44 government colleges at Rs 1.62 lakh per year: the complete list and what each one offers
Maharashtra’s 44 government medical colleges share a uniform fee (approximately Rs 1.62 lakh per year) and grant the same MBBS degree. The differences are in clinical volume, hospital infrastructure, location, faculty, and the research environment. This guide ranks all 44 by competitiveness and maps what distinguishes the top tier from the rest.
For the full Maharashtra overview including private and deemed colleges, see our state overview. For individual college cutoffs, use the cutoff analyzer.
All 44 government colleges charge Rs 1.62L/yr and grant the same MBBS degree — the differences are in infrastructure and location
Tier 1 (AIR under 20,000): Mumbai and Pune flagships with 1,000+ bed teaching hospitals
Tier 3/4 colleges (AIR 50,000+) offer the same degree at 30-50% lower living costs than metro cities
List every government college where your AIR qualifies — extras are invisible safety nets that cost nothing
How we rank government colleges
We use the 2025 Round 2 OPEN closing AIR as the primary ranking metric. A lower closing AIR means the college fills with higher-ranked candidates, which correlates (imperfectly but consistently) with institutional reputation, hospital quality, and student demand. This is not a quality rating; it is a demand indicator.
Closing AIR measures demand, not quality. A Tier 4 college with higher closing AIRs may have modern buildings and equipment (from recent government investment) while a Tier 2 college with lower closing AIRs may have older infrastructure. Use closing AIR for competitiveness assessment, but verify infrastructure through college visits or NMC inspection reports.
Tier 1: OPEN closing AIR under 20,000 (approximately 5 to 8 colleges)
These are the most competitive government colleges in Maharashtra. They fill with candidates in the top 20,000 NEET ranks nationally.
ESIC Medical College Andheri (AIR 12,566 in 2025 R2) leads this tier, though with only 50 seats, its dynamics are distinct from larger institutions. The traditional Big Four of Maharashtra government medical education are Seth GS (KEM Hospital), Grant (JJ Hospital), BJ Medical College Pune (Sassoon Hospital), and LTMMC (Sion Hospital). GMC Nagpur, with 250 seats and a large hospital, also competes for Tier 1 positions in most years.
What distinguishes Tier 1: affiliated hospitals are large tertiary care centres (1,000+ beds), departments span all major specialities and super-specialities, research output is the highest among Maharashtra government colleges, and PG department reputations drive student demand.
Tier 2: OPEN closing AIR 20,000 to 50,000 (approximately 10 to 15 colleges)
Mid-tier government colleges in established cities: Aurangabad (Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar), Solapur, Kolhapur, Sangli, Miraj, Dhule, Akola, Amravati, and Jalgaon. These colleges have been operating for decades, have 200 to 250 seats each, and are affiliated with district-level hospitals that handle significant patient loads.
Clinical exposure at Tier 2 colleges is strong. District hospitals see a broad range of cases (general medicine, surgery, obstetrics, paediatrics, emergency medicine) because they are often the only tertiary referral point for a large geographic catchment. Students at GMC Aurangabad or GMC Kolhapur may get more hands-on procedural experience than peers at Mumbai colleges, where residents and PG students handle more cases.
Living costs in Tier 2 cities are 30% to 50% lower than Mumbai. Hostel availability is generally better (less demand, more space). The social and cultural environment is more limited than Mumbai or Pune, which matters to some candidates and is irrelevant to others.
Tier 2 colleges in district headquarters often provide more hands-on procedural experience than Tier 1 metro colleges, where PG residents handle many procedures. If clinical skill-building is your priority, Tier 2 colleges in Aurangabad, Kolhapur, or Solapur offer strong training at 30-50% lower living costs.
Tier 3: OPEN closing AIR 50,000 to 2,00,000 (approximately 10 to 15 colleges)
Colleges in smaller district headquarters and newer institutions. Cities include Nanded, Latur, Chandrapur, Yavatmal, Beed, Washim, and Osmanabad (Dharashiv). These colleges typically have 100 to 200 seats and were established in the last 10 to 20 years.
Infrastructure varies. Some Tier 3 colleges have modern buildings and equipment (recent government investments in medical education infrastructure). Others are still developing their clinical departments and hospital facilities. Patient volumes are lower than Tier 1 or 2 but sufficient for MBBS training requirements.
The value proposition of Tier 3 is straightforward: Rs 1.62 lakh/year for an MBBS degree that carries the same weight as a degree from Seth GS. If your AIR is 80,000 and the choice is between GMC Nanded at Rs 1.62 lakh/year and a private college in Pune at Rs 12 lakh/year, the five-year savings of Rs 52 lakh make the government option compelling even with a less preferred location.
A candidate with AIR 80,000 choosing between GMC Nanded (Rs 1.62L/yr) and a Pune private college (Rs 12L/yr): five-year tuition difference is Rs 52 lakh. Add lower living costs in Nanded (Rs 5K/month vs Rs 10K/month in Pune), and the total savings approach Rs 55 lakh. Both degrees carry identical weight for NEET PG eligibility.
Tier 4: OPEN closing AIR above 2,00,000 (approximately 8 to 12 colleges)
The newest government colleges in the most underserved areas: Nandurbar, Sindhudurg, Gondia, Alibaug (Raigad), and similar locations. Some of these colleges close at AIRs above 5,00,000, meaning candidates with relatively high (weak) ranks can still secure a government seat.
These colleges are sometimes dismissed as “not real options” by candidates focused on metropolitan colleges. This is a mistake for two reasons:
The degree is identical. NMC accreditation ensures that all government colleges meet minimum standards for faculty, equipment, and clinical training. The MBBS degree from GMC Nandurbar is legally and professionally identical to one from Seth GS.
The alternative may be no seat. A candidate with AIR 3,00,000 who lists only 10 colleges (all in Mumbai and Pune) may end up with no allotment. Adding Tier 4 government colleges at the bottom of the list provides a safety net at Rs 1.62 lakh/year.
Never dismiss Tier 4 government colleges. A candidate with AIR 3,00,000 who lists only metro colleges risks ending up with no allotment. Adding Nandurbar, Sindhudurg, or Gondia at the bottom of your list costs nothing and prevents the worst outcome: no medical seat at all at Rs 1.62L/yr.
The complete ranking: 2025 Round 2 OPEN closing AIRs
Use the cutoff analyzer to see the full ranked list with exact closing AIRs for any year, round, and category. Filter by state=Maharashtra, year=2025, category=OPEN, and sort by closing AIR to see every government college ranked from most to least competitive.
For Round 3 data (which shows slightly relaxed cutoffs at most colleges), add the Round 3 filter. Comparing R2 and R3 closing AIRs gives you the realistic range for each college.
City cluster analysis
Mumbai (9 colleges): Widest range of Tier 1 options. See Mumbai guide.
Pune (2 colleges + AFMC): BJM is Tier 1; AFMC is separate admission. See Pune guide.
Nagpur (2 colleges): GMC Nagpur is Tier 1/2. Indira Gandhi GMC is Tier 2/3.
Marathwada region (Aurangabad, Latur, Nanded, Ambejogai, Osmanabad): Multiple Tier 2/3 options. Historically underserved in medical education; new colleges are expanding access.
Vidarbha region (Nagpur, Chandrapur, Yavatmal, Akola, Amravati, Gondia): Tier 2/3/4 spread. Strong clinical diversity due to tribal and rural populations.
Western Maharashtra (Kolhapur, Sangli, Miraj, Satara, Ratnagiri): Established Tier 2 colleges with stable demand.
Open the cutoff analyzer, set state=Maharashtra, year=2025, category=OPEN, and sort by closing AIR. Identify every government college where your AIR falls within the closing range, then list all of them on your preference list. The algorithm gives you the best match; unlisted colleges cannot help you.
FAQ
Are all 44 government colleges in CET Cell counselling?
Most are. AFMC Pune has a separate admission process. ESIC colleges are included in CET Cell counselling for state quota. Check the current year’s seat matrix for the exact participating list.
Do government college closing AIRs tighten every year?
Generally yes, especially at Tier 1 and 2 colleges, due to increasing NEET registrations and overall score inflation. Tier 3 and 4 colleges show more stability because demand is less concentrated. Plan with a 10% to 15% buffer when using historical data.
Should I list all 44 government colleges?
List every government college where your AIR qualifies and you would accept the seat if allotted. For most candidates, that means 20 to 35 government colleges. Even if you list 40+ options, the algorithm gives you the highest-ranked one you qualify for. The extras are invisible safety nets.
What about the quality difference between Tier 1 and Tier 4?
Tier 1 colleges have larger hospitals, more specialities, more research, and a stronger alumni network. Tier 4 colleges are newer and still building these features. The MBBS curriculum and degree are the same. The practical training experience differs in volume and variety, not in kind. For PG entrance, what matters is your exam score, not which government college you attended.
There is no penalty for listing additional choices. More is always better.
The time investment for 50 choices vs 10 is about 25 extra minutes: one of the highest-value uses of time in the entire process.
In Round 1, exit is free. You cannot get “stuck” at an unwanted college.
Use the college predictor to identify your Safe, Target, and Reach zones, then list all of them.
The short answer: as many as you can
Fill every college where you would accept a seat if offered. There is no penalty for listing additional choices. The allotment algorithm processes your list top to bottom and assigns you the highest-ranked choice where your AIR qualifies. Choices below your allotted position are never seen by anyone. They sit unused, invisible, and cost you nothing.
The real question is not “how many” but “what is the risk of listing too few?” That risk is concrete: you end up with no allotment in a round where you could have had one.
What happens when you list too few choices
Consider a candidate with AIR 35,000 in Maharashtra who lists 8 colleges, all in Mumbai. The cutoffs at those 8 colleges in 2025 Round 1 ranged from 2,571 to 50,000 for OPEN category. In a normal year, this candidate gets one of the less competitive options. But in 2025, cutoffs tightened across the board. All 8 colleges had closing AIRs below 35,000. The candidate gets no allotment. If they had listed 25 colleges including government colleges in smaller cities and a few private colleges, they would have had a seat.
This scenario plays out every year. It is not hypothetical.
The numbers: how list length affects outcomes
We do not have access to individual candidates’ preference lists (those are confidential). But we can model outcomes using our cutoff data. What the data shows about how many colleges each AIR range qualifies for:
Maharashtra, OPEN category, 2025 (all rounds combined)
Your AIR range
Approximate colleges with closing AIR >= your AIR
Under 5,000
5-10 (all top government colleges)
5,000 to 15,000
15-25 (most government colleges)
15,000 to 50,000
25-40 (all government + some private)
50,000 to 1,00,000
40-60 (including many private colleges)
Above 1,00,000
60-80 (primarily private colleges)
If you have AIR 30,000 and list only 10 colleges, you are covering less than half your options. If cutoffs tighten by 10% to 15% (which has happened between consecutive years), 3 or 4 of your listed colleges may become unavailable. Your effective list shrinks from 10 to 6 or 7. With 30 colleges listed, the same tightening still leaves you 25 options.
The time investment
Filling 10 choices takes about 15 minutes. Filling 50 choices takes about 40 minutes. The additional 25 minutes buying you 40 more options is one of the highest-value uses of time in the entire counselling process.
The bottleneck is research time, not filling time. Use the choice filling optimizer and college predictor to collapse hours of research into a 5-minute interaction. Then transferring your list to the counselling portal takes minutes.
Common objections
“I only want government colleges”
Fine. List all the government colleges you qualify for, in your preferred order. Maharashtra has 44 government medical colleges; Karnataka has 24. If you are listing fewer than 20 government colleges when your AIR qualifies for that many, you are leaving options on the table.
After your government colleges, add private colleges at the bottom of your list as a safety net. In Round 1, where exit is free, being allotted a private college you do not want costs nothing. You do not report, your deposit is refunded, and you enter Round 2. But if your entire list of government colleges is exhausted and you have no private colleges listed, you get no allotment at all.
“I want to exclude colleges in certain cities”
If a specific location is genuinely unacceptable, do not list it. But be honest about whether the objection is a firm constraint or a soft preference. If you are choosing between “no seat at all” and “a seat in Latur,” most candidates would take the seat. Better to have it as option 45 on your list than to end up with nothing.
“Listing too many colleges means I might get stuck somewhere I hate”
In Round 1, you cannot get “stuck.” Exit is free. In later rounds, it is true that accepting an allotment becomes more binding. But even then, having more choices does not increase your risk. The algorithm gives you the highest choice on your list where you qualify. If your top 20 choices are all colleges you genuinely want, positions 21 through 50 only activate if none of your top 20 are available. At that point, the alternative is no seat at all.
“The counselling portal is slow and times out”
Prepare your list in advance using offline tools. Enter it on the portal when traffic is lighter (early morning or late night). Do not wait until the last few hours before the deadline. Portal crashes during peak periods have caused candidates to miss deadlines entirely.
A framework for minimum list length
As a rough guideline:
If your AIR qualifies for 10 or fewer colleges: list all of them. You are at the top of the merit spectrum, and every option matters.
If your AIR qualifies for 10 to 30 colleges: list at least 20. Leave a buffer of 5 to 10 colleges beyond what you think you need.
If your AIR qualifies for 30 or more colleges: list at least 30. Include all government colleges plus a selection of acceptable private colleges.
The college predictor tells you how many colleges fall into your Safe, Target, and Reach zones. Use that as the baseline for list length: list all Safe and Target colleges at minimum, plus as many Reach colleges as you can identify.
