The Kerala NEET counselling process 2026 is conducted by the Commissioner for Entrance Examinations (CEE Kerala). The CEE manages admission to approximately 35 medical colleges across the state, covering around 4,905 MBBS seats annually through a single-window Centralised Allotment Process (CAP).
Official website: cee.kerala.gov.in
How Kerala’s state merit rank works
Kerala does not use your NEET All India Rank directly for state counselling. Instead, CEE Kerala generates a separate state merit list (KEAM rank) by sorting all registered Kerala-eligible candidates by their NEET score.
Your KEAM rank will differ from your AIR because the pool is limited to Kerala applicants who registered for KEAM counselling. A candidate with AIR 5,000 might receive a much lower state rank since only registered Kerala-domiciled candidates are counted.
No separate state entrance exam exists for medical admission. Kerala uses only NEET UG scores (since 2017). The “KEAM” label for medical counselling refers to the registration and allotment process, not a separate test.
Who is eligible
You can participate in Kerala state counselling if you meet the eligibility requirements under one of three domicile tiers:
Keralite (full eligibility):
- Domicile of Kerala, or children of All India Service officers posted in Kerala
- Eligible for State Merit (SM) seats and all reserved category seats
Non-Keralite Category I (limited eligibility):
- Candidates who studied in Kerala schools or meet special conditions (government service, extended residency)
- Limited seat access
Non-Keralite Category II (private colleges only):
- Eligible only for private college Management and NRI quota seats
- Not eligible for state quota seats
Additional requirements for all candidates:
- Must qualify NEET UG (50% for General, 40% for SC/ST/OBC, 45% for General-PwD)
- Must be at least 17 years old as of 31 December of the admission year
- Must have passed Class 12 with Physics, Chemistry, and Biology
Registration process
- Register on the KEAM portal at cee.kerala.gov.in (registration link published each year after NEET results)
- Upload required documents: NEET scorecard, Class 10 and 12 mark sheets, domicile/nativity certificate, community certificate, passport-size photographs
- Pay the registration fee (Rs 625 for General, Rs 250 for SC)
- Verify and lock your application before the deadline
Registration typically opens in June-July, within a few weeks of NEET results.
Trial allotment (specific to Kerala)
Before Phase 1, CEE Kerala conducts a trial allotment. This allows candidates to see their likely outcome based on current preferences and adjust their choice list before the actual allotment. Kerala is one of the few states to offer a trial allotment in NEET counselling.
Round-by-round timeline
Kerala conducts three main phases plus possible mop-up rounds:
Phase 1 (August)
- State merit list published
- Choice filling and locking
- First allotment published (18 August in 2025)
- Candidates report to allotted college and pay fees
Phase 2 (September)
- Includes both new candidates and upgradation of Phase 1 allottees
- Candidates who accepted Phase 1 seats can be upgraded to higher-preference colleges if seats become available
- Allotment published (25 September in 2025)
Phase 3 (October)
- Final consolidated allotment list
- Covers remaining vacancies and further upgradation
- 2025 P3 had 6,718 entries compared to 5,946 in P1 because each phase includes earlier allottees plus new candidates
Mop-up round (October-November)
- For seats still vacant after Phase 3
- Open to all eligible candidates
Stray vacancy round
- Last-chance round for remaining unfilled seats
If a candidate fails to join or remit fees after allotment, the seat is vacated and the candidate cannot participate in subsequent phases.
Seat matrix and quota structure
Kerala’s seat distribution for MBBS (approximate 2025 figures):
- Total state-counselled MBBS seats: ~4,905 across 35 colleges
- Government colleges: 14 colleges, 1,855 seats
- Private colleges: 22 colleges, ~3,550 seats (including minority institutions)
- Deemed university (Amrita): 150 seats (separate from state counselling)
How government college seats split:
- 85% State Quota (allotted by CEE Kerala)
- 15% All India Quota (allotted by MCC, not CEE)
How private college seats split:
- 50% State Government Quota (filled via CEE merit, regulated fees)
- 35% Management Quota (filled via CEE merit, higher fees)
- 15% NRI Quota
A feature specific to Kerala’s system: even management and NRI seats in private colleges are allotted centrally through CEE Kerala. Candidates do not need to approach colleges individually.
What happens after allotment
Once allotted a seat:
- Download your provisional allotment order from the portal
- Report to the allotted college within the specified window
- Submit original documents for verification
- Pay the required fees
In Phase 2 and Phase 3, your seat can be upgraded automatically if a higher-preference college has a vacancy. You do not need to surrender your current seat to participate in upgradation.
Tie-breaking criteria
CEE Kerala’s prospectus specifies the tie-breaking rules when two candidates have the same NEET score. Candidates should consult the current year’s CEE Kerala prospectus at cee.kerala.gov.in for the exact tie-breaking sequence, as it may be updated annually.
Key differences from AIQ counselling
| Kerala state | MCC All India Quota | |
|---|---|---|
| Rank used | KEAM State Merit Rank | NEET AIR |
| Reservation | 30% SEBC + 10% SC/ST + 10% EWS | 49.5% (OBC 27% + SC 15% + ST 7.5%) |
| Eligibility | Kerala domicile/study | Open to all India |
| Category system | SM/EZ/MU/BH/LA/DV/VK/KN/BX/KU/SC/ST/EW | UR/OBC/SC/ST/EWS |
| Phases | 3 + mop-up | 3 |
| Fees (govt colleges) | ~Rs 23,100-25,000/year | Varies by state |
| Special feature | Trial allotment before Phase 1 | No trial allotment |
| Private seat allocation | Centrally managed by CEE | Not applicable |