The extension has been announced through KEA Notice No. ED/KEA/ADMN/CR-11/2026 dated September 9, 2026. The revised opportunity is particularly important for candidates who have not yet finalised their preferences or who want to update their choices in view of newly available seats.

The latest KEA update also brings an important development for medical aspirants. Bagalkote Medical College and Research, Bagalkote, a newly added government medical college, has been included in the seat matrix, allowing eligible candidates to consider the institution while submitting their options. (Edufever)

KEA UGNEET 2026 Choice Filling Deadline Extended

Under the revised schedule, candidates have been given additional time to complete the UGNEET 2026 Round 2 option entry process.

The new deadline is:

Candidates should not wait until the last few minutes to complete the process because the option-entry facility will close at the prescribed time.

New Medical College Added to UGNEET Seat Matrix

One of the significant developments accompanying the extension is the addition of Bagalkote Medical College and Research, Bagalkote, as a government medical college.

According to the latest KEA update, the seat matrix for the new institution was hosted on the KEA website on September 7, 2026. Eligible candidates participating in the second round can therefore consider adding the newly available college to their preference list.

The addition of a new government medical college can be particularly significant for candidates seeking MBBS seats through Karnataka's UGNEET counselling process, as it expands the range of institutions that may be available during seat allotment.

Candidates are advised to check the latest seat matrix before finalising their preferences and to consider the course, college, category and other applicable admission conditions carefully.

What Can Candidates Do During the Extended Option Entry Window?

The extended option-entry period allows eligible candidates to make changes to their previously submitted preferences.

Candidates can:

• Add new college and course options

• Modify existing preferences

• Delete unwanted options

• Reorder choices according to preference

• Prioritise newly available seats

• Review their final list before submission

This is particularly useful because seat availability can change during counselling. Candidates should therefore not assume that the options visible at an earlier stage will remain unchanged throughout the allotment process.

KEA Advises Candidates to Retain Preferred Options

KEA has also advised candidates to remain cautious while preparing their preference list.

Seats may be cancelled, forfeited, newly added or otherwise become available during the counselling process. Such changes can result in additional vacancies that may subsequently become available for allotment.

The authority has therefore advised candidates to retain all options in which they are genuinely interested, even if a particular seat is not immediately visible in the seat matrix.

This is important because consequential vacancies may arise during the seat allotment process. A candidate who removes a preferred college simply because a seat is not currently displayed could potentially lose the opportunity to be considered for it if a vacancy becomes available later.

Candidates Must Log In Before the Deadline

KEA has made it clear that eligible candidates must log in to the counselling portal within the prescribed period to participate in the Round 2 option-entry process.

Candidates should:

1.    Log in to the KEA counselling portal using their registered credentials.

2.    Access the UGNEET 2026 option-entry section.

3.    Review the colleges and courses available in the latest seat matrix.

4.    Add their preferred options.

5.    Modify, delete or reorder previously entered choices wherever required.

6.    Arrange the choices according to their actual preference.

7.    Save and submit the final option list.

8.    Take a printout or keep a copy of the final submitted choices for future reference.

Candidates should make sure that their final preferences have been successfully saved before leaving the portal.

Why Choice Ordering Is Important in UGNEET Counselling

Choice filling is one of the most important stages of the counselling process because seat allotment is carried out based on the candidate's eligibility, merit, category, seat availability and preferences entered in the counselling system.

Candidates should therefore avoid arranging colleges randomly.

A sensible preference list should begin with the most preferred college and course, followed by other realistic options. Candidates can then include additional institutions they would be willing to join.

While preparing the list, students should consider factors such as:

• College preference

• MBBS or BDS course preference

• Government or private institution

• Available seat category

• Fee structure

• Location

• Clinical exposure

• Infrastructure

• Previous admission trends

• Personal preference and willingness to join

Candidates should include only those institutions and courses that they would genuinely be prepared to accept if allotted.

Seat Availability Can Change During Counselling

A crucial instruction from KEA is that candidates should continue monitoring the seat matrix because changes can occur during the counselling process.

Seats may become available because of:

• Cancellation of an earlier allotment

• Forfeiture of a seat

• Non-reporting by an allotted candidate

• Newly sanctioned or added seats

• Changes in the counselling process

• Other consequential vacancies

Therefore, candidates are advised not to restrict their preference list solely to the seats visible at one particular point in time.

What Happens After Option Entry?

After the option-entry window closes, KEA will proceed with the subsequent stages of the UGNEET 2026 Round 2 counselling and seat allotment process according to its notified schedule.

The options submitted by candidates will play an important role in determining the college and course offered during allotment.

Candidates who receive an allotment will then have to follow the instructions issued by KEA regarding acceptance of the seat, fee payment, document requirements and reporting to the allotted institution.

Students should therefore regularly monitor the official KEA portal for the next notification and seat-allotment updates.

Important Instructions for KEA UGNEET 2026 Candidates

Candidates participating in the second round should keep the following points in mind:

1. Complete option entry before the revised deadline:
The extended facility will remain available only until September 10, 2026, at 9:30 AM.

2. Check the latest seat matrix:
The addition of Bagalkote Medical College and Research makes it important for candidates to review the updated list of available institutions.

3. Reorder choices carefully:
The most preferred college should be placed at the top of the list.

4. Do not remove desirable options unnecessarily:
Candidates should retain choices they are genuinely interested in, even when a seat is not currently visible, as consequential vacancies may arise.

5. Save and submit the final preferences:
Candidates should verify that their final option list has been successfully submitted.

6. Preserve the final printout:
KEA has advised candidates to keep a printout of the finally submitted options for their records.

7. Monitor KEA notifications:
Further changes in seat availability and counselling instructions may be published by the authority.

KEA UGNEET 2026 Choice Filling: Key Takeaway

The extension of the KEA UGNEET 2026 Round 2 choice-filling deadline gives medical and dental aspirants additional time to carefully reassess their preferences. With the addition of Bagalkote Medical College and Research to the government medical college options, candidates have another institution to consider while preparing their preference list.

Eligible candidates should make full use of the extended window and complete their option entry by September 10, 2026, at 9:30 AM. Rather than waiting until the final minutes, students should log in early, review the latest seat matrix, arrange their choices in order of preference and preserve a copy of their final submission.

Candidates should also remember that seat availability can change during the allotment process. Consequently, retaining all genuinely preferred options may be beneficial when consequential vacancies arise.

KEA UGNEET 2026 Choice Filling – Quick Highlights

KEA has extended the UGNEET 2026 Round 2 option-entry deadline to September 10, 2026, at 9:30 AM. The extension applies to candidates seeking admission to Medical and Dental courses through Karnataka UGNEET counselling. The latest notice also includes the newly added Bagalkote Medical College and Research, a government medical college, in the updated seat matrix.

Candidates can add, modify, delete and reorder their preferences during the extended period. They should also continue to monitor the KEA website because seats may be cancelled, forfeited or newly added during the counselling process.