Round 1 vs later rounds
The argument for long lists is strongest in Round 1 because of the free exit provision. In later rounds, where the allotment may be binding:
Round 2: still list broadly. In Maharashtra, Round 2 allows fresh preference filling. In Karnataka, the Choice 2/Choice 3 mechanism adds complexity (see our Karnataka choice filling guide), but the principle holds: more options are better than fewer.
Round 3 (mop-up): the seat pool is small. List whatever is available. This is not the round for selectivity; it is the round for ensuring you have a medical seat.
FAQ
Is there a maximum number of choices I can fill?
MCC and state counselling authorities set technical limits, but they are high enough that most candidates will not hit them. Maharashtra’s CET Cell does not impose a hard limit on the number of preferences. Karnataka KEA also allows unlimited options. MCC allows up to the total number of available college-course combinations.
Does listing 50 choices take longer to process than listing 10?
Not for you. The algorithm is automated and processes all candidates’ lists simultaneously. Whether your list has 10 or 100 entries, your allotment is determined in the same batch run. The processing time is the same.
If I list a college I do not want and get allotted there, what happens?
In Round 1 (free exit), nothing. You do not report, and your deposit is refunded. In later rounds, the consequences depend on the specific counselling track’s rules. In MCC Round 2, your deposit may be forfeited. In Round 3, the seat may be binding. Only list colleges you would not attend in rounds where exit carries penalties.
Should I list the same colleges in both MCC and state counselling?
The college lists are different between MCC and state counselling (MCC includes deemed universities and AIQ seats; state counselling includes state quota seats). Some colleges appear in both tracks but with different seat pools. List independently based on what is available in each track.
Maharashtra allows fresh preference filling every round: you can rebuild your entire list after each result.
Use Round 1 closing AIRs to reclassify colleges from Reach to Target or Safe for Round 2.
Status Retention is irrevocable. Once declared, you cannot withdraw even if no upgrade comes.
Government fees (~Rs 1.62 lakh/year) vs private fees (Rs 5-25 lakh/year) should heavily influence your ordering.
Maharashtra allows fresh preference filling every round
Maharashtra’s CET Cell counselling process gives you a structural advantage that candidates in many other states do not have: you can submit an entirely new preference list in each round. Round 1, Round 2, and Round 3 each open fresh choice-filling windows. You are not locked into your Round 1 preferences for the rest of the process.
This matters because the seat pool changes between rounds. Seats vacated by candidates who took free exit in Round 1 become available in Round 2. Round 3 adds stray vacancy seats. Each round’s closing AIRs provide concrete information that did not exist when you filled your Round 1 list. Fresh filling lets you incorporate that information.
The round structure and what changes between rounds
Round 1
All seats are available: 85% state quota at government and private colleges, institutional quota seats at private colleges. You fill preferences based on historical data and your AIR. Exit is free; if allotted, you can simply not report and your deposit is refunded.
After Round 1 results, CET Cell publishes the allotment list showing which colleges were allotted at which closing AIRs by category. This data becomes your strongest input for Round 2.
Between Round 1 and Round 2: Status Retention
Status Retention is irrevocable. Once you declare Status Retention on a seat, you cannot withdraw from it, even if you do not get upgraded in Round 2. If you are not upgraded, you continue with the Round 1 seat. Think of it as Maharashtra’s equivalent of “Float” in other states. Only declare Status Retention if you are genuinely willing to keep your Round 1 seat as a floor.
If you were allotted a seat in Round 1 and want to keep it while seeking an upgrade, you file a Status Retention declaration. See our Status Retention guide for the full mechanics and when to use it.
Candidates who did not receive an allotment in Round 1, or who took free exit, enter Round 2 with a clean slate.
Round 2
Fresh preference filling opens. The seat pool now includes seats vacated by Round 1 exits plus any new seats added. Closing AIRs in Round 2 are typically higher (less competitive) than Round 1 for most colleges because the candidate pool has shrunk (those who accepted Round 1 seats and declared Status Retention are no longer competing for new seats; they only compete for upgrades within their retained category).
Use Round 1 closing AIR data to recalibrate your list. A college that was Reach in Round 1 might now be Target or even Safe based on observed data.
Round 3
The final regular round. The seat pool is smaller. Many top colleges have already filled their seats. Fresh preference filling still applies. This is the round where candidates who have been waiting for a specific college should reconsider their position: if that college is fully filled, listing alternatives becomes more urgent.
Maharashtra-specific preference considerations
86 colleges across three types
CET Cell handles admissions for 44 government colleges, 26 private colleges, and 16 deemed universities. Your preference list can include any combination of these, though deemed university seats going through state counselling are limited to the government quota portion.
Government fees are roughly Rs 1.62 lakh per year (tuition plus development fee). Private college fees range from Rs 5 lakh to Rs 25 lakh depending on the institution. This fee gap means that for most candidates, government colleges should dominate the upper portion of the preference list.
The 41 category codes
Maharashtra’s parallel reservation system creates compound categories. OPENW (Open + Female), SCW (SC + Female), OPENDEF (Open + Defence), OPENDEFPH (Open + Defence + PWD), and so on. Your preference list applies to your specific category combination.
If you are a female candidate in a constitutional category (say, SC), you may be eligible for both SC and SCW seats. Use the cutoff analyzer to check closing AIRs for both category codes at each college. Understanding which compound code applies to you determines which cutoffs are relevant. See our Maharashtra categories guide for a full breakdown.
Government colleges are concentrated in a few cities
Mumbai alone has 8 to 10 government medical colleges (depending on how the GMC/Cama Hospital new institutions are counted). Pune has 4. Nagpur has 2. Aurangabad (Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar), Kolhapur, Solapur, Latur, Dhule, Akola, and others each have one.
If you are a candidate from Mumbai, your natural tendency is to list Mumbai colleges first. That is reasonable if you genuinely prefer Mumbai. But if your AIR puts you in the Target zone for Mumbai colleges and the Safe zone for colleges in Nagpur or Aurangabad, listing only Mumbai colleges is risky. Add government colleges in other cities as safety options.
Inter-se for unfilled reserved seats
Maharashtra operates a three-group inter-se mechanism. Unfilled SC/ST seats go to the other group within Group I. Unfilled VJ/NT-B seats go within Group II. Unfilled NT-C/NT-D/OBC seats go within Group III. If still unfilled, seats go to combined merit of all reserved categories, then to common merit. Colleges with historically unfilled reserved seats in your group may offer additional opportunities in later rounds.
Using Round 1 data to build your Round 2 list
After Round 1 results, follow these steps: (1) Go to the Maharashtra cutoff analyzer and filter for your category. (2) Note Round 1 closing AIRs for each college. (3) Compare to your AIR. (4) Move newly realistic colleges higher, push colleges that filled at much lower AIRs to the bottom. (5) Add colleges that did not fill in Round 1.
Institutional quota seats
Private colleges in Maharashtra allocate 15% of seats as institutional quota, filled on an all-India basis through CET Cell’s counselling process. These seats are open to NRI, OCI, and out-of-state candidates, and they carry higher fees than state quota seats.
If your AIR qualifies for institutional quota at a private college but not for state quota, listing the institutional quota option as a backup gives you an additional pathway. The fees are higher (typically 2x to 3x state quota), but it is better to have the option than to miss out entirely.
FAQ
Can I add colleges in Round 2 that I did not list in Round 1?
Yes. Maharashtra allows fresh preference filling in each round. Your Round 2 list is completely independent of your Round 1 list. You can add new colleges, remove old ones, and reorder everything.
If I declared Status Retention, does my preference list in Round 2 matter?
Yes. Your Round 2 preferences determine which college you might be upgraded to. If you listed College A (better than your Round 1 seat) at position 1 and your AIR qualifies, you get upgraded. If not, you keep your Round 1 seat. Status Retention candidates compete for upgrades alongside fresh Round 2 candidates.
Should I fill institutional quota seats?
Only if the higher fees are acceptable to you. Institutional quota fees at private colleges are typically 2x to 3x the state quota fees. If you can afford it and the alternative is no seat, list them at the bottom of your preference list as a safety net.
What happens if I do not fill any preferences in Round 2?
If you were not allotted in Round 1, you are automatically eligible for Round 2 but must fill preferences to participate. If you do not file a preference list, you receive no allotment in Round 2. There is no carryover from Round 1.
How do I know which seats are available in Round 2?
CET Cell publishes an updated seat matrix before each round’s choice-filling window opens. This shows remaining seats by college, category, and seat type. Cross-reference it with your eligibility to identify options.
Your Karnataka preference list carries forward across rounds, so the initial ordering is critical.
Use the mock allotment as a free trial run to refine your list before the final lock.
Choice 2 (Accept and Seek Upgrade) preserves your seat with no penalty if not upgraded.
Check cutoffs for all suffix variants you qualify for (G, K, R, H, KH, RH) to find additional options.
Karnataka’s Choice 1/2/3 system changes how you think about preferences
In Karnataka, the preference list you submit before Round 1 carries forward. Unlike Maharashtra, where you file a completely new list each round, Karnataka’s KEA counselling requires you to enter your preferences once, and those preferences shape outcomes across all rounds. The Choice 1/Choice 2/Choice 3 decision after allotment then determines whether you accept, seek an upgrade, or re-enter the pool.
Your initial preference list matters more in Karnataka than in Maharashtra. A poorly ordered list stays with you across all rounds. In Maharashtra, you get a fresh start each round. In Karnataka, you do not.
KEA publishes a mock allotment before the final Round 1 allotment. This is a preview of where you would be allotted based on current preferences and the seat matrix. After seeing the mock results, you can modify, add, delete, or reorder your choices before the final lock.
Treat the mock allotment as a free trial run. After seeing the results, rearrange your list if needed. Move colleges that are clearly out of reach to the bottom (they will not hurt you there, but a cleaner list is easier to review). Promote colleges that are borderline if they match your genuine preferences.
The mock allotment shows you:
Which college and category you would be allotted under current preferences
Whether your top choices are realistic or unreachable
Where you stand relative to closing thresholds at specific colleges
How the Choice 1/2/3 decision interacts with your preference list
After each round’s final allotment, you select one of three options:
Choice 1 (Accept and Exit): you take the allotted seat and leave counselling. Your preference list is no longer relevant. This is final.
Choice 2 (Accept and Seek Upgrade): you accept the allotted seat but want to try for a better seat in Round 2. Your existing preference list is carried forward. In Round 2, the algorithm checks your preferences above your current allotment: if any of those higher-ranked colleges now has a vacancy and your AIR qualifies, you are upgraded. Your old seat is released automatically.
Choice 3 (Decline and Re-enter): you reject the seat entirely and re-enter the pool. Your preferences above the rejected college are active for Round 2. This is the highest-risk option: there is no guarantee you will get any seat in Round 2.
Choice 2 upgrade eligibility is determined by what is above your current allotment on your preference list. If the college you actually want is below your current allotment (because you ranked it lower), you cannot be upgraded to it. This is why getting the initial preference order right is the single most important step in Karnataka counselling.
Building the initial preference list
Since your list carries forward, it needs to be right the first time. The principles:
List every college you would attend, not just your ideal ones
Karnataka has 74 medical colleges in our database: 24 government, 38 private, 12 deemed. Your preference list should cover enough of these to guarantee an allotment in at least one round. If you qualify for 40 colleges but list only 15, and those 15 fill before your rank, you exit Round 1 with nothing.
Separate government and private tiers
Government college fees in Karnataka are approximately Rs 50,000 per year. Private college government quota fees average Rs 14 lakh per year. Management quota fees average Rs 36 lakh per year. The fee multiplier between government and private is 28x to 72x. For most candidates, all government colleges (even in less preferred locations) should come before private colleges.
Account for the suffix system
Karnataka’s categories use suffixes: G (general), K (Kannada medium), R (Rural), H (Hyderabad-Karnataka), KH, RH. If you qualify for multiple suffix codes (say, you are a 2A candidate from a rural school in the HK region, making you eligible for 2AG, 2AR, 2AH, and 2ARH), the algorithm checks your eligibility across applicable codes.
When using the cutoff analyzer to research your options, check cutoffs for all suffix variants you qualify for. A college might be Reach for 2AG but Safe for 2AH, meaning the HK reservation gives you additional options you would otherwise miss.
Include deemed university government quota seats
Approximately 25% of deemed university seats are government quota, filled through KEA. These seats often have different cutoffs from the private and management quota at the same institution. If a deemed university appears in the KEA counselling, check the government quota closing AIR specifically; it may be more accessible than you expect.
Round 2: what changes
In Round 2, the seat pool shifts:
Choice 1 candidates from Round 1 are gone; their seats are not available (they accepted).
Choice 2 candidates retain their Round 1 seats while seeking upgrades. If upgraded, their old seats become available for others.
Choice 3 candidates re-enter the pool. Their vacated Round 1 seats become available.
New seats may be added if the NMC approved additional seats after Round 1.
Round 2 is consistently the largest round in Karnataka. In 2025, Round 2 had 9,957 allotments versus 8,320 in Round 1. Seats freed by Choice 1 and Choice 3 candidates create a large pool of vacancies. Closing AIRs at the most competitive government colleges tend to be slightly less competitive (higher numbers) than Round 1.
