Kerala NEET Counselling: The Commissioner for Entrance Examinations (CEE), Kerala, is yet to release the official schedule for Kerala NEET Counselling 2026, the state-level admission process for MBBS, BDS, and AYUSH courses. Following the declaration of NEET UG 2026 results in late July, the notification is expected to be published shortly on the official portal, cee.kerala.gov.in. Here’s what candidates should know while they wait for the formal dates.
What’s Confirmed So Far
Kerala NEET Counselling 2026 will be conducted through the KEAM Centralised Allotment Process (CAP), the same unified system Kerala uses for engineering, pharmacy, and medical admissions. This means candidates seeking a medical seat must also complete the KEAM Online Application, since there is no separate standalone NEET-only counselling form for the state quota. The counselling covers admission to roughly 3,200+ MBBS seats and 2,000+ BDS seats across the state’s 35 NMC-approved medical colleges, comprising 14 government and 22 private institutions. Around 60% of state quota seats are reserved for open category candidates, with the remainder allotted as per Kerala’s reservation policy.
Expected Counselling Rounds
Based on the pattern followed in previous years, the Kerala NEET UG Counselling 2026 process is expected to include Round 1, Round 2, a Mop-Up Round, and a Stray Vacancy Round, depending on how many seats remain vacant after each stage. Seat allotment is broadly expected to begin around September 2026, though CEE Kerala has not confirmed exact dates for any round as of this writing. Candidates are advised against relying on unofficial date charts circulating online, since the schedule will only be authentic once published by CEE Kerala itself.
Eligibility Requirements
To participate, candidates must have qualified NEET UG 2026 with the minimum percentile prescribed for their category, and must be at least 17 years of age on or before 31 December 2026. Indian citizens are eligible to apply, and PIO/OCI candidates may also participate, though they will not be considered for reservation benefits. Kerala follows its own nativity and sub-category structure, including SEBC groupings, so candidates should confirm their exact classification against the official prospectus rather than assuming rules from another state’s counselling process apply.
How to Stay Updated
- Bookmark the official CEE Kerala portal, cee.kerala.gov.in, and check it regularly
- Keep NEET UG 2026 scorecard, KEAM application details, and category certificates ready in advance
- Avoid third-party sites claiming to have “leaked” or unofficial dates
- Watch for the notification confirming registration, document verification, choice filling, and seat allotment dates
- Complete the KEAM Online Application promptly once the counselling window opens, since it is mandatory for all NEET candidates in the state
Candidates should treat any dates seen elsewhere as provisional until CEE Kerala publishes its own notification, which typically includes the complete round-wise schedule in one go.
