Karnataka NEET PG Counselling 2026: Seats, Fees, Security Deposit, Bond & Closing Ranks
DeekshaUpdated on 02 Oct 2026, 12:59 PM IST
7 minutes read
Click to enlarge
Karnataka is one of India's largest NEET PG seat markets, thanks to its dense mix of government medical colleges, private colleges and deemed universities. The Karnataka Examinations Authority (KEA) conducts counselling for the state's 50% state quota seats, while MCC separately counsels the All India Quota share at the same colleges.
This guide covers Karnataka NEET PG counselling 2026: the government, private and deemed seat split, registration fee, security deposit, bond and seat-forfeiture rules, eligibility, and how to read closing ranks once KEA publishes them.
Karnataka NEET PG 2026 Counselling at a Glance
Table
| Particular | Detail |
|---|---|
| Conducting authority (state quota) | Karnataka Examinations Authority (KEA) |
| Conducting authority (All India Quota) | Medical Counselling Committee (MCC) |
| Qualifying exam | NEET PG 2026 (held August 30, 2026) |
| Courses covered | MD, MS, PG Diploma |
| Quota split | 50% State Quota (KEA) and 50% All India Quota (MCC) |
| Counselling mode | Fully online: registration, choice filling, document verification and seat allotment |
| Official website | cetonline.karnataka.gov.in/kea |
| 2026-27 counselling status | Awaiting KEA's formal notification, expected to follow the national NMC seat matrix released on September 29, 2026 |
2 columns · 9 rows
Karnataka NEET PG 2026 Seats: Government, Private and Deemed
Different sources currently quote slightly different totals for Karnataka's 2026-27 PG medical seats, ranging from roughly 5,900 to over 6,300, depending on when the figure was compiled and whether every private and deemed college's final intake had been confirmed at that point. Treat the figures below as indicative until KEA releases its own official seat matrix for the 2026-27 cycle.
Table
| College type | Approximate seats (indicative) | Counselling route |
|---|---|---|
| Government medical colleges | Roughly 1,800 to 1,900 (across MD/MS/Diploma) | 50% KEA state quota, 50% MCC AIQ |
| Private medical colleges | Largest single share of the state total | Primarily KEA state quota rounds |
| Deemed universities | Smaller share of the state total | 100% through MCC, not KEA |
| Overall Karnataka NEET PG seats (MD/MS/PG Diploma) | Roughly 5,900 to 6,300, subject to confirmation | Combined KEA and MCC |
3 columns · 5 rows
Remember that deemed university seats in Karnataka, such as those at well-known private universities, are counselled entirely by MCC and do not appear in KEA's own state quota seat matrix, even though they are physically located in the state.
Karnataka NEET PG 2026 Counselling Fees
Table
| Category | Registration fee (non-refundable, indicative) |
|---|---|
| Karnataka General / OBC / EWS | Roughly ₹1,000 to ₹1,500 |
| Karnataka SC / ST / Category-1 / PwD | Roughly ₹500 to ₹750 |
| Deemed University candidates | Roughly ₹5,000 |
| Non-Karnataka / Open quota candidates | Higher than the in-state fee; confirm the exact amount in the current KEA brochure |
2 columns · 5 rows
KEA revises its exact registration fee figures from one counselling cycle to the next, so always confirm the current amount from the official information bulletin before making any payment.
Karnataka NEET PG 2026 Security Deposit
Table
| Category | Security deposit (refundable) |
|---|---|
| General / OBC / EWS | ₹25,000 |
| SC / ST / PwD | ₹10,000 |
| Deemed University candidates | ₹2,00,000 |
2 columns · 4 rows
The security deposit is payable only after you are allotted a seat, separately from the non-refundable registration fee, and is refunded as per KEA's rules once you complete or exit the admission process correctly.
Karnataka NEET PG Bond and Seat-Leaving Penalty Rules
- Government in-service PG seats in Karnataka typically carry a compulsory service bond, historically running to several years of government service or a substantial monetary penalty if not served, with the exact bond amount varying by seat type and course.
- Leaving a course after admission, without a valid reason accepted by KEA, usually attracts a seat-blocking or forfeiture penalty running into several lakhs of rupees, again varying by seat category and round.
- Bond and penalty amounts differ for government seats versus private and deemed seats, and are revised periodically, so always read the specific undertaking or bond form for the current counselling cycle before accepting a seat.
- Candidates who do not report after allotment, or who fail document verification without a valid reason, risk losing their security deposit and facing further restrictions on future rounds.
Bond and forfeiture figures published by third-party sources vary, with some citing penalty amounts in the range of several lakh rupees for leaving a seat and much higher figures for breaking an in-service government bond. Treat any specific number you see online as indicative only, and rely on the signed undertaking or bond document issued by KEA at the time of admission for the figure that actually applies to you.
Karnataka NEET PG 2026 Eligibility
- You must have a valid NEET PG 2026 score and rank, meeting the qualifying percentile for your category.
- State quota eligibility in Karnataka generally depends on satisfying the state's domicile or local-candidate conditions, such as having completed your MBBS from a Karnataka institution or meeting the residency criteria defined by KEA.