The Choice 2 advance fee change in 2025
A significant 2025 rule change: for Choice 2 candidates with allotted seats having course fees exceeding Rs 12 lakh, only Rs 12,001 needs to be paid upfront (previously the full course fee was required). SC/ST/Category 1 candidates pay Rs 2,000 as a caution deposit.
This lowers the financial barrier for Choice 2. Previously, a candidate allotted a private college seat at Rs 15 lakh had to pay the full Rs 15 lakh to keep the seat while seeking an upgrade. Now they pay Rs 12,001. This makes Choice 2 more accessible for candidates who want to hold a private seat while hoping for a government upgrade.
When to choose Choice 3 (decline and re-enter)
Choice 3 is the highest-risk option. Use it only when: (1) the allotted seat is genuinely unacceptable, (2) your AIR is strong enough that historical data strongly suggests a better allotment in Round 2, and (3) you are willing to risk the Rs 1,00,000 caution deposit (Rs 50,000 for SC/ST). If you are on the margin, Choice 2 is almost always better: it preserves your Round 1 seat while giving you a shot at an upgrade.
FAQ
Can I modify my preference list between Round 1 and Round 2?
The general rule is that preferences carry forward from Round 1. Some recent KEA cycles have allowed limited modification. Check the current year’s KEA notification for the exact policy. Even if modification is allowed, the core order established in Round 1 shapes your outcomes.
If I choose Choice 2 and am not upgraded, what happens?
You keep your Round 1 seat. You pay the remaining course fee balance and report to the original college. Choice 2 carries no penalty for non-upgrade.
Does my out-of-state status affect preference filling?
If you are a non-Karnataka candidate, you can only be allotted private college private/management/NRI quota seats through KEA. Your preference list should include only those seat types. Government college state quota seats and government quota at private colleges are restricted to Karnataka domicile candidates.
How do deemed university seats appear in the preference list?
Deemed university government quota seats (filled through KEA) appear alongside other college options. They are treated like any other college in the preference list. Management and NRI quota at deemed universities go through MCC, not KEA, and do not appear in the KEA preference list.
What if I got admission through MCC and also have a KEA allotment?
You can cancel your KEA seat before Round 2 results if you chose Choice 2, without forfeiting fees. If you chose Choice 1 and already reported, the cancellation and refund rules depend on the timing relative to KEA’s cancellation deadline. Check both the MCC and KEA bulletins for exact cross-counselling rules for the current year.
Status Retention is irrevocable: once declared, you cannot withdraw even if no upgrade materializes.
Only retain a seat you would genuinely attend for five years at its fee level.
Round 2 closing AIRs at government colleges are typically 15% to 25% less competitive than Round 1.
You must still fill Round 2 preferences after declaring Status Retention; the upgrade does not happen automatically.
Status Retention is Maharashtra’s version of floating, with one critical difference: it is irrevocable
In Maharashtra’s CET Cell counselling, “Status Retention” is the mechanism for keeping your Round 1 seat while seeking an upgrade in Round 2. The concept is identical to MCC’s “Float”: you hold your current allotment as a safety net and let the algorithm check whether anything better is available. The difference is in the commitment. Once you declare Status Retention on a seat in Maharashtra, you cannot withdraw from it. If Round 2 does not produce an upgrade, that seat is yours, and you must report to the college.
Status Retention applies between Round 1 and Round 2. The sequence:
Round 1 results are published. You see your allotment (college, category, seat type).
Reporting window opens. If you want to accept the seat, you report to the college, pay the fees, and confirm admission. This is equivalent to “freezing.”
Status Retention window opens (usually overlapping with or immediately after reporting). If you want to keep the seat but seek an upgrade, you file a Status Retention declaration through the CET Cell portal. You pay the required deposit.
Free Exit window. If you do not want the seat at all, you do not report and do not declare Status Retention. Your seat is released, your deposit is refunded, and you enter Round 2 as a fresh candidate.
Round 2 choice filling opens. You fill a fresh preference list (Maharashtra allows new preferences every round).
Round 2 results. If upgraded, you report to the new college. If not upgraded, you report to your Round 1 college (the one you retained).
What happens mechanically when you declare Status Retention
When you file Status Retention:
Your Round 1 seat is locked to you. No other candidate can be allotted to it during Round 2.
You fill a new Round 2 preference list. Only colleges ranked above your Round 1 allotment (in terms of your preference) are considered for upgrade. If you list the same college you already hold, the system ignores it since you already have it.
The Round 2 algorithm processes all candidates simultaneously: Status Retention candidates seeking upgrades, fresh candidates, and Round 1 candidates who took free exit.
If your AIR qualifies for a college on your Round 2 list that is better than your retained seat, you are upgraded. Your Round 1 seat is released to other candidates.
If no upgrade is available, your Round 1 seat is confirmed. You must report to that college.
The irrevocability rule and why it matters
Status Retention in Maharashtra is binding. Once declared, you cannot change your mind and take free exit, withdraw from the retained seat, or participate in other counselling for that seat. The college you retain becomes your guaranteed minimum outcome. If you retain a private college at Rs 18 lakh per year and are not upgraded, you owe Rs 18 lakh per year for five years.
This is the single most important difference from Round 1’s free exit. In Round 1, listing a college you do not want costs nothing because exit is free. In the Status Retention phase, the college you retain becomes your guaranteed minimum outcome.
Choose what you retain carefully. Only retain a seat you would genuinely attend if the upgrade does not materialise.
Who should use Status Retention
Candidates allotted a private college who want a government upgrade
This is the most common Status Retention scenario. You got a private college in Round 1 (fees Rs 5 lakh to Rs 25 lakh per year depending on the institution) but government colleges you qualify for did not allot to you because cutoffs were tighter than expected. Round 2 cutoffs at government colleges are typically 15% to 25% less competitive than Round 1. Retaining the private seat gives you a safety net while the government upgrade becomes possible.
Check the Maharashtra cutoff analyzer to compare your AIR against Round 2 closing AIRs at government colleges for your category in previous years. If 3 or more government colleges had Round 2 closing AIRs at or above your AIR, Status Retention is well justified.
Candidates allotted a lower-preference government college
If you got a government college in a smaller city but prefer one in Mumbai or Pune, Status Retention lets you hold the current seat while trying for the metropolitan option. The fees are the same either way (approximately Rs 1.62 lakh per year at all Maharashtra government colleges), so the financial stakes are lower. The decision comes down to location and clinical exposure preferences.
Candidates whose AIR is within striking distance of target colleges
If your AIR was 2,000 to 5,000 ranks above (worse than) a target college’s Round 1 closing AIR, Round 2 easing may bring that college within reach. Status Retention is the mechanism to hold your current seat while that window opens.
Who should NOT use Status Retention
Candidates allotted their top 1-3 choices
If you got one of your most preferred colleges, there is no meaningful upgrade available. Report to the college directly. Status Retention adds administrative delay with no upside.
Candidates whose target upgrades are unrealistic
If the colleges above your allotment closed at AIRs 10,000 or more below your rank, Round 2 easing of 15% to 25% will not bridge the gap. Retaining your seat keeps you in the system for another week or two with no practical benefit. Worse, it delays your reporting and preparation.
Candidates uncomfortable with the retained seat’s fees
If you retained a private college at Rs 20 lakh per year and the upgrade does not happen, you owe that money. If that fee level creates genuine financial hardship, do not retain that seat. Take free exit in Round 1, enter Round 2 as a fresh candidate, and build a preference list that only includes colleges you can afford. Free exit has no financial penalty; Status Retention has a commitment.
Status Retention and fresh preference filling
Maharashtra’s fresh preference filling in each round interacts with Status Retention in a specific way. In Round 2, your preference list determines which colleges you can be upgraded to. Since you can build a completely new list, you should:
Three steps for your Round 2 list after declaring Status Retention: (1) Use Round 1 closing AIR data to recalibrate. Colleges that were Reach in Round 1 may now be Target. (2) List only colleges better than your retained seat. (3) Be aggressive: you have a safety net (the retained seat), so load the top of your Round 2 list with ambitious targets.
CET Cell specifies the deposit amount for Status Retention in each year’s information bulletin. The deposit is adjusted against the fees of your final college (whether the retained college or an upgraded one). Key points:
The Status Retention deposit is separate from the initial counselling registration fee.
If upgraded, you pay the balance fees at the new college. The deposit transfers.
If not upgraded, the deposit counts toward your retained college’s fees.
The deposit is not refundable once Status Retention is declared (this is part of the irrevocability).
Check the current year’s CET Cell information bulletin for the exact deposit amount. It varies by seat type (state quota vs institutional quota) and by college type (government vs private).
Status Retention and MCC dual participation
Many candidates participate in both Maharashtra state counselling and MCC counselling simultaneously. If you have a state counselling allotment and an MCC allotment:
You can declare Status Retention on your Maharashtra seat while continuing with MCC rounds.
If you eventually accept an MCC seat, you must cancel your Maharashtra seat per CET Cell rules.
The cancellation timing matters: cancelling before specific deadlines may entitle you to a partial refund; cancelling after may forfeit the deposit.
Each year’s information bulletin specifies the exact cross-counselling rules and refund timelines.
If you have a good MCC allotment and a Maharashtra allotment you are retaining, evaluate whether the MCC seat is preferable to both your current Maharashtra seat and the potential upgrade. If the MCC seat is your best option, take it and cancel the Maharashtra retention before the deadline to minimize financial loss.
Common mistakes with Status Retention
Retaining a seat you cannot afford
Candidates sometimes retain a private college seat “just in case” without fully calculating the five-year fee commitment. A private seat at Rs 18 lakh per year means Rs 90 lakh over five years. If the upgrade does not happen, you are locked into that fee structure with no way out. Only retain a seat you can financially sustain.
Not filing Round 2 preferences after declaring Status Retention
Status Retention reserves your seat but does not automatically enter you into Round 2. You must still fill a Round 2 preference list to be considered for upgrades. If you declare Status Retention and forget to fill Round 2 preferences, you simply keep your Round 1 seat with no upgrade attempt. The retention period was wasted.
Assuming Status Retention guarantees an upgrade
Status Retention guarantees that you keep your Round 1 seat. It does not guarantee an upgrade. The upgrade depends on your AIR, your Round 2 preferences, and the available seats. Treat the retained seat as your floor, not your ceiling.
Missing the declaration deadline
CET Cell publishes specific deadlines for Status Retention declarations. Missing the deadline means you default to either acceptance (if you reported to the college) or free exit (if you did not). Neither may be what you intended. Mark the deadline in your calendar the moment the Round 1 results are published.
FAQ
Can I declare Status Retention for a government college seat?
Yes. Status Retention applies to any allotted seat, whether government, private, or deemed university (state quota). If you have a government seat in a smaller city and want to try for a government seat in Mumbai, Status Retention is the mechanism.
What if I declared Status Retention but do not fill Round 2 preferences?
You keep your Round 1 seat. No upgrade attempt is made. You must report to the original college. The deposit is adjusted against the fees.
Can I declare Status Retention for Round 2 to Round 3?
CET Cell’s retention rules between Round 2 and Round 3 vary by year. Some years allow a similar retention mechanism; others require Round 2 allottees to either accept or exit. Check the current year’s information bulletin for the exact Round 2 to Round 3 rules.
If I am upgraded in Round 2, can I then float again for Round 3?
This depends on the specific year’s rules. In general, once upgraded, you are subject to the same accept-or-exit decision as any Round 2 allottee. Whether a second retention is available depends on CET Cell’s policy for that cycle.
What is the difference between Status Retention and “not reporting”?
“Not reporting” in Round 1 is free exit: you give up the seat, your deposit is refunded, and you re-enter as a fresh candidate. Status Retention means you keep the seat (with a financial commitment) while seeking an upgrade. They are opposite actions. Free exit releases the seat; Status Retention locks it.
Two parallel tracks: MCC fills ~26,500 central seats (AIQ, deemed, AIIMS, ESIC); state authorities fill the 85% state quota
Register for both MCC and state counselling simultaneously; choose one if allotted in both
Round 1 is free exit in both tracks: fill preferences aggressively, no penalty for not reporting
6-step process: register, fill choices, lock preferences, allotment, report to college, pay fees
Two parallel tracks: central and state
The NEET counselling process for 2026 runs on two separate tracks that operate simultaneously. The Medical Counselling Committee (MCC), under the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), handles central counselling. Each state has its own counselling authority for the remaining seats. Understanding this NEET UG counselling process is the first step toward converting your NEET rank into a medical seat.
MCC fills roughly 26,500 seats across five categories:
15% All India Quota (AIQ) seats in government medical and dental colleges
100% of seats in deemed universities (88 institutions, about 13,900 seats in 2025)
100% of seats in central universities (Delhi University, BHU, AMU, Jamia Millia Islamia, IP University)
All AIIMS and JIPMER campuses
ESIC medical colleges
State counselling authorities fill the other 85% of government college seats, restricted to candidates with domicile in that state. States also handle private college admissions within their borders, though the exact seat split between state quota and management quota varies.
A candidate can register for both MCC and state counselling at the same time. If allotted a seat in both, they must choose one and vacate the other within the reporting window.
The numbers: how many seats, how many candidates
In 2025, 12.36 lakh candidates qualified NEET UG, competing for approximately 1,29,000 MBBS seats. Karnataka and Maharashtra together account for over a fifth of India’s total MBBS capacity.
