Revised Karnataka NEET PG Round-3 Allotment Expected After HC-Mandated Option Entry

As of February 18, 2026, the Karnataka Examinations Authority (KEA) is preparing the revised NEET PG Round-3 seat allotment result following high court intervention. The High Court of Karnataka mandated a reopened option entry window for in-service candidates, specifically addressing five disputed seats. Aspirants are now awaiting the final seat allocation list, which was placed on hold to ensure legal compliance and fair representation for medical professionals. The official announcement regarding the updated schedule is expected to be released shortly on the KEA portal, concluding the state-level admission cycle.

The Karnataka Examinations Authority (KEA) is currently finalizing the revised seat allotment for the Karnataka NEET PG 2025 Round-3 (Mop-up) following a significant legal intervention. As of February 18, 2026, the process remains in a critical state after the High Court of Karnataka issued a mandate to maintain a status quo on the previous result publication. The court's decision came in response to a writ petition filed by in-service candidates seeking inclusion in the allotment process for five de-categorized seats. This judicial intervention has necessitated a complete overhaul of the Round-3 timeline, impacting thousands of postgraduate medical aspirants across the state who are awaiting their residency placements.

1. High Court Mandate and In-Service Seat Re-allocation

The current delay in the allotment process stems from a specific legal mandate issued by the Bengaluru Division Bench. The court observed that eligible in-service candidates were potentially excluded from competing for specific seats that remained vacant after the initial rounds.

• Reopened Option Entry: Following the court order, the KEA reopened the portal for Round-3 Option Entry between February 16 and February 17, 2026, allowing candidates to re-prioritize their preferences.
• Disputed Seats: The legal intervention focused on five specific seats in specialties like General Medicine and Anaesthesia across institutions such as BRIMS Bidar and KVG Medical College.
• Priority Documentation: The court directed the KEA to accept "Form-H" submissions from the petitioners, ensuring that the service-quota benefits were correctly applied before the final seat distribution.
• Judicial Observation: The bench emphasized that while the counseling must be completed swiftly, the "Fair Play" doctrine requires that no eligible candidate is left behind due to technical administrative deadlines.

2. Revised Allotment Timeline and Institutional Impact

With the completion of the court-mandated option entry yesterday, the KEA is now processing the data to generate a Revised Seat Allotment List. This allotment is expected to reflect the updated merit rankings considering the newly verified in-service applicants.

• Institutional Reporting: Once the revised allotment is published, colleges will have a shortened window to verify original documents and confirm admissions for the 2025-26 academic year.
• Merit List Updates: The integration of in-service candidates may lead to a slight shift in the cutoffs for the General Merit and other category seats in the mop-up round.
• Administrative Load: KEA officials have indicated that the backend processing for the updated allotment is being fast-tracked to comply with the National Medical Commission's overall session deadlines.
• Security Deposit Refund: Candidates who do not receive any seat in this revised round will be eligible for a refund of their caution deposit, subject to the conditions outlined in the KEA Information Bulletin.

3. Conclusion

The ongoing judicial intervention in the Karnataka NEET PG counseling highlights the complexities of balancing administrative efficiency with individual candidate rights. As of today, February 18, 2026, the state's medical fraternity remains on standby for the final verdict and the subsequent release of the allotment result. The KEA has assured that the revised schedule for fee payment and college reporting will be announced immediately following the official court transcript's release. This 2025-26 counseling cycle, marked by repeated revisions, is finally approaching its end, promising a stable commencement for the upcoming postgraduate medical classes. Aspirants are advised to keep their Admission Orders ready for download the moment the portal is reactivated.

For regular updates follow Only Education News. For more details on medical entrance exams and courses, check here: Medical Exams List.