The Karnataka Examination Authority (KEA) has announced a special counselling round for Karnataka NEET UG 2025 admissions. This round is known as the 'stray vacancy round'. It aims to fill medical and dental seats for undergraduate courses that are still empty in Karnataka colleges.
The KEA has already released the list of available seats for this stray vacancy round. A total of 74 medical and dental seats are now open for admissions. Students looking to secure a seat can find this official seat list on the KEA website: cetonline.karnataka.gov.in .
Understanding NEET UG and Counselling
NEET UG stands for National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (Undergraduate). It is a national-level entrance exam for students who want to study MBBS (medical) or BDS (dental) courses in India. After students take the NEET UG exam, they go through a process called counselling. Counselling is where students choose their preferred colleges and courses based on their exam ranks. Authorities then allot seats to students based on their rank and choices.
The KEA handles the counselling process for medical and dental colleges in Karnataka. This involves multiple rounds where seats are allotted to eligible students.
What is a Stray Vacancy Round?
Normally, there are several rounds of counselling to fill all the seats. However, even after these main rounds (like Round 1, Round 2, and Round 3), some seats might remain unfilled. These are called 'stray vacancies'. To make sure no valuable medical and dental seats go empty, a special 'stray vacancy round' is held. This round is often the last chance for many students to get admission.
The KEA has now completed the third round of admissions for UG medical and dental seats. This new stray vacancy round is specifically for those seats that were not filled during the first three main rounds of counselling.
Who Can Apply for the Stray Round?
Participation in this special stray vacancy round has specific rules. Not everyone can apply. Here are the clear eligibility criteria:
- Students must have participated in the Round 3 of KEA NEET UG counselling for the year 2025. This means they should have registered and taken part in the previous round.
- These students should not have been allotted any medical or dental seat in any of the earlier KEA counselling rounds (Round 1, 2, or 3). If a student already has a seat, they cannot apply for this round.
- If a student was allotted a seat in Round 3 but chose not to join it or did not complete their admission process before the deadline, their seat was cancelled. These cancelled seats are now part of the stray vacancy round. Students whose seats were cancelled in this way are also eligible to participate in this round.
It is important to note that if an eligible student had paid counselling fees during Round 3, these fees will generally be considered valid for the seat allotment process in this stray vacancy round. Students should check the official KEA notification for any specific fee payment instructions for this round.
Available Seats for Admission
The KEA has provided a clear breakdown of the seats available. This information helps students understand their chances in this final round.
| Category | Total Seats Available |
| Undergraduate Medical and Dental Courses | 74 |
This number represents the total vacancies across various medical and dental colleges in Karnataka that are participating in this round.
Important Dates and Next Steps
As of now, the Karnataka Examination Authority (KEA) has not yet released the detailed schedule for the NEET UG 2025 stray vacancy round counselling. The dates for registration, option entry (choosing colleges), seat allotment, and reporting to colleges will be announced soon.
Students who meet the eligibility criteria and wish to apply for these remaining seats must regularly check the official KEA website, cetonline.karnataka.gov.in . All official updates, including the complete counselling schedule, will be published there. Missing these dates can mean missing the final chance for admission.
This stray vacancy round offers a crucial final opportunity for eligible students to get admission into medical or dental courses in Karnataka for the 2025 academic year. Students should prepare all necessary documents and stay alert for the upcoming announcements from KEA.
