Arrange the deposit
₹7 lakh caution deposit in 2025 — and for the extended round, a DD for the full fee.
KEA PG Counselling · Last Round
Karnataka PG Medical Stray Vacancy Round
Who Can Apply, Deposit, Seats, Dates and Penalties
The stray vacancy round is the last chance to get a PG medical seat in Karnataka for the year — and the round with the strictest rules. This guide explains, with the 2025-cycle facts, who could apply, the ₹7 lakh deposit, which seats came up, and what it costs to leave a stray-round seat.
After the mop-up round
Caution deposit ₹7 lakh
913 seats in 2025
Exit: ₹18 lakh + fee
Please note: facts are from the 2025 counselling cycle (held February–March 2026), as reported by Careers360, Medical Dialogues, Hello Mentor and Neetsupport. KEA and MCC publish new rules for 2026 — always read the official notice.
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Quick Answer: How the Karnataka PG Stray Vacancy Round Works
KEA holds the stray vacancy round after the mop-up round to fill seats still vacant. In the 2025 cycle, candidates not allotted a seat in any earlier round (and new registrants) paid a ₹7,00,000 caution deposit, did fresh option entry from 4–6 March 2026, and got final allotment on 7 March. The seat matrix had 913 seats — 326 government, 318 management and 262 open quota. Leaving a clinical seat after this round cost ₹18 lakh plus the full course fee and a 3-year bar.
KEA Stray Round 2025
Stray Vacancy Round Key Numbers
Vacant seats913
897 PG medical + 16 DNB (5 Mar 2026).
Caution deposit₹7 lakh
Adjusted against fee if allotted.
Extended round783 seats
Mostly management, 11 Mar 2026.
Clinical exit penalty₹18 lakh+
Plus full course fee, 3-year bar.
Eligibility Check
Can You Join the Stray Round?
Choose the counselling and your current status. We show whether you were eligible under the 2025 rules and what to do.
Your stray-round eligibility and next steps will appear here.
KEA 2025 Cycle
Stray Round Schedule
Dates as published for the NEET PG 2025 cycle.
| Step | Date |
|---|---|
| Notice released | 27 Feb 2026 |
| New registration | 27 Feb – 1 Mar 2026 |
| Document verification (in person, KEA) | 2 – 3 Mar 2026 |
| Caution deposit payment | 2 Mar (1 pm) – 4 Mar 2026 |
| Fresh option entry | 4 Mar (4 pm) – 6 Mar 2026 (11 am) |
| Provisional allotment | 6 Mar 2026, after 4 pm |
| Final allotment | 7 Mar 2026, after 4 pm |
| Fee payment and admission order | 9 – 11 Mar 2026 |
| Last date to report | 12 Mar 2026, 5:30 pm |
Source: Hello Mentor and Neetsupport reports of the KEA stray-round notice (27 Feb 2026).
Seat Matrix
Which Seats Came Up in 2025
KEA stray-round seat matrix of 5 March 2026.
| Seat Category | Vacant Seats |
|---|---|
| Government (GM) | 326 |
| Management (MNG) | 318 |
| Private open quota (OPN) | 262 |
| General merit private (GMP) | 4 |
| Reserved / minority (ST, SC, ME) | 3 |
| Total (897 PG medical + 16 DNB) | 913 |
Source: Hello Mentor, KEA stray-round vacant seat list (5 Mar 2026). After this round, 783 seats — mostly management — were offered in an extended round on 11 March 2026.
KEA vs MCC
Stray Round Rules Side by Side
| Rule | KEA (Karnataka) | MCC (AIQ / deemed) |
|---|---|---|
| When | After the mop-up round | Round 4, after Round 3 |
| Who can apply | No seat in any earlier KEA round; new registrants; not MCC stray allottees | No seat in Rounds 1–3, proper resignees, non-reporters from Rounds 1–2, fresh registrants |
| Deposit | ₹7,00,000 caution deposit | AIQ ₹25,000 / ₹10,000; deemed ₹2,00,000 (+ registration fee) |
| Options | Fresh option entry | Fresh choice filling |
| Exit after allotment | ₹18 lakh + full course fee, 3-year bar (clinical) | No exit; deposit forfeited and debarred from next NEET PG |
| 2025 dates | 27 Feb – 12 Mar 2026 | 16 – 28 Feb 2026 |
KEA: Hello Mentor, Neetsupport, Careers360. MCC: Careers360 and Sartha. Both bodies change rules year to year.