In 2025, about 22.7 lakh students registered for NEET UG. Of these, 12,36,531 qualified (roughly 56% of those who appeared). They competed for approximately 1,16,000 MBBS seats available at the start of counselling, a number that grew to 1,29,026 by December 2025 as the National Medical Commission approved new colleges and seat increases through the year.
The seat distribution across institution types looks like this:
Institution type
Approximate MBBS seats
Share
Government colleges
55,000 to 58,000
~45%
Private colleges
50,000 to 53,000
~40%
Deemed universities
11,000 to 14,000
~11%
Central institutions (AIIMS, JIPMER, etc.)
4,000 to 5,000
~4%
Karnataka had 13,944 MBBS seats in 2025-26, making it the state with the most seats in the country. Maharashtra had 12,824. Together, these two states account for over a fifth of India’s MBBS capacity.
The six steps of counselling
Whether you go through MCC or state counselling, the process follows the same sequence.
1. Registration
Register on the MCC portal (mcc.nic.in) or your state counselling portal. You enter personal details, your NEET roll number, and upload required documents. You also pay a registration fee and security deposit online.
MCC registration fees for 2025 were Rs 1,000 for General/EWS candidates and Rs 500 for SC/ST/OBC/PwD candidates. Security deposits ranged from Rs 10,000 (government AIQ seats) to Rs 2,00,000 (private/deemed seats).
2. Choice filling
This is the most consequential step. You rank college-and-course combinations in order of preference. You can fill as many or as few choices as you want, and you can rearrange them until the locking deadline.
The order matters: the allotment algorithm assigns you the highest-ranked choice where your AIR meets the cutoff. A poorly ordered preference list can land you in a less preferred college even if your rank qualifies for better options. Our choice filling optimizer helps you build a preference list using three years of actual cutoff data from Maharashtra and Karnataka.
3. Choice locking
Do not rely on auto-lock. Review your preference list carefully and lock it yourself before the deadline. Auto-lock saves the last version, which may not be your intended final order.
Before the deadline, you lock your final preference list. If you forget to lock it manually, the system auto-locks the last saved version. Do not rely on auto-lock; review your list and lock it yourself.
4. Seat allotment
MCC runs the allotment algorithm considering your NEET AIR, your locked preference list, available seats, and your category eligibility. A provisional result is published first. After an objection window, the final result comes out.
You can see what cutoffs looked like in previous years using our cutoff analyzer, which covers all rounds of Maharashtra and Karnataka state counselling from 2023 to 2025.
5. Reporting to the allotted college
You physically go to your allotted college within the reporting window and bring all original documents. The college verifies your documents, conducts a medical fitness check, and processes your admission. No proxy reporting: you must appear in person.
6. Fee payment
Tuition and other fees are paid at the college during reporting. Government college fees in Maharashtra and Karnataka typically range from Rs 10,000 to Rs 50,000 per year. Private colleges charge Rs 5 to 25 lakh per year depending on the institution.
How many rounds, and what happens in each
MCC ran four rounds plus a special stray round in 2025. Most state authorities follow a similar pattern.
Round
What happens
Can you exit freely?
Round 1
Fresh allotment based on your preference list and AIR
Yes. No penalty, full deposit refund.
Round 2
Fresh allotment + upgradation for Round 1 candidates. If you get a higher-preference seat, Round 1 seat is auto-cancelled.
No. Security deposit forfeited if you exit.
Round 3 (Mop-up)
Remaining seats after Rounds 1 and 2
No. Seat is binding after joining.
Stray vacancy
Final vacancies. Joining is compulsory.
No. Non-joining means deposit forfeiture and potential disqualification.
Round 1 is your free option. If you receive an allotment you do not want, simply do not report. Your deposit is refunded and you remain eligible for Round 2. Fill choices aggressively in Round 1.
The free exit in Round 1 is a safety valve. If you receive an allotment you don’t want, you simply don’t report. Your deposit is refunded and you remain eligible for Round 2. This means Round 1 carries almost no risk: fill choices aggressively and see what you get.
The 15/85 seat split: AIQ vs. state quota
In every government medical college, 15% of seats go to the All India Quota (open to candidates from any state, filled by MCC) and 85% stay with the state (restricted to domicile candidates, filled by the state authority).
Private colleges follow different rules. The split varies by state. In many states, private colleges allocate around 50% to state quota, 35% to management quota, and 15% to NRI quota. All seats, including management and NRI quota, require NEET qualification.
Deemed universities are entirely under MCC. No state quota applies to them.
Unfilled AIQ seats after Round 2 historically revert to the respective state quotas, giving state authorities additional seats to fill. In 2025, the MCC information bulletin stated that unfilled AIQ seats revert to state authorities. Whether vacated seats (from resignations after joining) also revert or are filled within the AIQ pool depends on the timing and the specific MCC circular for that year. Check the current year’s MCC bulletin for the exact reversion rules, as they can change between counselling cycles.
Open vs. closed states for private colleges
When people talk about “open” and “closed” states, they mean private college state quota seats specifically. Government college state quota (85%) is always restricted to domicile candidates in every state.
Maharashtra is a closed state: only Maharashtra domicile holders can apply for private medical college seats through the state counselling process. Karnataka is open: candidates from other states can apply for private college seats in Karnataka through KEA counselling.
This distinction matters if you’re from one state but considering private colleges in another. If the target state is open, you can participate in their counselling. If closed, you cannot.
Documents you’ll need
Both MCC and state counselling require the same core documents during reporting:
NEET UG admit card and scorecard (originals)
Allotment letter from the counselling portal
Class 10 certificate and marksheet (for date of birth verification)
Class 12 certificate and marksheet
8 passport-size photographs matching the NEET application photo
Government-issued ID (Aadhaar, PAN, or passport)
Category/caste certificate in the prescribed format (if applicable)
Domicile certificate (for state quota)
Disability certificate (for PwD candidates)
Gap year affidavit (if applicable)
Get all documents ready before counselling registration opens. Domicile and caste certificates take weeks to obtain. Do not wait until after your first allotment.
MCC tightened several rules for the 2025 counselling cycle compared to 2024:
Multiple registrations are now strictly prohibited. Registering more than once results in automatic cancellation and potential debarment.
MCC no longer edits or modifies personal information in registrations. All data is auto-fetched from the NTA database.
In-person reporting is mandatory. Proxy reporting (having someone else report on your behalf) is not allowed.
Resignation after Round 3 joining is no longer possible. Once you join after Round 3, the seat is binding.
Stray round joining is compulsory. Not joining after stray round allotment leads to deposit forfeiture and disqualification from the current year’s counselling.
OCI (Overseas Citizen of India) cardholders are now treated at par with Indian citizens for General/Unreserved seats, following a Supreme Court order.
Maharashtra and Karnataka: what our data shows
neet2seat tracks over 407,000 allotment records across Maharashtra (86 colleges) and Karnataka (74 colleges) from 2023 to 2025, covering every round of state counselling.
neet2seat tracks cutoff and allotment data for Maharashtra (86 colleges) and Karnataka (74 colleges) across 2023, 2024, and 2025. Our database has over 407,000 individual allotment records.
In Maharashtra, the state counselling covers government, private, and deemed colleges through the CET Cell. The process typically runs three rounds (Round 1, Round 2, Round 3) plus stray vacancy rounds. Closing AIRs ranged from as low as 10 (a top government college in an early round) to over 13 lakh (the last seats filled in later rounds) in 2025.
In Karnataka, KEA conducts the state counselling. Karnataka had three counselling rounds in 2024 and 2025 (up from two rounds plus a mop-up in 2023). Closing AIRs showed a similar spread.
Can I participate in both MCC and state counselling simultaneously?
Yes. You can register for and participate in both. If you receive allotments from both, you choose one and vacate the other within the specified reporting window.
What if I don’t get any seat in Round 1?
You automatically move to Round 2 with the same registration. No re-registration is needed. Round 2 includes seats vacated by Round 1 candidates who took free exit, plus any new seats added.
Is the security deposit refundable?
It depends on when you exit. In Round 1, you get a full refund if you choose not to report (free exit). After Round 2, the deposit is forfeited if you resign. If you’re never allotted a seat, the deposit is refunded regardless of round.
Do I need a domicile certificate for AIQ seats?
No. AIQ seats under MCC are open to candidates from any state. Domicile certificates are required only for state quota seats (the 85% filled by state counselling authorities).
When should I start preparing documents?
As soon as your NEET result is out. Domicile and caste certificates in particular can take weeks to obtain. Don’t wait until the registration window opens.
What’s the difference between free exit and resignation?
Free exit is available only in Round 1. You simply don’t report to the allotted college, and your deposit is refunded. Resignation is available in Round 2: you give up your seat, but your deposit is forfeited. After Round 3, neither option exists; the seat is binding.
How many counselling rounds are there in NEET?
MCC conducts 4 rounds for All India Quota: Round 1, Round 2, Round 3 (mop-up), and a stray vacancy round. State counselling authorities run 2 to 3 regular rounds plus their own mop-up rounds. Maharashtra runs 3 rounds plus a stray vacancy round. Karnataka runs 3 rounds. The total number depends on which tracks you participate in; candidates in both MCC and state counselling may go through 6 to 8 rounds across the full counselling cycle.
How much does NEET counselling cost?
MCC charges a registration fee of Rs 1,000 for General/EWS and Rs 500 for SC/ST/OBC/PwD candidates. A refundable security deposit of Rs 10,000 to Rs 2,00,000 is required depending on the college type. Maharashtra CET Cell charges a registration fee plus a security deposit as per the Information Brochure. Karnataka KEA charges a similar registration fee. The total upfront cost (registration + deposit) ranges from Rs 11,000 to Rs 2,00,000, most of which is refundable if you do not take a seat.
CET Cell runs counselling for 64 colleges (9,070 seats) through mahacet.org; 16 more deemed universities fill seats through MCC
Closed state: only Maharashtra domicile holders qualify for state quota. Non-domicile candidates are limited to the 15% institutional quota at private colleges
Fresh preferences every round: Round 1 choices do not carry forward to Round 2
Status Retention is irrevocable: once submitted, you exit all future rounds permanently
Who runs Maharashtra medical counselling
Maharashtra NEET counselling 2026 is conducted by the Office of the Commissioner, State Common Entrance Test Cell (CET Cell) in Mumbai. The CET Cell process runs under the authority of the Medical Education and Drugs Department, Government of Maharashtra, and follows rules published in the NEET UG Information Brochure issued each year. For the 2025-26 cycle, the brochure was approved on 22 July 2025 and runs to 337 pages of rules, annexures, college lists, and seat matrices.
Everything happens on one portal: mahacet.org. Registration, document uploading, preference filling, allotment results, status retention, and stray vacancy rounds all run through this single website. There is no offline preference form.
Maharashtra is a closed state for private college admissions. Only candidates with Maharashtra domicile (or those exempted under specific rules for children of government employees posted outside the state) can apply for state quota seats. Candidates from other states cannot participate in Maharashtra state counselling, except for the 15% institutional quota at private colleges, which is open on an all-India basis.
How many colleges and seats
According to the 2025 Information Brochure (college list dated 23 July 2025), Maharashtra has 64 MBBS colleges with a combined intake of 9,070 seats. Of these, 41 are government or corporation colleges (5,850 seats) and 23 are private unaided colleges (3,220 seats).
Including deemed universities, Maharashtra has 86 medical colleges with a combined capacity of 12,924 MBBS seats across all admission pathways. The 16 deemed universities fill seats through MCC, not CET Cell.
The state also has 16 deemed universities with MBBS programmes, but these fill seats through MCC (central counselling), not the CET Cell. Including deemed universities, our database tracks 86 medical colleges in Maharashtra with a combined capacity of 12,924 MBBS seats across all admission pathways.
The four largest government colleges each have 250 seats: Grant Government Medical College Mumbai, Seth GS Medical College and KEM Hospital Mumbai, BJ Government Medical College Pune, and Government Medical College Nagpur. The smallest government colleges (GMC GT and Cama Hospital Mumbai, GMC Parbhani) have 50 seats each.
How seats are distributed
Maharashtra splits its seats across three tracks:
All India Quota (AIQ): 15% of seats in government and corporation MBBS and BDS colleges go to the All India Quota, filled by MCC through central counselling. These are open to candidates from any state. Per the 2025 brochure, AIQ seats from government and corporation medical and dental colleges do not revert back to the state if unfilled.
State quota: 85% of government college seats and 85% of private college seats are filled by the CET Cell from the state merit list. Constitutional reservation, specified reservation, and female reservation all apply to state quota seats.
Institutional quota: 15% of seats in private unaided colleges are institutional quota seats. The CET Cell fills these through CAP rounds on an all-India basis, open to NRI, OCI, and out-of-Maharashtra (OMS) candidates. This is the only route for non-domicile candidates to get a private college seat in Maharashtra through state counselling.
Maharashtra’s reservation structure
Maharashtra has one of the most layered reservation systems in Indian medical admissions. The categories here differ from most other states, so pay close attention if you are comparing across states.
Constitutional reservation (government colleges): 50% of state quota
Category
Reservation
Scheduled Castes and SC converts to Buddhism (SC)
13%
Scheduled Tribes (ST)
7%
Vimukta Jati / DT-A (VJ)
3%
Nomadic Tribes B (NT-B)
2.5%
Nomadic Tribes C (NT-C)
3.5%
Nomadic Tribes D (NT-D)
2%
Other Backward Classes including SBC (OBC)
19%
Total
50%
Constitutional reservation (private unaided colleges): 25% of total intake
Private colleges carry exactly half the government percentages: SC 6.5%, ST 3.5%, VJ 1.5%, NT-B 1.25%, NT-C 1.75%, NT-D 1%, OBC 9.5%. This comes from the Maharashtra Act No. XXX of 2006.
