Karnataka NEET PG 2026/2027 Counselling: KEA Registration, Document Verification at Malleswaram & Option Entry Protocol
Published 16 October 2026 · Updated 17 October 2026
Securing a postgraduate medical seat (MD, MS, Diploma, or MDS) through the Karnataka Examinations Authority (KEA) is one of the most competitive milestones in Indian medical education. Karnataka boasts over 57 recognized teaching institutions, including apex government hospitals like BMCRI Bengaluru and MMCRI Mysuru, and premier private institutions like St. John’s Medical College and M.S. Ramaiah.
However, the KEA Post Graduate Entrance Test (PGET) counselling process involves statutory regulations, in-person document verification at Malleswaram, a four-tier quota system (G, P, OPN, Q, N), and strict post-allotment choice rules under National Medical Commission (NMC) directives.
Here is the authoritative, step-by-step master guide to navigating KEA NEET PG counselling without procedural errors.
1. Understanding the Karnataka PG Medical Seat Quotas
Before entering options, every candidate must understand which seats they are legally eligible to contest:
| Quota Code | Category Name | Eligible Candidates | Tuition Fee Benchmark |
|---|---|---|---|
| ‘G’ Quota | Government Quota Seats | Karnataka Domicile (Clause A / Clause B candidates) only | ₹1,14,000/yr (GMCs) / ₹8,18,000/yr (Private) |
| ‘P’ / ‘GMP’ | Private Institutional Merit | Karnataka Domicile candidates in private minority/non-minority colleges | ₹11,50,000 – ₹12,50,000/yr |
| ‘OPN’ / ‘Q’ | Open Pan-India Quota | All Indian Doctors (No Karnataka domicile required) | ₹12,50,000 – ₹14,50,000/yr |
| ‘N’ Quota | NRI / NRI-Sponsored | Foreign citizens of Indian origin or candidates sponsored by genuine NRI blood relatives | ₹35,00,000 – ₹50,00,000/yr |
[!NOTE] Pan-India Eligibility: Doctors who completed MBBS in Maharashtra, Delhi, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Uttar Pradesh, or any other state are 100% eligible to compete for Open Private (‘OPN’) seats purely on NEET PG All India Rank (AIR) merit.
2. In-Person Document Verification at KEA Malleswaram
Unlike undergraduate CET counselling where document scrutiny is primarily automated via SATS and Nadakacheri databases, KEA NEET PG verification is strictly conducted in person at the KEA Office (18th Cross, Malleswaram, Bengaluru).
The 4-Counter Verification Procedure:
- Counter 1 — Biometrics & Attendance:
Your digital photograph and fingerprint biometrics are matched against your NBE NEET PG exam day biometric records. - Counter 2 — Academic Scrutiny:
Officers verify original MBBS marks sheets (Phase 1, 2, 3 Part I & Part II), provisional/permanent MBBS degree certificate, CRRI 365-day internship completion certificate, and State Medical Council (SMC) registration. - Counter 3 — Domicile & Category Reservation:
Scrutiny of 10-year Karnataka study certificates (must have BEO/DDPI countersignature), Nadakacheri RD numbers for Category 1, 2A, 2B, 3A, 3B, SC, ST, and Article 371(J) Kalyana Karnataka certificates. - Counter 4 — Secret Key & Verification Slip Issuance:
Upon approval, the officer prints your KEA Verification Slip. This document contains your unique Secret Key, which is required to set up your online option entry password.
[!CAUTION] Protect Your Secret Key: Treat your Secret Key like bank credentials. Anyone possessing your Secret Key and PGET application number can log into the option entry portal, delete your clinical choices, or rearrange your preferences.
3. Option Entry Strategy: How to Build Your Preference Cart
Option entry is conducted online through the candidate portal. You can enter an unlimited number of choices combining College + Specialty.
Core Strategic Principles:
- Never Order by Cutoff Ranks: Always order choices by your true genuine preference. The KEA computerized allocation algorithm evaluates your choices sequentially from Priority 1 downward.
- Group Clinical Specialties First: If your heart is set on Radiodiagnosis or General Medicine, place all top colleges for that branch before moving to secondary branches.
- Check Bed Capacities & OPD: A private college with 1,500+ beds and 3,000 daily OPD visits (e.g., St. John’s or JJM Davangere) provides substantially better clinical procedural exposure than a newly sanctioned government institute with empty wards.
4. Master the Choice 1, 2, 3 & 4 System in Round 1
When Round 1 real allotment results are declared, every candidate allotted a seat MUST select one of four statutory choices within 48–72 hours:
flowchart TD
A["KEA Round 1 Seat Allotment Declared"] --> B{"Choose Your Statutory Action"}
B -->|"Choice 1"| C["Freeze & Join: Pay full tuition fee, download Admission Order, report to college"]
B -->|"Choice 2"| D["Hold & Upgrade: Pay prescribed fee to hold seat, compete for higher options in Round 2"]
B -->|"Choice 3"| E["Reject & Re-enter: Surrender seat, participate in Round 2 for unfilled options"]
B -->|"Choice 4"| F["Quit Counselling: Surrender seat and exit KEA counselling cycle completely"]Choice 1 (“I Accept & Join”):
You are 100% satisfied. You pay the annual tuition fee through KEA online challan/RTGS, download your KEA Admission Order, and report to the college. You are permanently removed from further counselling rounds.
Choice 2 (“Hold & Upgrade”):
You are satisfied with your allotted seat, but wish to try for higher preferences in Round 2.
- Mandatory Fee Payment: You must pay the tuition fee of your allotted seat to KEA to hold it.
- Upgrade Guarantee: If a higher option is allotted in Round 2, your Round 1 seat is automatically surrendered and transferred to the next candidate. If not upgraded, your Round 1 seat remains intact.
Choice 3 (“Reject & Try Again”):
You do NOT want this seat under any circumstances, but want to compete in Round 2 for other options. You do not pay fees, but the rejected seat can never be reclaimed.
Choice 4 (“Exit”):
You reject the seat and quit KEA counselling. Use this only if you secured a preferable seat in MCC All India Quota, INI-CET, or another state.
5. Mop-Up & Stray Vacancy Round Caution Deposit Directives
To eliminate frivolous seat blocking by candidates holding seats elsewhere, KEA enforces strict financial caution deposit protocols during the Mop-Up and Stray Vacancy rounds:
- Government Quota Seats (‘G’): Demand Draft / RTGS deposit of ₹1,00,000 to ₹2,00,000.
- Private & Open Quota Seats (‘P’ & ‘OPN’): Demand Draft / RTGS deposit of ₹5,00,000 to ₹12,00,000.
- Management & NRI Seats (‘Q’ & ‘N’): Deposit up to ₹25,00,000.
If you are allotted a seat in the Stray Vacancy round and fail to join, the caution deposit is forfeited permanently, a statutory penalty is imposed, and you are barred from state counselling for two consecutive academic cycles.
Summary Checklist for KEA NEET PG Aspirants
- Verify that your CRRI internship completion date satisfies NMC requirements.
- Ensure all 10-year Karnataka schooling certificates bear the round seal and signature of the jurisdictional BEO.
- Track the physical verification schedule at KEA Malleswaram by AIR rank slots.
- Prepare the mandatory ₹100 e-stamp Compulsory 1-Year Rural Service Bond Undertaking Affidavit.
- Calculate your residency financial balance using our 3-Year NEET PG Fee & Stipend Calculator.