Kerala NEET UG 2026: Stray Vacancy Round Option Entry Closes Today

The Commissioner for Entrance Examinations (CEE) in Kerala is set to conclude the online option entry process for the NEET UG 2026 stray vacancy round today, October 20. Candidates seeking admission to MBBS and BDS courses through this final phase of counselling must ensure their preferences are submitted through the official website, cee.kerala.gov.in, before the 6 PM deadline.

This window serves as the final opportunity for eligible students to register their college and course choices for the current academic session. Following the closure of the portal, the authorities will process the submitted data to generate the seat allotment results. Students are advised to complete their submissions promptly to avoid any last-minute technical issues on the portal.

Key Dates and Allotment Schedule

Following the conclusion of the option entry process, the CEE will release the provisional seat allotment result for the stray vacancy round on October 21, 2026. This will be followed by the publication of the final seat allotment list on October 22, 2026. Candidates who are successfully allotted a seat during this round are required to report to their respective colleges for admission formalities between October 23 and October 26, 2026, with the reporting process concluding at 4 PM on the final day.

Eligibility Criteria for Participation

The CEE has established specific guidelines regarding eligibility for this round to ensure a streamlined admission process. Candidates who are currently holding an admitted status following the first, second, or third phases of allotment are not permitted to participate in the stray vacancy round. Furthermore, individuals who were allotted a seat in the third phase of counselling or those who vacated their seats after 10:00 AM on October 7, 2026, are ineligible.

Additionally, the selection process will exclude candidates who appear on the list of admitted students provided by the Medical Counselling Committee (MCC) following the third round of All India Quota (AIQ) counselling. Those who have been allotted a seat in the AIQ stray vacancy round, as per the data to be shared by the MCC, will also be excluded from the state-level stray vacancy allotment.

To participate, eligible candidates should log in to the KEAM 2026 candidate portal on the official website, navigate to the stray vacancy option registration link, select their preferred MBBS and BDS institutions, and submit their choices after completing any necessary fee payments.