Additional reservations (parallel/specified)
These operate in parallel with constitutional reservation, meaning a candidate can hold both a constitutional category seat and a specified quota seat simultaneously:
SEBC (Socially and Educationally Backward Classes): 10% of available state quota seats, in government and private colleges (excluding minority institutions). This reservation is subject to the outcome of W.P. No. 3468/2024 in the Bombay High Court.
EWS (Economically Weaker Section): 10% of available state quota seats, same scope as SEBC.
Defence (DEF): 5% of intake, maximum 5 seats per government/corporation/government-aided college. Three sub-categories: DEF-1 (ex-service, MH domicile), DEF-2 (active, MH domicile), DEF-3 (active, transferred to MH).
PWD (Persons with Disability): 5% of annual sanctioned intake, per the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act 2016. Constitutional reservation applies within PWD quota seats.
Hilly Area (HA): 3% at government/corporation medical colleges, MBBS only.
Orphan: 1% of available seats. Constitutional reservation applies within orphan quota.
Female: 30% reservation at all colleges under CAP, across all categories. Female candidates fill female quota seats first; after those are exhausted, they compete for general seats on merit.
Specified reservations (DEF, PWD, HA, MKB, Orphan, Female) are allotted before general seats in each round. If specified quota seats go unfilled, they revert to the respective category in the state quota.
Inter-se for unfilled reserved seats
When reserved category seats remain vacant after allotment, Maharashtra uses a three-group inter-se mechanism. Unfilled seats first go to candidates from the same group:
Group I: SC and ST (share unfilled seats between these two)
Group II: VJ and NT-B
Group III: NT-C, NT-D, and OBC (including SBC)
If seats remain vacant after group inter-se, they go to the combined merit list of all reserved categories. If still vacant, they go to the common (open) merit list. SEBC and EWS unfilled seats skip this cascade entirely and revert directly to general category.
Ear-marking
When a reserved category candidate qualifies on open merit, they can choose to take either the open seat or their category seat. If they choose their category seat, one open seat at that college is “ear-marked” for the next eligible candidate from that reserved category. This mechanism prevents reserved category candidates from inadvertently blocking seats for their own community. Ear-marking does not apply to specified reservations.
The round structure
Maharashtra runs three regular CAP (Centralized Admission Process) rounds plus stray vacancy rounds. The structure differs from MCC counselling in one critical way: you fill fresh preferences for every round. Choices from one round do not carry forward to the next (except stray vacancy round choices, which carry forward to subsequent stray rounds).
Unlike MCC, Maharashtra requires fresh preferences for each round. Your Round 1 choices are completely voided before Round 2. Do not assume your earlier preferences carry forward.
Round 1
All registered candidates fill preferences and the software allots seats based on NEET AIR and preference order. If you are allotted a seat, you must report to the college and complete admission formalities (document verification, fee payment, original document submission) within the prescribed window.
If you do not report, your selection stands cancelled and the seat becomes vacant for Round 2. You remain eligible for Round 2 without re-registration. This is effectively a free exit: no penalty, no lost deposit, no consequences beyond losing that particular seat.
Round 1 carries zero risk. Not reporting after allotment is a free exit with no penalty or deposit forfeiture. Fill as many preferences as you are willing to consider.
If you join and are satisfied, you fill the Status Retention Form (more on this below). If you join but want to try for a better seat, you skip Status Retention and fill fresh choices for Round 2.
Status Retention
This is Maharashtra’s equivalent of “freezing” your seat. After joining your Round 1 college, you submit the Status Retention Form (Annexure J in the Information Brochure) to the Dean or Principal of your allotted college within the prescribed window. The form is a physical document, signed by you, your parent or guardian, and the Dean or Principal.
Two rules make Status Retention consequential. First, it is irrevocable and irreversible. Once submitted, you cannot withdraw it under any circumstances. Second, after submitting it, you are removed from consideration for all subsequent rounds of the 2025-26 admission process. Your seat is locked; you are done.
Status Retention is irrevocable. Once submitted, you cannot withdraw it and you are removed from all subsequent rounds. If there is any chance you want a better seat in Round 2, do not submit this form.
There is one exception: a candidate who has submitted Status Retention can still resign from the allotted seat before the prescribed date and become eligible for Round 2. But this effectively means giving up a confirmed seat to re-enter the pool with no guarantee of getting anything better.
Available seats include everything left from Round 1: unallotted seats, seats vacated by candidates who did not join, and seats freed by candidates who joined Round 1 but got upgraded in Round 2.
Candidates who joined during Round 1 and did not fill Status Retention are automatically considered for upgradation. If upgraded, their Round 1 seat is released and allotted to someone else in the same round. If not upgraded, they keep their Round 1 seat.
Fresh preferences are required. Round 1 choices are treated as null and void.
If you are allotted a seat in Round 2 and do not join, you must re-register (and pay the registration fee again) to participate in Round 3.
Round 3
Seats unallotted or vacated from Round 2 are available. Fresh preferences required; all previous preferences are null and void. If allotted a seat in Round 3, joining is mandatory. After Round 3 allotment, you are not eligible for any further state counselling rounds. The CET Cell informs MCC of all candidates allotted in Round 3.
Stray vacancy rounds
After Round 3, if seats remain vacant, the CET Cell conducts online stray vacancy rounds. Only candidates who registered and filled preferences previously but did not receive any allotment through Round 3 are eligible. Candidates who joined in any earlier round are not eligible. No new registrations are accepted for stray rounds. Fresh choices are required (Round 3 choices are voided), but stray round choices carry forward to subsequent stray rounds if any.
There is no institutional-level round for MBBS and BDS seats. All rounds run through the CET Cell’s centralized software, per an NMC circular dated 24 July 2023.
Registration and fees
Registration happens on mahacet.org during two windows: before Round 1, and again before Round 3 (for candidates who need fresh registration). You submit an online application form combined for all institution types (government, corporation, private, minority).
Application type
Fee (non-refundable)
State quota only
Rs 1,000
Institutional quota only
Rs 5,000
Both state and institutional quota
Rs 6,000
After payment, you upload documents online (NEET admit card, scorecard, government ID, domicile certificate, SSC and HSC certificates, category certificates if applicable). Physical document verification happens at the allotted college during reporting.
Eligibility for Maharashtra state quota
The core requirements from the 2025 Information Brochure (Section 4):
Nationality: Indian citizen. OCI cardholders who obtained OCI status before 4 March 2021 and passed 10th and 12th from Maharashtra with MH domicile are eligible (per Supreme Court order in W.P.(C) No. 891/2021, dated 3 February 2023).
Domicile: Maharashtra domicile certificate required (except for institutional quota, defence, and MKB candidates).
SSC: Must have passed SSC (10th) from an institution in Maharashtra.
HSC: Must have passed HSC (12th) from an institution in Maharashtra with English, Physics, Chemistry, and Biology.
HSC marks: OPEN and EWS candidates need minimum 50% in PCB combined (150/300). Constitutional reservation, SEBC, and PWD candidates from reserved categories need 40% (120/300). PWD candidates in General category need 45% (135/300).
Age: Born on or before 31 December 2008.
NEET percentile: OPEN and EWS need 50th percentile. Reserved categories and SEBC need 40th percentile. PWD in General need 45th percentile.
Exceptions exist for children of Maharashtra government employees posted outside the state, children of central government employees transferred to Maharashtra, and defence personnel with MH domicile posted elsewhere. These candidates can have their SSC/HSC from outside Maharashtra. Details are in Sections 4.7 and 4.8 of the brochure.
Fee structure
Government and corporation college MBBS fees for 2025-26, per the brochure:
Fee component
Amount per year
Tuition fee
Rs 1,52,100
Development fee
Rs 5,000
Gymkhana fee
Rs 500
Hostel fee
Rs 4,000
Library fee
Rs 1,000
One-time fees at admission: Rs 1,500 admission fee and Rs 2,000 library deposit.
Total first-year cost at a government MBBS college in Maharashtra comes to about Rs 1,65,100. Subsequent years are roughly Rs 1,62,600.
Private college fees are set by the Fee Regulating Authority of Maharashtra (mahafra.org) and vary widely by institution. The brochure does not list private college fee amounts; it directs candidates to check each college’s website or the FRA portal. Based on publicly available FRA data from recent years, private MBBS fees in Maharashtra typically range from Rs 5 lakh to Rs 25 lakh per year, though some institutions charge more.
Backward class candidates selected on open merit are eligible for freeship and scholarship schemes. The MAHADBT portal (mahadbtmahait.gov.in) handles applications for post-matric scholarships, the Rajarshi Chhatrapati Shahu Maharaj Shikshan Shulk Shishyavrutti scheme (for OPEN/EWS candidates with family income below Rs 8 lakh), and minority scholarship schemes.
What our data shows for Maharashtra
neet2seat tracks 244,015 Maharashtra allotment records across 2023, 2024, and 2025, covering 86 colleges and every round of state counselling.
neet2seat tracks allotment data for 86 Maharashtra medical colleges across 2023, 2024, and 2025. Our database contains 244,015 Maharashtra allotment records across these three years, covering every round of state counselling.
In 2025 specifically, Maharashtra state counselling processed 97,011 records across three rounds (R1, R2, R3), with 30,988 candidates receiving final allotments at 95 distinct colleges. AIR ranks ranged from 10 (top seats in Round 1) to over 13,19,000 (last seats filled in Round 3).
Closing AIRs for OPEN category at the most competitive government colleges in 2025 (final round, excluding sub-quotas):
College
Closing AIR (2025)
Closing AIR (2024)
Closing AIR (2023)
Seth GS Medical College and KEM Hospital, Mumbai
2,571
3,689
3,331
Lokmanya Tilak Municipal MC, Sion, Mumbai
6,033
9,357
8,379
BJ Government Medical College, Pune
8,634
5,595
7,716
Government Medical College (Grant), Mumbai
9,433
9,264
10,416
GMC Nagpur
11,360
12,700
15,077
Some patterns from the three-year data: Seth GS/KEM tightened significantly in 2025 (closing at AIR 2,571, down from 3,689 in 2024). GMC Nagpur has tightened steadily year over year. BJ Medical Pune fluctuates: it closed at 5,595 in 2024 but loosened to 8,634 in 2025. These shifts reflect changes in candidate preference patterns and seat availability each year, not necessarily changes in college quality.
You can explore this data in detail using our Maharashtra cutoff analyzer, which lets you filter by college, category, round, and year. For a quick look at where your rank might land you, try the college predictor.
How Maharashtra state counselling differs from MCC
If you are also participating in MCC (All India Quota) counselling, note these differences in the Maharashtra state process:
Fresh choices every round. MCC carries forward your original preference list across rounds. Maharashtra requires fresh preferences for each round. Round 1 choices are voided before Round 2, Round 2 choices are voided before Round 3.
Status Retention vs. Freeze. MCC uses Freeze (keep current seat, no upgradation) and Float (stay in pool for upgradation). Maharashtra uses Status Retention (irrevocable exit from all future rounds). The consequence is sharper: in MCC, freezing still keeps you enrolled in the system through subsequent rounds. In Maharashtra, Status Retention removes you entirely.
No deposit system. MCC charges a refundable security deposit (Rs 10,000 to Rs 2,00,000). Maharashtra charges a non-refundable registration fee (Rs 1,000 to Rs 6,000) and you pay college fees directly at reporting. There is no separate security deposit to forfeit or refund.
Maharashtra-specific categories. VJ (Vimukta Jati), NT-B, NT-C, NT-D, and SEBC are Maharashtra categories with no direct equivalent in MCC counselling.
Round 3 is binding. In Maharashtra, if you are allotted a seat in Round 3, joining is mandatory and you are barred from subsequent state counselling rounds. MCC’s mop-up round has similar rules, but the terminology and timeline differ.
Common mistakes
Based on patterns we see in the data and recurring questions from candidates:
Not filling enough preferences in early rounds. Since each round requires fresh preferences and Round 1 carries no risk (you can simply not report), there is no reason to be conservative. Fill as many preferences as you are willing to consider. You can always decline by not joining.
Confusing Status Retention with MCC’s Freeze option. They are not the same. Status Retention in Maharashtra pulls you out of the process entirely. If there is any chance you want a better seat in Round 2, do not fill the Status Retention Form.
Missing the re-registration deadline for Round 3. If you were allotted a seat in Round 2 and did not join, you must register again (and pay again) before the Round 3 deadline. Missing this window means you are out of the process.
Not having category certificates ready. Maharashtra requires the Caste Validity Certificate (not just the caste certificate) and the Non-Creamy Layer certificate at document verification. These take time to obtain. If you fail to produce them, you are automatically treated as an Open category candidate, which can mean losing your seat entirely if your rank does not qualify under Open.
If you belong to a reserved category, start your Caste Validity Certificate and Non-Creamy Layer certificate applications now. These documents take weeks to process. Without them at verification, you will be treated as Open category and may lose your seat.
FAQ
Can I participate in both MCC and Maharashtra CET Cell counselling?
Yes. Register separately for each. If you receive allotments from both, you choose one and vacate the other within the reporting window.
