📌 Note: Exact 2026 KEA PG counselling dates (registration, option entry, seat allotment rounds) depend on when NEET-PG results are declared nationally by NBEMS. Always cross-check the live schedule on the official KEA portal → — call us for the current status any time.
General Process Sequence — NEET PG → KEA PG Counselling
| Stage | Typical Timing (indicative) |
|---|---|
| NEET-PG exam (conducted by NBEMS) | Once a year — exact 2026 date per NBEMS calendar |
| NEET-PG result declaration | A few weeks after the exam |
| MCC registration (AIQ / deemed / central institutes) | Opens shortly after result declaration |
| KEA PG (state-quota) registration opens | Usually follows the same broad window as MCC |
| Document verification & seat matrix publication | After registration closes |
| Option entry (choice filling) | Once seat matrix is published |
| Round 1 / Round 2 / Round 3 / Mop-up / Stray vacancy | Spread across several weeks — exact dates per KEA notification* |
📌 Exact 2026 dates (marked *) are notified by KEA once NEET-PG results are declared — always verify the latest schedule on the KEA portal → | Free counselling: +91 63666 14585
Important Resources
About NEET PG & KEA PG Counselling
NEET-PG is the national entrance exam for postgraduate medical courses (MD/MS/Diploma), conducted by the National Board of Examinations in Medical Sciences (NBEMS). In Karnataka, state-quota MD/MS/Diploma seats are then allotted by the Karnataka Examinations Authority (KEA) based on a candidate's NEET-PG rank.
Unlike UG NEET counselling (which mostly runs through KEA for Karnataka state-quota MBBS/BDS seats), PG medical counselling in India is split differently: 50% of government college PG seats go through MCC's All India Quota counselling nationally, while the remaining 50% of government seats, plus most private/deemed management and NRI quota seats, go through state-level counselling — KEA, for Karnataka.
NEET-PG / KEA PG counselling determines admission to:
- MD — Doctor of Medicine (non-surgical/clinical specialties, 3 years)
- MS — Master of Surgery (surgical specialties, 3 years)
- PG Diploma — 2-year postgraduate diploma courses in select specialties
MCC vs KEA — Which One Applies to You?
MCC (Medical Counselling Committee) conducts All India Quota (50% of government seats), deemed-university and central-institute (AIIMS/JIPMER via INI-CET) NEET-PG counselling nationally. KEA, covered on this page, conducts Karnataka state-quota PG medical counselling separately — the remaining 50% of government seats, plus private/deemed college management and NRI quota seats within the state. Which one applies to you depends on your seat category and the specific college you're targeting — many Karnataka PG aspirants track both processes in parallel.
Eligibility Criteria
- Qualifying exam: A valid NEET-PG rank/scorecard issued by NBEMS.
- Educational qualification: A recognised MBBS degree with completed compulsory rotating internship.
- Registration: Permanent or provisional registration with the NMC or a State Medical Council.
- Reservation categories: SC/ST/OBC/EWS/PwD relaxations apply as per Karnataka government and NEET-PG norms.
NEET PG / KEA PG Counselling & Seat Allotment Process
KEA PG counselling follows a structure similar to UG NEET counselling, on its own schedule once NEET-PG results are declared:
| Stage | What Happens |
|---|---|
| 1. Registration | Register separately on the KEA PG counselling portal for Karnataka state-quota MD/MS/Diploma seats. |
| 2. Document Verification | Upload/submit NEET-PG scorecard, MBBS degree, internship completion certificate, NMC/SMC registration and other certificates. |
| 3. Option Entry | Log in to the KEA portal and rank preferred colleges/specialties in order of preference once the seat matrix is published. |
| 4. Seat Allotment | KEA publishes round-wise seat allotment based on NEET-PG rank, category and submitted choices. |
| 5. Reporting & Fee Payment | Allotted candidates report to the college and pay fees to confirm their seat within the deadline. |
| 6. Subsequent Rounds | Vacant seats carry forward to Round 2, Round 3, mop-up and stray vacancy rounds for candidates not yet allotted. |
Decide early whether you're chasing a government-quota seat (lower fees, KEA state-quota or MCC AIQ) or are open to a private/deemed college with management-quota fees — this changes which counselling(s) you should register for, and how aggressively to rank lower-probability choices.
Get Free NEET PG / KEA PG 2026 Counselling Help
Confused about MCC vs KEA, option entry, or seat matrix for MD/MS/Diploma in Karnataka? Talk to a TurtleEdu counsellor — 12+ years of Karnataka admission experience, zero charges.
Colleges & Courses Covered
KEA PG counselling covers Karnataka's participating government, deemed and private PG medical institutions across these course types:
Non-surgical/clinical specialties — Medicine, Pediatrics, OBG, Radiology, Psychiatry, Pathology and more.
Surgical specialties — General Surgery, Orthopaedics, ENT, Ophthalmology and more.
2-year diploma courses in select specialties at participating colleges.
Related Karnataka Admission Guides
UGNEET Karnataka 2026
MBBS/BDS/AYUSH counselling via KEA, shared registration process
View Guide →Let's Plan Your PG MBBS (MD/MS) Admission Together
Free NEET-PG option-entry & seat-matrix guidance — built around your rank and specialty goal.
Official Resources & Related Reading
Verified official portals, related Karnataka admission guides, and college pages curated by TurtleEdu Bangalore.
Official Portals
Recommended Reading
For free 1-on-1 NEET PG / PG MBBS admission counselling in Bangalore & Karnataka call +91 63666 14585 or WhatsApp our team — trusted by 50,000+ Karnataka students since 2013.
