Karnataka

Karnataka NEET MDS Round 3 (Mop-Up) 2026: Schedule, Caution Deposit and Eligibility for PG Dental Seat Allotment

Oct 10, 2026

Overview

The Karnataka Examinations Authority (KEA) has released the schedule and instructions for Karnataka NEET MDS Round 3, the online mop-up round of seat allotment for PG Dental courses 2026. The notice, No. ED/KEA/ADMN/CR-12/2026 dated 8th October 2026, explains who can take part, how much caution deposit is required, and how options must be entered.

Karnataka NEET MDS Round 3 will fill seats that stayed vacant after Round 2, along with seats cancelled by candidates since then. KEA has also said that seats which get cancelled or added even after the seat matrix is displayed will be considered, so candidates should plan their options accordingly.

Type

This is the Round 3 (Mop-Up) online seat allotment notice for PG Dental (MDS) courses in Karnataka, 2026.
Karnataka NEET MDS Round 3 covers unfilled seats and cancelled seats from earlier rounds.
It is open both to candidates who got no seat in Round 2 and, as per recent High Court orders, to candidates seeking an upgrade.

State / Authority

Conducted by the Government of Karnataka, through the Karnataka Examinations Authority (KEA), Bengaluru.
Governs state-level PG Dental seat allotment, based on NEET MDS 2026.

Provider

Karnataka NEET MDS Round 3 is administered by KEA, which hosts the seat matrix, collects the caution deposit, takes option entries and publishes the provisional and final results.
The detailed Round 3 instructions and guidelines are published separately on the KEA website.

Karnataka NEET MDS Round 3 Schedule

Display of available seat matrix: 9th October 2026, after 11:00 AM. The matrix is subject to change as seats may get added.
Download of caution deposit challan: from 1:00 PM on 9th October to 2:00 PM on 11th October 2026.
Payment of caution deposit: 9th to 13th October 2026, during banking hours.
Entry of options: from 4:00 PM on 9th October to 6:00 PM on 13th October 2026.
Provisional seat allotment result: 14th October 2026, after 11:00 AM.
Final seat allotment result: 14th October 2026, after 6:00 PM.
Fee payment, with the caution deposit deducted: 15th to 16th October 2026.
Submission of original documents to KEA and download of admission order: 16th to 17th October 2026.
Last date for reporting at the allotted dental college: 19th October 2026, by 6:00 PM.

The schedule is marked as subject to modification, so candidates should keep checking the KEA website for updates.

Who Can Participate in Karnataka NEET MDS Round 3

Eligible:

Candidates who were not allotted any seat in the KEA Second Round, if they are interested.
Candidates who have joined the colleges allotted to them in KEA allotment can take part for upgradation, as per recent High Court orders.

Not eligible:

Candidates who were allotted a seat but failed to exercise any choice in the first round, failed to pay the fees, or failed to report to the college.
Candidates who do not deposit the caution deposit within the stipulated time cannot take part in Karnataka NEET MDS Round 3.

Caution Deposit Rules

General and other categories: ₹4,00,000.
SC/ST candidates: ₹1,00,000.
Candidates who paid a caution deposit in Round 2 and did not get a seat will have it adjusted, and they pay only the balance if they want to take part in Karnataka NEET MDS Round 3.
If a candidate gets a PG Dental seat in this round, the caution deposit is adjusted against the fee.
If a candidate gets a seat in the mop-up round and fails to pay the fees, fails to report, or wants to surrender the seat, the caution deposit is forfeited and a penalty is payable to KEA as per the rules. Such candidates also lose eligibility to take part in counselling for the next three years, including AIQ.

The ₹4,00,000 deposit is a serious commitment, so candidates should enter the round only if they are ready to take up a seat if one is allotted.

Option Entry Guidelines

Only eligible candidates who have paid the caution deposit can enter options.
Candidates must enter fresh options for Round 3. Options entered in earlier rounds are not considered.
Seats may get cancelled or added after the seat matrix is published, so KEA advises candidates to enter every option they are interested in, regardless of whether the seat appears in the matrix.
Enter options in order of priority, mainly considering the fee, and only for colleges and courses you would actually join.

KEA has also stated that if a candidate does not want the allotted college or course, or leaves the college after joining, it will be treated as a serious lapse in the management of social responsibility, since other candidates are waiting for seats.

What Candidates Should Do Now

Check your eligibility. If you hold a Round 2 seat and want to upgrade, confirm you have joined the allotted college. If you were allotted a seat earlier but did not choose, pay or report, you cannot take part.
Download the challan and pay the caution deposit for Karnataka NEET MDS Round 3 between 9th and 13th October, remembering the challan can be downloaded only until 2:00 PM on 11th October.
Review the seat matrix on 9th October, then compare colleges and fees. Our verified college database can help you evaluate PG dental colleges in Karnataka.
Enter all the options you would accept, in order of priority, before 6:00 PM on 13th October.
Plan for fee payment and document submission on 15th to 17th October, and reporting by 6:00 PM on 19th October.
If you need help with option entry strategy for Karnataka NEET MDS Round 3, our counselling services can guide you. See our pricing for plans, or contact our team for personal support.

Key Things to Remember

Karnataka NEET MDS Round 3 option entry runs from 4:00 PM on 9th October to 6:00 PM on 13th October 2026, with results on 14th October.
The caution deposit is ₹4,00,000 (₹1,00,000 for SC/ST) and is forfeited, with a three-year debarment, if a mop-up seat is not taken up.
Options from earlier rounds do not carry forward, so fresh options must be entered.
The last date for reporting at the allotted dental college is 19th October 2026, 6:00 PM.

For the complete notice and updates on Karnataka NEET MDS Round 3, check the official KEA website, call the helpline on 080-23460460, or write to keauthority-ka@nic.in.

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