I am from another state. Can I get a private medical college seat in Maharashtra?
Only through the 15% institutional quota at private unaided colleges, which the CET Cell fills on an all-India basis through CAP rounds. You cannot apply for state quota (85%) seats at private colleges. Maharashtra is a closed state.
What if I join in Round 1 but want to try for a better seat in Round 2?
Do not fill the Status Retention Form. Fill fresh preferences for Round 2 instead. If upgraded, your Round 1 seat is automatically released. If not upgraded, you keep your Round 1 seat. There is no risk to trying, as long as you skip Status Retention.
Is there a fee penalty for not joining after Round 1 allotment?
No. Not reporting after Round 1 is treated as a free exit. Your registration fee (Rs 1,000 to Rs 6,000) is non-refundable regardless, but there is no additional penalty or deposit forfeiture.
When does the CET Cell publish the seat matrix?
The seat matrix (college-wise distribution of seats by category) is published on mahacet.org before preference filling opens for each round. The exact date is announced in the schedule notification. It typically comes out after the provisional merit list is published and the document verification window closes.
Do SEBC and EWS unfilled seats go through inter-se?
No. Unlike constitutional reservation categories (SC, ST, VJ, NT-B, NT-C, NT-D, OBC), unfilled SEBC and EWS seats revert directly to general category. They do not participate in the three-group inter-se mechanism.
What is the Non-Creamy Layer certificate requirement?
Candidates from DT-A (VJ), NT-B, NT-C, NT-D, SEBC, and OBC (including SBC) must produce a Non-Creamy Layer certificate valid up to 31 March 2026 or later. This must be submitted at physical document verification. Without it, you are treated as an Open category candidate. SC and ST candidates are exempt from this requirement.
Can I use a central government format EWS certificate?
The CET Cell requires the state government format EWS certificate (Annexure T of the Information Brochure). Central government format certificates are not accepted for Maharashtra state counselling.
No. The CET Cell explicitly requires the state government format EWS certificate (as given in Annexure T of the Information Brochure). Central government format certificates are not accepted for Maharashtra state counselling.
74 colleges (24 govt, 38 private, 12 deemed) with ~12,400 MBBS seats; fees range from Rs 50,000 to Rs 45 lakh per year
Karnataka is an open state: non-domicile candidates can access private and deemed university seats through KEA
Choice 1/2/3 system after each round: accept-and-exit, accept-and-seek-upgrade, or decline-and-re-enter
48+ category codes from 8 base categories combined with 6 suffixes (G, K, R, H, KH, RH)
KEA runs Karnataka’s medical counselling
Karnataka NEET counselling 2026 is conducted by the Karnataka Examinations Authority (KEA), operating from Bengaluru under the Department of Higher Education. KEA fills state quota seats at government colleges (85% of intake), government quota seats at private colleges, and coordinates deemed university admissions within its jurisdiction. The counselling portal is cetonline.karnataka.gov.in.
Karnataka had 74 medical colleges in 2025: 24 government, 38 private, and 12 deemed universities. Our database tracks allotment data across all three categories from 2023 through 2025, covering 45,673 individual records. If you are looking for how Karnataka’s process compares to the central MCC process, see our AIQ vs state quota guide. For Maharashtra’s counselling process, see our CET Cell guide.
Seats: government, private, and deemed
Karnataka’s seat pool is split unevenly across three institution types:
Type
Colleges
Approximate MBBS seats
Government
24
~3,800
Private
38
~6,000
Deemed
12
~2,600
Total
74
~12,400
Unlike Maharashtra where government colleges hold the majority of seats, Karnataka’s private sector accounts for nearly half the total MBBS capacity. The fee range spans Rs 50,000/yr (government) to Rs 45 lakh/yr (management quota at deemed universities).
Unlike Maharashtra where government colleges hold the majority of seats, Karnataka’s private sector accounts for nearly half the total MBBS capacity. This has practical consequences: the fee range across Karnataka colleges spans from Rs 50,000 per year at government colleges to over Rs 25 lakh at private ones and Rs 45 lakh for management quota seats at deemed universities.
The seat split for government colleges follows the standard All India pattern: 15% goes to MCC for All India Quota, 85% stays with KEA. Private colleges contribute their government quota seats to KEA and fill management and NRI quotas separately. Deemed universities allocate roughly 25% of seats as government quota through KEA, with the remaining 75% going through MCC.
Karnataka is an open state
Karnataka allows candidates from any state to apply for private college and deemed university seats through KEA counselling. No domicile certificate is required for these seats. Government state quota seats (85%) remain restricted to Karnataka domicile.
This is the single most consequential structural fact about Karnataka’s medical admissions. Karnataka allows candidates from any state to apply for private college and deemed university seats through KEA counselling. No domicile certificate is required for these seats.
Government college state quota seats (the 85%) remain restricted to Karnataka domicile candidates. But private college seats, which are the majority of Karnataka’s capacity, are open to everyone. This makes Karnataka one of the most popular destinations for out-of-state NEET candidates, particularly from states with fewer colleges or higher cutoffs.
The practical split:
Seat type
Open to non-Karnataka?
Government state quota (85%)
No (Karnataka domicile required)
Government AIQ (15%)
Yes (through MCC)
Private government quota
Primarily Karnataka domicile
Private/management quota
Yes (all India, through KEA)
NRI quota
Yes
Deemed university
Yes (25% via KEA, 75% via MCC)
Non-Karnataka candidates cannot claim reservation in state quota seats. They compete on open merit for available seats and must meet the General/UR eligibility threshold (50th percentile) regardless of their home state category.
Reservation categories: the suffix system
Karnataka’s reservation structure differs from both the central government system and Maharashtra’s system. The state recognizes eight base categories for medical admissions:
GM (General Merit): unreserved, open to all on merit. Roughly half of state quota seats fall under GM after all reservations are applied.
Category 1: the most backward among OBC groups. 4% reservation. Unlike other OBC categories, creamy layer exclusion does not apply to Category 1.
Category 2A: the largest OBC subcategory. 15% reservation. This is the most populated reservation category in Karnataka.
Category 2B: 5% reservation. Smaller candidate pool than 2A, with cutoff ranks often higher (less competitive) than 2A at the same college.
Category 3A: 4% reservation. Includes the Vokkaliga community and related groups.
Category 3B: 4% reservation. Includes the Veerashaiva-Lingayat community and related groups.
SC (Scheduled Castes): 15% reservation. In 2024, Karnataka restructured SC reservation internally into four sub-groups (SC Left, SC Right, Touchable, Others), though the total allocation remains the same for counselling purposes.
ST (Scheduled Tribes): 3% reservation. The smallest reservation category in Karnataka’s medical admissions.
EWS (Economically Weaker Sections): 10% reservation for unreserved category candidates with family income below Rs 8 lakh, applied post the 103rd Constitutional Amendment.
These eight base categories are then combined with a suffix system that creates sub-quotas. Each base category can carry one of six suffixes:
G: General (no additional sub-quota; standard pathway)
K: Kannada medium (studied Classes 1 through 10 in Kannada medium schools)
R: Rural (studied in schools in rural areas of Karnataka)
H: Hyderabad-Karnataka region (from the six HK districts under Article 371J)
KH: Kannada medium + HK region (both criteria must be met)
RH: Rural + HK region (both criteria)
This gives 48 regular category codes (8 bases multiplied by 6 suffixes). On top of these, KEA uses special codes for private college seats (GMP, OPN), minority quotas (MA, MC, ME, MM, MU), religious congregation seats at deemed universities (RC1 through RC8), NRI, PWD, Defence, NCC, and Sports quotas. In total, our database tracks 78 distinct category codes in Karnataka’s allotment data.
In the Karnataka cutoff analyzer, you can filter by any of these category codes to see closing ranks for specific sub-quotas.
The Choice 1 / Choice 2 / Choice 3 system
This is Karnataka’s version of the float/freeze mechanism used in other states. After each round’s allotment, every allotted candidate must pick one of three options within the deadline:
Choice 1: accept and exit
You are satisfied with the allotted seat. You pay the full course fee, download the seat guarantee card, and report to the college. You cannot participate in any subsequent round. This is equivalent to “Freeze” in MCC terminology.
Choice 2: accept and seek upgrade
Choice 2 carries no penalty if you are not upgraded. You keep your Round 1 seat and pay the remaining balance. It is the safe way to seek a better seat while holding your current one.
You accept the allotted seat but want to try for a better seat in Round 2. For seats with course fees exceeding Rs 12 lakh, KEA requires only Rs 12,001 as an advance payment (a 2025 rule change; previously the full course fee was required). SC/ST/Category 1 candidates pay Rs 2,000 as a caution deposit. If upgraded in Round 2, the old seat is released automatically. If not upgraded, you keep the original seat and pay the remaining balance. This is equivalent to “Float.”
A notable advantage of Choice 2: you can cancel your KEA seat before Round 2 results without forfeiting fees, if you received admission elsewhere (for example, through MCC).
Choice 3: decline and re-enter
Choice 3 is the highest-risk option. Your Round 1 seat is permanently forfeited. If you receive no allotment in Round 2, you must pay Rs 1,00,000 (Rs 50,000 for SC/ST) just to stay eligible for the mop-up round.
You reject the allotted seat entirely and re-enter the pool for Round 2. No fee payment or college reporting is required. But this carries real risk: your Round 1 seat is forfeited, and there is no guarantee you will get any seat in Round 2. If you chose Choice 3 in Round 1 and do not receive an allotment in Round 2, you must pay a caution deposit of Rs 1,00,000 (Rs 50,000 for SC/ST) to remain eligible for subsequent rounds.
KEA typically runs three counselling rounds plus an optional stray vacancy round:
Round 1: the largest round. After online registration and in-person document verification, candidates receive a secret key to activate their counselling account. KEA publishes a mock allotment first, allowing candidates to modify their preference list. After the final allotment, candidates select Choice 1, 2, or 3. In 2025, Round 1 filled 8,320 seats.
Round 2: Choice 2 and Choice 3 candidates from Round 1 participate. Choice 2 candidates retain their Round 1 seat while seeking an upgrade. The preference list from Round 1 is generally carried forward. Round 2 is consistently the largest round by allotment count: 9,957 seats in 2025, 8,758 in 2024. Many seats become available because of Choice 1 exits and new seats being added.
Round 3 (Mop-up): fills remaining seats across all college types. KEA opens fresh registration for candidates who did not register earlier. This round is much smaller: 967 seats in 2025, 622 in 2024. At government colleges, only a handful of seats remain by this point; in 2025, just 6 government colleges had GM seats in Round 3, filling 11 total.
Stray vacancy round: conducted in person at the KEA office. Only for candidates who were not allotted any seat in previous rounds. This is the final opportunity.
How seat allotment runs inside each round
A round is not a single pass. The software sweeps the seat matrix in three phases and repeats each phase until no candidate’s allotment changes, which is why a category’s closing rank can shift several times within one round. Phase 1 fills General Merit and the special categories (PwD, NCC, Sports) strictly by rank and option, with Medical and Dental allotted first, then AYUSH, then the other streams. Phase 2 folds unfilled Rural and Kannada-medium reserved seats into the parent reserved category (for example, SC-Rural and SC-Kannada become SC-General) and offers them to reserved candidates only. Phase 3 converts any reserved seats still empty into General Merit and opens them to everyone.
The practical takeaway: a seat you could not reach under your sub-quota early in a round can open later in the same round through these conversions. Keep those options on your list rather than deleting them on the assumption they are out of reach.
Fees
The fee structure varies dramatically by seat type. Our database records actual fee amounts from allotment data:
Seat type
Annual fee range (2025)
Average
Government
Rs 50,000 to Rs 6,09,084
~Rs 1,06,911
Private (government quota)
Rs 8,10,535 to Rs 25,15,000
~Rs 14,17,169
Management quota
Rs 25,00,000 to Rs 45,40,750
~Rs 35,87,749
NRI quota
Rs 25,09,350 to Rs 45,40,750
~Rs 36,41,774
The base government MBBS fee in Karnataka is Rs 50,000 per year. SC/ST candidates may pay as little as Rs 500 to Rs 2,000 due to fee exemptions. ESI colleges charge higher: approximately Rs 1,09,350 per year.
Private college fees saw a 10% increase for 2025-26 after the Karnataka government approved the hike. Management and NRI quota fees are set by the Fee Regulatory Committee and can exceed Rs 45 lakh per year at certain deemed universities.
Registration fee
Karnataka candidates of every category pay the same registration fee: Rs 750 (SC/ST/Category 1/PWD and GM/2A/2B/3A/3B alike). Non-Karnataka candidates pay Rs 2,500, and NRI/OCI/PIO/Foreign nationals Rs 5,000. A separate non-refundable option-entry fee of Rs 750 applies to all candidates in each seat-allotment round.
Registration and document verification
The registration process runs in steps:
Register online at cetonline.karnataka.gov.in with personal details and NEET particulars.
Upload passport photo, signature, and thumb impression.
Pay the registration fee online.
Attend in-person document verification at KEA or designated centres. Bring all originals plus self-attested photocopies.
After verification, receive a secret key to activate your counselling account.
Fill college preferences in order of priority. No limit on the number of options.
Review the mock allotment and modify preferences if needed.
Lock final preferences before the deadline.
Candidates who already registered for KCET (Karnataka Common Entrance Test, used for engineering admissions) can link their NEET roll number to the existing registration instead of re-registering from scratch.