- Reservation benefits for SC, ST, OBC (Karnataka categories), EWS, PwBD and other applicable groups follow Karnataka's own reservation policy during state quota counselling.
- Non-Karnataka candidates may be eligible only for a limited open category or private/deemed seats, subject to the specific year's KEA eligibility rules.
- Deemed university candidates must separately meet MCC's eligibility conditions, since these seats are not part of KEA's state quota process.
Documents Required for Karnataka NEET PG Counselling
- NEET PG 2026 admit card and scorecard
- MBBS degree certificate and internship completion certificate
- Karnataka domicile or residency proof, where applicable
- Medical council registration certificate
- Category certificate (SC/ST/OBC/EWS/PwBD), where applicable
- Valid photo identity proof
- Counselling registration fee and security deposit payment receipts
- Passport-size photographs as specified in the KEA information bulletin
How Karnataka NEET PG Counselling Works
- Register on the official KEA counselling portal once the Karnataka NEET PG 2026 notification is released.
- Pay the registration fee and upload the required documents for verification.
- Complete the online choice filling step, listing your preferred college and course combinations in order.
- Lock your choices before the deadline; MCC-style auto-locking rules may also apply depending on the round.
- Check the seat allotment result for your round and report to the allotted institution within the notified window if you wish to accept the seat.
- Pay the security deposit after allotment, and complete document verification and admission formalities at the college.
- Track subsequent rounds, including Round 2, mop-up and stray vacancy rounds, if you are not allotted a seat or wish to upgrade.
Understanding Karnataka NEET PG Closing Ranks
The closing rank for a college and course combination is the rank of the last candidate allotted that seat in a particular round. It depends on the total number of seats, the number of candidates competing in that category, and how many candidates upgrade or withdraw between rounds, which is why closing ranks typically loosen with each successive round.
- Government college seats and popular clinical branches generally close at tighter, more competitive ranks than private or deemed seats in the same specialty.
- Closing ranks for the exact same course can differ sharply between a government college and a private or deemed college, mainly due to the large fee difference.
- Round 1 closing ranks are usually tighter than Round 2, mop-up or stray vacancy round closing ranks, as seats vacated by upgrading candidates open up further down the merit list.
- Category-wise closing ranks (General, OBC, SC, ST, EWS, PwBD) are published separately for every college and course after each round.
Since Karnataka NEET PG 2026 counselling dates have not been formally notified yet, round-wise closing rank data for this cycle does not exist at the time of writing. Closing ranks become available only after KEA publishes each round's seat allotment result, so check the official KEA portal or a live NEET PG predictor tool once the 2026-27 counselling rounds actually begin.
A closing rank from a previous year is a reference point, not a guarantee. Seat matrix changes, new colleges, and shifts in how many candidates register each year can move closing ranks meaningfully from one cycle to the next.
Useful Links & Official Resources
Topics:
Share this article
Copy
Frequently Asked Questions
Who conducts Karnataka NEET PG 2026 counselling?
The Karnataka Examinations Authority (KEA) conducts counselling for Karnataka's 50% state quota NEET PG seats. The remaining 50% All India Quota seats at the same government colleges, along with 100% of deemed university seats in the state, are counselled separately by MCC.
How many PG medical seats are there in Karnataka for 2026-27?
Estimates currently place Karnataka's total NEET PG (MD/MS/PG Diploma) seats across government, private and deemed colleges at roughly 5,900 to 6,300, though the exact figure will be confirmed once KEA releases its official 2026-27 seat matrix.
What is the security deposit for Karnataka NEET PG counselling?
The security deposit is typically ₹25,000 for General/OBC/EWS candidates, ₹10,000 for SC/ST/PwD candidates, and ₹2,00,000 for deemed university candidates, payable after seat allotment and refundable as per KEA's rules.
What is the registration fee for Karnataka NEET PG counselling 2026?
Registration fees are typically in the range of ₹1,000 to ₹1,500 for General/OBC/EWS candidates, ₹500 to ₹750 for SC/ST/Category-1/PwD candidates, and around ₹5,000 for deemed university candidates, though the exact figure can change each year and should be confirmed from the current KEA brochure.
Is there a bond for Karnataka government PG medical seats?
Yes. Government in-service PG seats in Karnataka generally carry a compulsory service bond, with a monetary penalty if the service period is not completed. The exact bond duration and penalty amount vary by seat type and course and are specified in the signed bond undertaking at the time of admission.
What happens if I leave a seat after admission in Karnataka NEET PG counselling?
Leaving a seat after admission without a valid, KEA-approved reason typically results in forfeiture of the security deposit and an additional financial penalty, with the exact amount depending on the seat category and the specific counselling round.
When will Karnataka NEET PG 2026 closing ranks be available?
Closing ranks are published round by round, only after KEA declares each round's seat allotment result. Since the 2026-27 counselling schedule has not been formally notified yet, closing ranks for this cycle are not available at this time; check the official KEA portal once counselling rounds begin.
Who is eligible for Karnataka NEET PG state quota seats?
Eligibility for state quota generally requires meeting Karnataka's domicile or local-candidate conditions, such as having completed MBBS from a Karnataka institution or satisfying the state's residency criteria, along with a valid, category-qualifying NEET PG 2026 score.