of the KEA-allotted seat can opt for free exit from KEA counselling. Free-exit facility will be available on August 25 and 26, Prasanna said.
He particularly appealed to candidates who have received the same government medical college through both KEA and MCC to choose the MCC allotment rather than retaining a duplicate allotment under KEA. “This is not a compulsion. It is a request to meritorious students who have received the same college through both systems,” he said.
Vacated medical and dental seats may be re-allotted
Prasanna said KEA plans to re-run the medical and dental allotment process after candidates who have secured seats through MCC exit from the KEA process.
He explained that if around 100 to 200 candidates leave KEA after receiving seats through MCC, the seats vacated by them could be included in a fresh run of the allotment.
He said the process could take around four days and would be carried out without affecting candidates participating in the next round of counselling for other professional courses.
Engineering candidates need not panic
Prasanna also addressed students who may be worried about taking an engineering seat while waiting for a possible upgrade to another course such as veterinary science. He said seats vacated by students who move to another course would be included in the subsequent round wherever applicable.
KEA will publish the seat matrix before the next round, indicating the seats available in different courses, he said. He cautioned candidates, however, to understand the consequences of automatic cancellation during subsequent rounds before entering or changing options.
NRI candidates must follow payment rules
Prasanna also reminded NRI candidates about the rules governing sponsorship and fee payment. Candidates claiming NRI status must ensure that the sponsor fulfils the prescribed requirements and that the fee is paid through the permitted account. A mere sponsorship declaration or letter will not be sufficient if the required payment and documentation conditions are not met, he said.
Minority candidates must submit certificates
Candidates admitted under Religious Minority (RM) or Linguistic Minority (LM) categories must submit the required certificates at the time of admission.
Prasanna said candidates claiming linguistic minority status must have the prescribed certificate from the headmaster and countersignature from the Block Education Officer, while the required certificate for PU-level study must be obtained from the principal and counter-signed by the Deputy Director of Pre-University Education.
Failure to submit the required documents at the time of admission could result in cancellation of the allotment and removal from the counselling process, he warned.
Rural and Kannada-medium claims also need proof
KEA has also cautioned candidates who have claimed rural quota or Kannada-medium benefits. Prasanna said these details must be supported by the required original documents or certified copies at the time of admission.
While caste and income-related information is available digitally to KEA, some rural and Kannada-medium records may require manual verification. Candidates who have incorrectly claimed such benefits based on informal advice or without the prescribed documents could lose their seats and face action, he said.
“Do not try to cheat the system. If you have genuinely studied in a rural area or Kannada medium and possess the required certificate, submit it at the time of admission,” Prasanna said.
Also Read | UGCET 2026: KEA Announces August 25-28 Admission Window
KEA asks students to prepare documents in advance
KEA has urged candidates to keep all necessary certificates and verification documents ready and complete admissions within the announced deadlines. Prasanna said candidates should not approach KEA seeking additional opportunities to change options or obtain special consideration beyond the facilities already announced.
Candidates who have secured seats through MCC and wish to leave their KEA allotment should use the free-exit facility within the specified period, while candidates continuing with CET-based courses should complete their admissions by August 28.
KEA Executive Director said the latest measures were intended to help candidates while enabling the authority to proceed with the remaining rounds of professional-course counselling within the prescribed schedule.
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KEA counselling 2026, UGCET 2026, UGNEET 2026, KEA second round allotment, MCC medical seat, KEA free exit, Karnataka CET admission