Karnataka
KEA NEET UG counselling, college cutoffs, seat matrix, fees, and hospital infrastructure for the 2025 to 2026 cycle.
Karnataka KEA counselling.
Karnataka MBBS and BDS counselling is conducted by KEA, the Karnataka Examinations Authority, through Centralised Allotment Process (CAP). KEA allocates 85% state quota seats across all Government Medical Colleges, Private (Trust + Society) colleges under the KPCF/AMPCK/KRLMPCA associations, Private Universities, and the Government Quota in 12 Deemed colleges. The remaining 15% AIQ seats in Government colleges are filled through MCC AIIMS counselling. Karnataka cutoffs are published as All India Ranks (AIR-based), not as marks.
Conducting body
Counselling highlights
| factor | particular |
|---|---|
| Counselling Name | KEA UGCET Karnataka |
| Conducting Body | Karnataka Examinations Authority (KEA) |
| NEET Counselling Type | NEET UG |
| Courses Offered | MBBS, BDS, BAMS, BHMS, BUMS |
| Official Website | cetonline.karnataka.gov.in/kea |
| Registration Fee | ₹2,500 |
| Mode | Online choice filling; physical document verification |
| Cutoff Type | All India Rank (AIR) based; no marks-based cutoffs |
Association seat split (Karnataka-specific)
Karnataka has 4 distinct private associations with different seat-split formulas.
| association | total | govt share | other shares |
|---|---|---|---|
| Government Medical Colleges | 4,250 seats | 85% State Quota | 15% AIQ via MCC |
| KPCF (Karnataka Private Colleges Federation, 17 colleges) | ~2,295 seats | 40% Govt | 40% KPCF / 15% NRI / 5% Others |
| AMPCK Linguistic Minority (6 colleges in KA + 1 Deemed) | ~1,150 seats | 25% Govt | 55% AMPCK / 15% NRI / 5% Others |
| KRLMPCA Religious & Linguistic Minority (5 colleges) | ~650 seats | 25% Govt | 55% KRLMPCA / 15% NRI / 5% Others |
| Private University (8 independent colleges) | ~1,150 seats | 40% Govt approx | 40% Pvt Univ / 15% NRI / 5% Others |
| Deemed (12 colleges) | ~2,250 seats | Govt Quota seats via KEA in select Deemed colleges | Majority via MCC AIQ Deemed counselling |
About the rounds
KEA runs an online counselling cycle in two main rounds plus a mop-up phase plus a stray vacancy round. Each round publishes opening and closing AIR per college per category and per quota. Choice filling happens after rank publication; allotment follows strict NEET UG AIR order within Karnataka's domicile-verified merit list applying the relevant reservation roster. Karnataka has a distinct GMP (Government Merit Position) eligibility set for seats restricted to qualifying domicile clauses.
Karnataka reservation policy
| category | percentage |
|---|---|
| Open / Unreserved (OPEN) | Unreserved (open competition) |
| Economically Weaker Section (EWS) | 10% |
| 2A (Other Backward Classes 1) | 15% |
| 2B (Backward Class Muslims) | 4% |
| 3A (Vokkaliga & similar) | 4% |
| 3B (Lingayat & similar) | 5% |
| 1 (Category 1, most backward) | 4% |
| Scheduled Caste (SC) | 15% |
| Scheduled Tribe (ST) | 3% |
Special category quotas
Domicile rules
To claim Karnataka domicile for state quota seats, candidates must satisfy one of 19 domicile clauses defined by KEA. The most common are: (a) born in Karnataka with at least 7 years of schooling, (b) parent domicile in Karnataka with at least 10 years residency, (c) candidate studied Class 1 to Class 12 entirely in Karnataka, (d) candidate is a ward of Karnataka Government employee, (e) Hyderabad-Karnataka regional eligibility. Government Merit Position (GMP) seats specifically require clauses (a), (b), (f), (h), (j), (k), (l), or (o). Documentary proof at verification is mandatory.
Documents required
- NEET UG 2025 Admit Card and Scorecard / Rank Card
- Class 10 (SSLC) and Class 12 (PUC) Mark Sheets and Passing Certificates
- Karnataka Domicile or Study Certificate (Class 1 to 12 study record from Karnataka schools)
- Category Certificate (1/2A/2B/3A/3B/SC/ST/EWS) issued by competent revenue authority
- Rural Quota Certificate (Class 1-10 study in rural school) if applicable
- KKR Certificate (Article 371-J) for Kalyana Karnataka districts if applicable
- Kannada Medium Certificate if claiming Kannada medium reservation
- PwD Certificate / UDID if applicable
- NRI Sponsor Documents (passport, embassy attestation) if claiming NRI seat
- Aadhaar Card and one additional Government Photo ID
- Recent passport-size photographs
- Registration fee payment receipt (₹2,500)
NEET UG qualifying cutoffs (2022 to 2025)
| category | percentile | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UR / EWS | 50th | 715 to 117 | 720 to 137 | 720 to 164 | 686 to 144 |
| OBC (Category 1, 2A, 2B, 3A, 3B) | 40th | 116 to 93 | 136 to 107 | 163 to 129 | 143 to 113 |
| SC | 40th | 116 to 93 | 136 to 107 | 163 to 129 | 143 to 113 |
| ST | 40th | 116 to 93 | 136 to 107 | 163 to 129 | 143 to 113 |
| UR / EWS & PwD | 45th | 116 to 105 | 136 to 121 | 163 to 146 | 143 to 127 |
| OBC & PwD | 40th | 104 to 93 | 120 to 107 | 145 to 129 | 126 to 113 |
| SC & PwD | 40th | 104 to 93 | 120 to 107 | 145 to 129 | 126 to 113 |
| ST & PwD | 40th | 104 to 93 | 120 to 108 | 145 to 129 | 126 to 113 |
Important notes
- Karnataka cutoffs are AIR-based (All India Rank). Unlike Tamil Nadu, there are no marks-based cutoffs in KEA publications.
- Government Merit Position (GMP) seats are restricted to specific domicile clauses (a, b, f, h, j, k, l, o). Not all Karnataka-domiciled candidates qualify for GMP.
- The 12 Deemed colleges admit primarily through MCC AIQ Deemed counselling. Only a subset participate in KEA for Government-Quota Deemed seats.
- Private University colleges (Adichunchanagiri, M.S. Ramaiah, SDM, PES, BGS Nagarur, etc.) admit through KEA but follow their own seat-distribution and fee policies.
- NRI seats are converted to Management Quota only if explicitly notified by KEA per the year cycle. Most Karnataka colleges retain NRI seats independently.
- Bangalore Medical College & Research Institute (BMCRI) is the flagship state government college. AIIMS is not yet operational in Karnataka (AIIMS Raichur planned for the future).