For 2026 the process is biometric from start to finish. You log in to option entry by scanning the QR code on your verification slip, entering an OTP sent to your registered mobile, and passing a live face-recognition check. At the college, admission is finalised only after an online face-recognition match and an OTP delivered over WhatsApp, after which the college downloads your admission letter; you cannot download it yourself. Keep the mobile number you registered with active through every round. The 2025 process used only a user ID and secret key. For a summary of what changed this year, see our 2026 KEA rule-change rundown.
Eligibility for state quota seats
Domicile qualification for government seats works through multiple pathways: completing Class 10 and 12 from Karnataka schools, or having at least 7 years of schooling in Karnataka, or having a parent who studied at least 7 years in Karnataka with current residency, or having Kannada, Tulu, or Kodava as mother tongue with a parent currently resident in Karnataka. Children of defence personnel who served at least 1 year in Karnataka also qualify.
All candidates must have passed Class 12 with Physics, Chemistry, Biology, and English. Minimum age is 17 years as of December 31 of the admission year. The NEET percentile requirements are: General/UR 50th percentile, OBC/SC/ST 40th percentile, PWD 45th percentile.
Compulsory rural service
All candidates admitted to medical courses in Karnataka must complete 1 year of compulsory rural service in government hospitals after finishing MBBS, per the Karnataka Compulsory Service Training Act of 2012. There is no monetary penalty for UG rural service non-compliance (unlike PG, which carries a Rs 50 lakh penalty for a 3-year bond).
Hyderabad-Karnataka region reservation
Article 371(J) of the Constitution, inserted by the 98th Amendment in 2012, grants special reservation to candidates from the Hyderabad-Karnataka (now Kalyana-Karnataka) region. Six districts qualify: Bidar, Kalaburagi, Raichur, Yadgir, Koppal, and Ballari. These were part of the erstwhile Hyderabad State under the Nizam and remain among Karnataka’s most economically backward areas.
In medical admissions, 8% of state quota seats across all government colleges statewide are reserved for HK candidates. In colleges located within the HK region, the reservation rises to 70% of state quota seats. This creates a meaningful cutoff advantage, particularly at colleges like Gulbarga Institute of Medical Sciences (GIMS) in Kalaburagi.
HK reservation is encoded in the suffix system. A candidate from Kalaburagi district competing under SC category with rural school background would have the code “SCRH” (SC + Rural + HK). The certificate required is the “Article 371(J) Certificate” or “Hyderabad-Karnataka Domicile Certificate” issued by the Tahasildar’s office.
What our data shows
Bangalore Medical College’s Round 1 closing AIR dropped from 3,508 in 2023 to 1,299 in 2025: a 63% tightening in two years. This pattern holds across top-tier government colleges as competition intensifies.
We track allotment data for all 74 Karnataka colleges across 2023, 2024, and 2025. The 2025 dataset alone contains 19,244 allotment records across three rounds.
Top government colleges by closing AIR (GM category, Round 2, 2025)
College
Opening AIR
Closing AIR
Bangalore Medical College, Bengaluru
398
3,025
Atal Bihari Vajpayee Medical College, Bengaluru
3,240
7,669
Mysore Medical College, Mysuru
2,403
8,394
ESIC Medical College, Bengaluru
5,700
12,937
Karnataka Institute of Medical Sciences, Hubballi
4,941
13,488
Mandya Institute of Medical Sciences
8,509
15,588
Shimoga Institute of Medical Sciences, Shivamogga
8,198
21,676
Hassan Institute of Medical Sciences
5,949
21,862
Belagavi Institute of Medical Sciences
2,968
23,365
Gulbarga Institute of Medical Sciences, Kalaburagi
3,611
23,671
Year-over-year trends
Cutoffs at top government colleges have tightened consistently over the past three years. Using Round 1 GM closing AIRs for comparison:
College
2023
2024
2025
Bangalore Medical College
3,508
2,154
1,299
Mysore Medical College
8,243
7,069
4,053
KIMS Hubballi
13,106
11,378
8,343
Bangalore Medical College’s R1 closing AIR dropped from 3,508 in 2023 to 1,299 in 2025: a roughly 63% decrease over two years. This pattern holds across the top tier. The data reflects increasing competition for government seats as more candidates target Karnataka specifically because of its open-state status for private colleges, pulling the overall applicant pool up.
The full AIR range in Karnataka 2025 allotment data spans from 22 (the most competitive allotment) to 13,19,086 (the least competitive, typically a management quota seat at a private college). You can explore this data in detail using the Karnataka cutoff analyzer.
Seat type distribution (2025)
Our allotment data breaks down by seat type:
Seat type
Allotments
Share
Government
11,180
58%
Private (government quota)
6,195
32%
Management quota
1,680
9%
NRI quota
189
1%
Management and NRI seats together account for 10% of total allotments but carry fees 20 to 40 times higher than government seats.
How KEA differs from MCC
Beyond the obvious difference in seat pools, several structural differences matter for candidates participating in both tracks:
Choice system vs float/freeze: MCC uses Freeze/Float/Slide with an auto-upgrade mechanism. KEA uses Choice 1/2/3 where the candidate explicitly decides whether to accept, upgrade-seek, or decline. The outcome is similar, but the decision framework is different.
Mock allotment: KEA publishes a mock allotment before the final allotment in Round 1, giving candidates a preview of likely outcomes. MCC does not offer a mock round.
Fresh preference entry: KEA requires preference filling before Round 1 and generally carries it forward. MCC allows preference modification between rounds but within constraints.
Categories: MCC recognizes SC, ST, OBC-NCL, and EWS. KEA recognizes eight base categories with suffix variants, producing 48+ regular codes. A candidate who is OBC-NCL under the central government list might be Category 2A, 2B, 3A, or 3B in Karnataka. The two classifications are independent.
FAQ
Can candidates from other states get government college seats in Karnataka?
Not through state counselling. Government college state quota seats (85%) require Karnataka domicile. Non-Karnataka candidates can only get government seats in Karnataka through the 15% All India Quota via MCC. For private and deemed university seats, Karnataka is open to candidates from all states through KEA counselling.
What is the difference between GM and GMP categories?
GM (General Merit) applies to government college seats. GMP (General Merit Private) applies to private college seats. Both are unreserved and merit-based, but they draw from different seat pools with different fee structures and, in some cases, different eligibility rules for out-of-state candidates.
How does the HK reservation help candidates from those six districts?
HK candidates benefit from two layers. First, 8% of seats across all government colleges statewide are reserved for HK candidates (the H, KH, RH suffix codes). Second, at colleges within the HK region, up to 70% of seats are reserved for HK candidates. This creates significantly lower cutoffs: a candidate from Kalaburagi district might secure a government seat with an AIR that would not qualify under the general pool at the same college.
If I choose Choice 2 and don’t get upgraded, do I lose anything?
No. If you are not upgraded in Round 2, you keep your Round 1 seat. You pay the remaining course fee balance and report to the original college. Choice 2 carries no penalty for non-upgrade. The only risk is the opportunity cost of waiting, since you cannot report to your Round 1 college until Round 2 results are out.
What happens if I choose Choice 3 and don’t get any seat in Round 2?
You must pay a caution deposit of Rs 1,00,000 (Rs 50,000 for SC/ST) to remain eligible for the mop-up round. Your Round 1 seat is permanently forfeited; it goes back into the pool for other candidates. This is why Choice 3 is the highest-risk option: you could end up with no seat and a Rs 1 lakh deposit to pay for continued eligibility.
Are deemed university seats filled through KEA or MCC?
Both. Approximately 25% of deemed university seats are government quota, filled through KEA state counselling. The remaining 75% (management and NRI quotas) go through MCC central counselling. If your target is a specific deemed university in Karnataka, register for both tracks.
Do cutoffs change significantly between Round 1 and Round 2?
Yes, particularly at mid-tier colleges. At the most competitive government colleges, cutoffs in Round 2 are typically within 20% to 40% of Round 1 values (less competitive since the highest-ranked candidates have already locked seats). At private colleges, Round 2 cutoffs can shift substantially as seats vacated by Choice 1 and Choice 3 candidates become available.
Maharashtra recognizes 7 constitutional categories (50% at government colleges), 2 additional categories (SEBC 10%, EWS 10%), and 6 parallel reservation types.
Your Maharashtra category may differ from your central government category. Check the state backward classes list for your specific caste.
Non-Creamy Layer certificates are required for VJ, NT-B, NT-C, NT-D, SEBC, and OBC candidates. SC and ST are exempt.
All category claims must be made in the original application. You cannot add or change after the deadline.
Maharashtra’s category system is not the same as the central government’s
If you have only seen the MCC (All India Quota) counselling categories (SC, ST, OBC-NCL, EWS, General), Maharashtra’s category list will look unfamiliar. The state recognizes seven constitutional reservation categories, two additional reservation categories, and six specified (parallel) reservation types. These categories determine which seats you can compete for, what cutoffs apply to you, and which documents you need.
Your central government category (for MCC counselling) and your Maharashtra state category (for CET Cell counselling) are determined by different lists. Some castes appear on both, some only on one. You could be OBC centrally and NT-C in Maharashtra, or vice versa. Check your specific caste against the Maharashtra backward classes list independently.
This guide covers every category used in Maharashtra NEET UG state counselling, based on the 2025 Information Brochure issued by the CET Cell and the reservation rules in Annexure B. If you are looking for Karnataka categories, see our Karnataka categories guide.
Constitutional reservation categories: 50% at government colleges
These seven categories account for 50% of state quota seats at government and corporation medical colleges in Maharashtra. At private unaided colleges, the same seven categories share 25% of total intake (exactly half the government percentages).
SC (Scheduled Castes and SC converts to Buddhism): 13% government, 6.5% private
Maharashtra’s SC reservation includes both Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Caste converts to Buddhism (Nav-Baudh). Maharashtra has a large Buddhist population (mostly Ambedkarite conversions), which is why Nav-Baudh are included under SC rather than as a separate category. The state percentage (13%) is lower than the central government’s 15% for SC at AIQ, but the eligible group is broader because it includes Nav-Baudh converts who may not be on the central SC list. No Non-Creamy Layer certificate is required for SC candidates. Caste certificate and Caste Validity Certificate (CVC) from the Divisional Caste Certificate Scrutiny Committee are required.
ST (Scheduled Tribes): 7% government, 3.5% private
Includes Scheduled Tribes living both within and outside specified scheduled areas. Same as the national list. Tribe Validity Certificate from the Tribe Certificate Scrutiny Committee is required (different authority from the SC committee). No Non-Creamy Layer certificate needed.
Vimukta Jati literally means “liberated castes.” These are communities that were classified as “criminal tribes” under British colonial law (the Criminal Tribes Act of 1871) and were “denotified” after independence. The term DT-A (Denotified Tribes Category A) is used interchangeably with VJ. This category has no equivalent in the central government reservation system. For AIQ counselling, VJ candidates may qualify as OBC-NCL if their specific caste is on the central OBC list.
Non-Creamy Layer certificate is required (valid up to 31 March 2026 for the 2025-26 cycle). Caste certificate and CVC also required.
Nomadic Tribes are communities with historically itinerant lifestyles who do not have fixed settlements. Maharashtra divides them into three sub-categories (B, C, D) with separate reservation percentages. NT-B is the first of these. The specific castes in each sub-category are listed in state government notifications. Non-Creamy Layer certificate required.
The second Nomadic Tribes sub-category. Carries a slightly higher reservation percentage than NT-B. In the inter-se mechanism for unfilled seats, NT-C falls in Group III (along with NT-D and OBC), while NT-B falls in Group II (with VJ). This grouping matters when reserved seats go unfilled. Non-Creamy Layer certificate required.
The third Nomadic Tribes sub-category, with the smallest allocation among the three. Falls in Group III for inter-se purposes. Non-Creamy Layer certificate required.
OBC (Other Backward Classes, including SBC): 19% government, 9.5% private
Maharashtra’s OBC reservation at 19% is lower than the central government’s 27%, but the state’s overall 50% constitutional reservation is distributed across seven categories rather than the central government’s three. OBC here includes SBC (Special Backward Classes). SBC candidates are drawn from their parent OBC category; they do not have a separate reservation percentage. Non-Creamy Layer certificate required.
Private college calculation
At private unaided colleges, the total constitutional reservation is 25% (not 50%). The seven category percentages are exactly half the government figures. This comes from Maharashtra Act No. XXX of 2006. The remaining 75% includes open merit seats, institutional quota (15% on all-India basis), and female reservation.
Additional reservation categories
SEBC (Socially and Educationally Backward Classes): 10%
SEBC is a separate 10% reservation applied to available state quota seats at government, government-aided, corporation, and private unaided colleges (excluding minority institutions). It was introduced through a Maharashtra government resolution and is currently subject to the outcome of Writ Petition No. 3468/2024 in the Bombay High Court. If the court strikes it down, these seats revert to general category.
SEBC candidates must claim the category in their online application form. Non-Creamy Layer certificate required. If SEBC seats go unfilled, they revert to general category (they do not participate in the three-group inter-se mechanism that applies to the seven constitutional categories).
EWS (Economically Weaker Sections): 10%
The EWS certificate must be in the Maharashtra state government format (Annexure T of the Information Brochure). Central government format certificates are explicitly rejected. EWS candidates cannot belong to any constitutional reservation category. If you hold SC, ST, VJ, NT, OBC, SEBC, or SBC status, you are not eligible for EWS.