After the Stray Round
KEA Penalty for Leaving the Seat
Cancellation after the fourth (stray) round, 2025.
| Course Type | Penalty |
|---|---|
| Clinical MD / MS | ₹18 lakh + course fee forfeited |
| Para-clinical MD | ₹2 lakh + forfeiture |
| Pre-clinical MD | ₹1 lakh + forfeiture |
| Diploma | ₹6 lakh + forfeiture |
| Para-clinical diploma | ₹75,000 + forfeiture |
Source: Careers360 report of the KEA 2025 penalty schedule (30 Nov 2025). Clinical candidates were also barred from Karnataka PG counselling for three years. Government and AIQ seats carry a 3-year service undertaking with a ₹10 lakh bond penalty — see the bond rules.
Be Ready
Four Things to Do Before the Stray Round
Keep originals ready
Document verification was in person at KEA. Carry every original listed in the document checklist.
Fresh choice list
Old options are not used. Build a new list from the vacant-seat matrix — see the choice filling guide.
Only pick seats you will join
Leaving costs ₹18 lakh + fee. Check every rule in fees and penalties.
KEA & MCC CounsellingEvery Branch · Every Round
AdmissionMantra Support
The Last Round Is Where Mistakes Cost Most
Stray-round decisions happen in two or three days, with a ₹7 lakh deposit and an ₹18 lakh exit penalty. We read the vacant-seat list with you, shortlist only seats you will actually join, and handle every step on time.
FAQs
Stray Vacancy Round Questions
What is the stray vacancy round in Karnataka PG medical counselling?
It is the last KEA round, held after the mop-up round, to fill PG medical seats that are still vacant. In the 2025 cycle it ran from 27 February to 12 March 2026, with fresh option entry and a ₹7 lakh caution deposit.
Who can apply for the KEA stray vacancy round?
In 2025, NEET PG-qualified candidates who had not been allotted a seat in any earlier KEA round could take part, and new candidates could register from 27 February to 1 March 2026. Candidates allotted a seat in the MCC stray round were not eligible.
How much is the caution deposit for the KEA stray round?
₹7,00,000 in the 2025 cycle. It had to be paid before option entry and was adjusted against the fee if a seat was allotted.
How many seats were available in the KEA stray round 2025?
The 5 March 2026 seat matrix showed 913 vacant seats (897 PG medical and 16 DNB): 326 government (GM), 318 management, 262 open quota and a few GMP and reserved seats.
Can I cancel a seat allotted in the KEA stray round?
Cancelling after the stray (fourth) round cost ₹18 lakh plus the full course fee for clinical seats in 2025, and the candidate was barred from Karnataka PG counselling for three years. For pre-clinical seats the penalty was ₹1 lakh plus forfeiture.
What was the KEA extended round after the stray round?
On 11–12 March 2026 KEA offered 783 seats still vacant after the stray round, mostly management quota. Candidates without any seat had to submit originals and a demand draft for the full fee at KEA, Bengaluru, before entering options.
What are the MCC stray round rules for NEET PG?
In the 2025 MCC stray round there was no exit and no upgrade. Candidates who did not join the allotted seat lost the security deposit and were debarred from the next NEET PG exam. Candidates who had joined a seat in Rounds 1–3 were not eligible.
Are stray round seats good for low NEET PG ranks?
Often yes — most stray-round seats are management, open-quota and government seats left vacant, and many go to candidates with ranks well above 1 lakh. But the rules are strict: the deposit is high and leaving the seat costs lakhs, so decide your branch and budget before the round.
Verify Before You Act
Sources & Official Links
Official authorities
- Karnataka Examinations Authority (KEA) — PGET registration, brochure, allotments and fee notification
- Medical Counselling Committee (MCC) — All India Quota and deemed universities
- National Medical Commission (NMC) — approved colleges and PG seats
- NBEMS — NEET PG result and qualifying cut-off
How we built this page
- KEA stray schedule, eligibility and deposit: Hello Mentor and Neetsupport reports of the KEA notice (27 Feb 2026).
- KEA seat matrix: Hello Mentor, vacant seat list of 5 Mar 2026.
- Extended round: Medical Dialogues (11 Mar 2026).
- Penalties and bond: Careers360 reports of the KEA 2025 bulletin (4 Sep 2025) and penalty schedule (30 Nov 2025).
- MCC stray round: Careers360 and Sartha (Feb 2026).
- Facts checked on 27 October 2026. Where an official notice differs, the notice applies.
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