Karnataka opens special stray round for 191 vacant MBBS seats, registration from November 2
By TUF News Desk · Published 1 November 2026 · 4 min read
Fact-checked against 2+ independent sources · Editorial policy
191 undergraduate medical seats in Karnataka are still without takers after several rounds of counselling, and the Karnataka Examinations Authority (KEA) has now opened one more route to fill them. A special stray vacancy round will start with fresh registration on November 2, 2026. The round follows the Medical Counselling Committee’s special counselling schedule, and it gives candidates who missed earlier rounds, or who are still without a medical seat, another chance to enter the process.
The most useful part of this round is that it is not limited to candidates who registered earlier. KEA executive director H Prasanna said candidates who have not registered so far can apply online and take part. Candidates who have not been allotted any medical seat so far are also eligible. A candidate who already holds a dental seat can take part too, but only for a medical seat.
Dates to mark
Fresh registration runs from November 2 to 4. Candidates who did not apply earlier should complete registration in that window, since the later steps depend on it. Advance fee payment follows from November 4 to 6. The advance fee is Rs 25 lakh for a medical seat and Rs 1 lakh for a dental seat, so candidates should have the payment ready before that window opens rather than discovering the amount at the last minute.
Fresh option entry runs from November 6 to 9. This is where candidates list their preferred colleges and courses in order, and the order matters because allotment follows the preferences entered. The seat allotment result is scheduled for November 11 at 1 pm. Candidates who get a seat must then pay the remaining fees and complete admission formalities at the allotted college by November 13.
Registration and counselling updates are published on the official KEA portal. Candidates should check the portal itself for the seat matrix and any notice KEA issues during the round, since a schedule announced in the press can still change through a corrigendum.
Why this round exists
The 191 seats are the ones left over after multiple counselling rounds for the 2026 academic year. We reported earlier on the 191 MBBS seats that stayed vacant in Karnataka after those rounds. A stray vacancy round is the usual last stage for seats that remain after the main rounds, and a special round becomes possible when the national counselling body issues a fresh schedule that states can follow.
For candidates, the practical point is simple. A seat in this round still carries the same admission steps as any other round: fee payment, document verification, and reporting to the college within the deadline. The admission documents checklist is worth working through before November 11, because an allotment on that date leaves only two days to finish formalities by November 13.
Candidates who are still deciding between colleges should weigh the fee and location honestly before entering options from November 6. An option entered in this round is a preference for a real seat, and the advance fee already paid shows the commitment that follows an allotment.
Frequently asked questions
When does registration open for the Karnataka special stray vacancy round?
Fresh registration runs from November 2 to 4, 2026, on the KEA portal. The round is open to candidates who have not registered so far, as well as candidates who have not been allotted a medical seat yet.
When will the Karnataka special stray vacancy allotment result be announced?
The seat allotment result is scheduled for November 11, 2026, at 1 pm. Allotted candidates must pay the remaining fees and complete admission formalities at their colleges by November 13.
How much advance fee must candidates pay in this round?
The advance fee is Rs 25 lakh for medical seats and Rs 1 lakh for dental seats, payable between November 4 and 6, 2026.
Can a candidate who already holds a dental seat take part?
Yes, but only for medical seats. Candidates allotted a dental seat cannot use this round to seek another dental seat.
Frequently asked questions
When does registration open for the Karnataka special stray vacancy round?
Fresh registration runs from November 2 to 4, 2026, on the KEA portal. The round is open to candidates who have not registered so far, as well as candidates who have not been allotted a medical seat yet.
When will the Karnataka special stray vacancy allotment result be announced?
The seat allotment result is scheduled for November 11, 2026, at 1 pm. Allotted candidates must pay the remaining fees and complete admission formalities at their colleges by November 13.
How much advance fee must candidates pay in this round?
The advance fee is Rs 25 lakh for medical seats and Rs 1 lakh for dental seats, payable between November 4 and 6, 2026.
Can a candidate who already holds a dental seat take part?
Yes, but only for medical seats. Candidates allotted a dental seat cannot use this round to seek another dental seat.
Sources: The Times of India, Deccan Herald