Karnataka NEET PG Counselling (KEA)
How the KEA fills Karnataka's state-quota PG seats — government, private and the state's consortium colleges.
In Karnataka, state-quota PG medical seats are filled by the Karnataka Examinations Authority (KEA). If you want a Karnataka state seat — government, or the state quota in private and deemed colleges under the state's arrangement — KEA counselling is the process you go through, separately from the All-India MCC round.
This guide covers what KEA does, which seats fall under it, the eligibility and domicile rules that decide whether you can claim a Karnataka seat, what the KEA portal asks for, and how the rounds play out.
Who conducts this counselling
The Karnataka Examinations Authority (KEA) is the state government body that conducts admissions and counselling for professional courses in Karnataka, including PG medical and dental seats under the state quota.
KEA allots the state-quota seats using NEET PG merit and the seat-sharing agreement the government reaches with private and deemed colleges each year. The All India Quota portion of Karnataka's government seats is filled separately by MCC.
What seats it fills
- State-quota PG seats in Karnataka government medical colleges.
- The government/state-quota share of PG seats in private and deemed colleges under the state's consortium arrangement.
- Seats reserved under Karnataka's own reservation and special categories, as notified each year.
Who is eligible
A qualifying NEET PG rank is the entry ticket, but a state seat also depends on Karnataka eligibility — typically studying MBBS in Karnataka, Karnataka domicile, or falling into one of the special eligibility clauses the state defines (such as the Hyderabad-Karnataka / Kalyana-Karnataka provision under Article 371J).
The exact clauses are set by the government notification each cycle, and they are what decide whether you can claim a Karnataka state seat at all — so confirm your eligibility category before you build your plan around a state seat.
- A qualifying NEET PG rank/percentile for your category.
- MBBS from a recognised college with a completed internship.
- Karnataka eligibility — usually MBBS studied in the state and/or domicile, per the year's notification.
- Valid medical-council registration.
- Karnataka's reservation categories and special provisions apply where claimed and documented.
The official portal & what it collects
What you enter / upload
- NEET PG credentials and rank, verified against the NBEMS result.
- Personal, domicile and category details used to decide state eligibility.
- MBBS, internship and medical-registration details.
- Uploaded documents for verification of eligibility and category.
- Your ordered choice list, and the online fee payment.
The process, step by step
Register on the KEA portal
When KEA opens PG counselling, register with your NEET PG details. Your eligibility category (domicile, special clause, reservation) is captured here and drives which seats you can be considered for.
Document verification
KEA verifies your eligibility and category documents — this is the step that confirms your right to a Karnataka state seat, so the documents must be exactly as the notification requires.
Pay the fee and fill choices
Pay the counselling fee online, then enter and lock your college-and-course preferences in order. As everywhere, order of preference decides your allotment, not the number of choices.
Seat allotment
KEA runs the allotment against state merit, your category and your locked choices, and publishes the result for the round.
Report and, if you wish, upgrade in later rounds
Take admission at the allotted college, or use the options the round allows. KEA runs multiple rounds with fresh choice filling; the reporting and exit rules tighten as the rounds progress.
Documents you'll need
- NEET PG rank letter / scorecard and admit card
- MBBS degree / provisional certificate and all mark sheets
- Internship completion certificate
- Medical-council registration certificate
- SSLC / Class 10 certificate (date of birth)
- Study certificates / domicile proof establishing Karnataka eligibility
- Category and special-provision certificates (including Kalyana-Karnataka, where claimed)
- Government photo ID and recent photographs
Common questions
Should I register for both KEA and MCC?
Usually yes. KEA fills Karnataka's state-quota seats and MCC fills the All India Quota and deemed/central seats. They are separate seat pools with separate registrations, so most Karnataka aspirants take part in both to keep every option open.
Do I need Karnataka domicile for a KEA seat?
A state seat depends on Karnataka eligibility, which is usually established through where you studied MBBS and/or domicile, plus any special clause you qualify under. The precise rules are set by the government notification each cycle — check them before assuming you are eligible.
What is the Kalyana-Karnataka (371J) provision?
It is a constitutional special provision reserving a share of seats and posts for candidates from the Kalyana-Karnataka (formerly Hyderabad-Karnataka) region. If you qualify, it can materially change the seats within your reach — but it must be claimed with the correct certificate during counselling.
This guide explains how the process generally works so you walk in prepared. Dates, fees, exact eligibility clauses and portal links are set fresh each counselling cycle — always confirm the current details on the official portal before you act.