A 10% reservation for economically weaker candidates from the general (unreserved) category, applied to available state quota seats at the same institution types as SEBC. Like SEBC, unfilled EWS seats revert directly to general category without inter-se.
Specified (parallel) reservation categories
These reservations operate in parallel with constitutional reservation. A candidate can simultaneously benefit from a constitutional category (say, SC) and a specified quota (say, Female or PWD). The seat is coded with both designations. In our Maharashtra cutoff analyzer, you will see compound categories like “SCW” (SC Female) or “OPENDEFPH” (Open category, Defence, PWD) reflecting these parallel reservations.
DEF (Defence): 5% of intake, maximum 5 seats per college
Reserved for children of defence personnel at government, corporation, and government-aided colleges only. Three sub-categories:
DEF-1: Children of ex-servicemen with Maharashtra domicile
DEF-2: Children of active service personnel with Maharashtra domicile
DEF-3: Children of active service personnel transferred to Maharashtra
If defence seats in one sub-category go unfilled, they transfer to the other two sub-categories by inter-se merit. The minimum eligibility for defence quota is the same as for open merit candidates. Defence quota is a specified reservation, so these seats are allotted before general seats in each round.
PWD (Persons with Disability): 5% of sanctioned intake
Under the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act 2016, 5% of seats are reserved for candidates with benchmark disabilities. Constitutional reservation applies within PWD quota seats (so there are PWD-SC, PWD-ST, PWD-OBC seats, etc.). The disability certificate must be from one of the 16 designated Disability Assessment Boards listed in the Information Brochure and must be issued in 2025. Certificates from other medical boards are not accepted.
Unfilled PWD seats revert to the respective constitutional category in the state quota. No fresh preferences are called; the reverted seats are added to the seat matrix and allotted based on existing preferences.
HA (Hilly Area): 3% at government/corporation MBBS colleges only
Reserved for candidates from designated hilly areas in Maharashtra. Only applies to government and corporation medical colleges, and only for the MBBS course. Constitutional reservation and female reservation apply within HA quota. If HA seats go unfilled, they revert to the state quota in the respective category.
Orphan: 1% of available seats
For candidates with orphan status, certified by the Women and Child Welfare Department. Constitutional reservation applies within orphan quota seats. Unfilled orphan seats revert to respective categories.
Female: 30% at all colleges under CAP
The 30% female reservation operates in parallel with constitutional reservation. A seat can be simultaneously coded as SC (constitutional) and Female (specified). The total effective reservation can exceed 50% because of this parallel operation. Female candidates are first allotted female quota seats; after those are exhausted, they compete for general seats on merit.
For residents of the Maharashtra-Karnataka border disputed area. Filled from the state merit list. Unfilled MKB seats revert to Open category since they are carved from it. MKB is allotted before general seats.
How inter-se works for unfilled seats
Maharashtra’s three-group inter-se cascade: Group I (SC and ST share unfilled seats), Group II (VJ and NT-B share), Group III (NT-C, NT-D, and OBC share). If still unfilled after within-group sharing, seats go to combined merit of all reserved categories, then to open merit. SEBC and EWS are excluded from this cascade; their unfilled seats go directly to general category.
The inter-se round runs at the end of each admission process, during Round 3. It is not a separate round that candidates need to register for; it operates on existing preferences.
Ear-marking: when reserved category candidates qualify on open merit
When a reserved category candidate’s NEET AIR qualifies them for an open merit seat, the candidate can choose: take the open seat, or take a seat under their reserved category. If they choose the reserved category seat, one open seat at the college where they would have been admitted on open merit is “ear-marked” for the next eligible candidate from their reserved category.
This prevents a situation where high-ranking reserved category candidates occupy open seats while blocking seats for lower-ranking candidates from their own category. The ear-marked seat is filled immediately in the same round.
Ear-marking applies only to constitutional reservation categories. It does not apply to specified reservations (DEF, PWD, HA, Female, Orphan, MKB).
What our data shows about category cutoffs
Our database tracks allotment data for 86 Maharashtra colleges across 2023, 2024, and 2025, with 41 distinct seat categories (including compound categories from parallel reservations). You can filter cutoffs by any of these categories using the Maharashtra cutoff analyzer.
Some patterns from the data:
The gap between OPEN and reserved category closing AIRs varies widely by college. At the most competitive government colleges (Seth GS/KEM, BJ Pune), the OPEN closing AIR in 2025 was around 2,500 to 8,600. SC closing AIRs at the same colleges were typically 2x to 4x higher (less competitive). At mid-tier government colleges, the OPEN-to-SC gap narrows.
SEBC and EWS closing AIRs tend to fall between OPEN and the constitutional reservation categories, since these candidates must first not qualify under any constitutional category.
Female reservation (the “W” suffix in our data, as in “OPENW” or “SCW”) consistently shows slightly higher closing AIRs than the corresponding non-female category at the same college. The 30% parallel reservation for women means additional seats open up, and these seats tend to close at higher (less competitive) AIRs than the general category equivalent.
Caste certificate + CVC + Non-Creamy Layer certificate (valid up to 31/3/2026)
SEBC
Caste certificate + CVC + Non-Creamy Layer certificate
EWS
EWS certificate in state government format (Annexure T), for 2025-26
DEF
Defence service certificate per Annexure C
PWD
Disability certificate from designated board, issued in 2025
HA
Hilly Area residence certificate per Annexure F
Orphan
Orphan certificate from Women and Child Welfare Dept
MKB
MKB area certificate per Annexure E
All category claims must be made in the original online application form. You cannot add or change your category after the deadline. If you fail to produce required documents at physical verification, you are automatically treated as OPEN category. Start gathering documents the moment your NEET result is out. See our documents guide for the complete checklist.
Non-Creamy Layer: the detail that trips people up
The NCL certificate is required for VJ, NT-B, NT-C, NT-D, SEBC, and OBC (including SBC) candidates. SC and ST are exempt. If your NCL certificate is missing, expired, or in the wrong format at document verification, your reservation claim is denied and you are treated as OPEN. If your AIR does not qualify under OPEN at your allotted college, your admission is cancelled. The Information Brochure states this twice. Verification officers enforce it strictly.
The certificate is issued by the Sub-Divisional Officer, Deputy Collector, or Collector of the district and must be valid up to 31 March 2026 or later. The “creamy layer” concept excludes candidates whose families exceed a certain income or asset threshold from reservation benefits.
FAQ
I am OBC in the central list. Does that automatically make me OBC in Maharashtra?
Not necessarily. The central OBC list and the Maharashtra OBC list are different. Some castes appear on both, some only on one. Your Maharashtra category is determined by Maharashtra state notifications. Check your specific caste against the Maharashtra backward classes list. You could be OBC centrally and NT-C in Maharashtra, or vice versa.
What is the difference between VJ and NT categories?
VJ (Vimukta Jati) comprises communities that were classified as “criminal tribes” under British law and later denotified. NT (Nomadic Tribes) comprises communities with historically nomadic lifestyles. Both are socially marginalized groups, but the historical basis for their classification differs. In the inter-se mechanism, VJ and NT-B form Group II, while NT-C, NT-D, and OBC form Group III.
Can I claim both constitutional reservation and EWS?
No. EWS is specifically for candidates from the general (unreserved) category. If you belong to SC, ST, VJ, NT-B, NT-C, NT-D, OBC, SEBC, or SBC, you are not eligible for EWS reservation. You claim one or the other, not both.
What does “SBC” mean in the context of OBC?
Special Backward Classes (SBC) are a sub-group within OBC. Per Maharashtra Act No. XXX of 2006, SBC candidates are considered from within the OBC reservation quota. They do not have a separate reservation percentage. In practice, SBC candidates compete under the 19% OBC allocation.
Do specified reservations (Female, DEF, PWD) reduce the seats available for constitutional categories?
No. Specified reservations operate in parallel. A seat can be simultaneously coded as SC (constitutional) and Female (specified). The 30% female reservation does not reduce the 13% SC reservation; they overlap. The total effective reservation can exceed 50% because of this parallel operation.
How do I know which categories to filter for in the cutoff analyzer?
Use your constitutional reservation category as the base, and add any specified quota suffix if applicable. For example: OPEN for general merit, SC for Scheduled Caste, OPENW for general merit female, SCW for SC female, OPENDEF for general merit defence. The cutoff analyzer shows all available categories in the filter dropdown for Maharashtra.
Karnataka uses 8 base categories plus a 6-suffix system (G, K, R, H, KH, RH), creating 75+ distinct category codes in allotment data.
The HK region suffix (Article 371J) provides the largest advantage: up to 70% reservation at colleges within the Hyderabad-Karnataka region.
Category 1 is exempt from creamy layer exclusion; Categories 2A through 3B require Non-Creamy Layer with income below Rs 8 lakh.
Your Karnataka state category and central MCC category are independent classifications. Check both lists for your specific caste.
Karnataka’s category system has no equivalent at the central level
If you have seen only the MCC categories (SC, ST, OBC-NCL, EWS, General), Karnataka’s system will look unfamiliar. The state divides backward classes into five numbered groups (Category 1, 2A, 2B, 3A, 3B) instead of a single OBC label. It then layers a suffix system on top, creating separate sub-quotas for rural students, Kannada medium students, and Hyderabad-Karnataka region candidates. The result is over 75 distinct category codes in allotment data.
This guide covers every category used in Karnataka NEET UG state counselling, based on KEA’s counselling documentation and the Karnataka Backward Classes Commission’s classification system. If you are looking for Maharashtra categories, see our Maharashtra categories guide.
Base categories: the eight groups
Karnataka recognizes eight base reservation categories for medical admissions. The stated reservation percentages (Cat 1 at 4%, 2A at 15%, 2B at 5%, 3A at 4%, 3B at 4%, SC at 15%, ST at 3%, plus EWS at 10%) add up to 60% on paper. In practice, not all reservation seats are filled (some revert to GM if no eligible candidates remain), and the effective reservation is closer to 50-55% in a given year. Roughly 40-50% of state quota seats end up going to General Merit candidates.
GM (General Merit): unreserved
Open to all candidates irrespective of caste, religion, or community. Approximately 44% of state quota seats fall under GM after all reservations are applied. GM seats are filled strictly on NEET All India Rank merit. Any candidate, including those from reserved categories, can compete for GM seats. No caste certificate is required. GM is the most competitive category in Karnataka counselling.
In 2025, GM closing AIRs at the top government colleges ranged from 3,025 (Bangalore Medical College, Round 2) to approximately 23,700 (Gulbarga Institute of Medical Sciences, Round 2). At private colleges under government quota, GM cutoffs extended to much higher AIRs
Category 1: most backward OBC group (4%)
Category 1 is unique among Karnataka’s OBC groups: the creamy layer exclusion does not apply. High-income families in Category 1 retain reservation eligibility, whereas families in Categories 2A through 3B with annual income above Rs 8 lakh lose eligibility and must compete under GM. This makes Category 1 the only OBC group with no income ceiling.
Category 1 covers the most socially and educationally backward communities among the Other Backward Classes. It carries a 4% reservation. Candidates must submit a Caste/Income Certificate issued by the jurisdictional Tahasildar. Fee exemption may be available for candidates whose family income is below Rs 2.5 lakh per year.
Category 2A: largest OBC group (15%)
The largest reservation category in Karnataka with 15% of state quota seats. Category 2A covers communities classified as backward under Group 2A by the Karnataka State Commission for Backward Classes. Because of the large allocation and large candidate pool, 2A cutoffs at government colleges can be competitive; at less sought-after institutions, they sometimes approach GM cutoffs.
Non-Creamy Layer Certificate with an RD (Registration Department) number is required. Family annual income must not exceed Rs 8 lakh.
Category 2B: OBC Group B (5%)
A 5% reservation for communities classified under Group 2B. Smaller candidate pool than 2A, which means cutoff ranks for 2B tend to be higher (less competitive) than 2A at the same college. The same documentation applies: Caste Certificate specifying 2B subcategory from the Tahasildar, plus Non-Creamy Layer Certificate with RD number and income below Rs 8 lakh.
Category 3A: OBC Group A (4%)
A 4% reservation covering communities classified under OBC Group 3A. Includes the Vokkaliga community and related groups. Same Non-Creamy Layer documentation requirements as 2A and 2B. The smaller seat allocation means cutoffs vary significantly between colleges: at top government colleges, 3A cutoffs can be close to GM, while at private colleges the gap widens.
Category 3B: OBC Group B (4%)
A 4% reservation for communities classified under OBC Group 3B. Includes the Veerashaiva-Lingayat community and related groups. Cutoff patterns are comparable to 3A. Candidates from 3B communities who fall within the creamy layer (income above Rs 8 lakh) must compete under GM instead.
Note: In 2024, the Karnataka government scrapped a 4% Muslim quota that had previously existed within OBC and redistributed portions to Categories 3A and 3B. The exact impact on seat percentages for the 2025 medical counselling cycle should be confirmed against the current KEA bulletin, as some sources report updated percentages while others continue to show the older figures.
SC (Scheduled Castes): 15%
A 15% reservation covering all communities listed under the Constitution (Scheduled Castes) Order for Karnataka. No creamy layer criterion applies. In 2024, Karnataka internally restructured SC reservation into four sub-groups (SC Left, SC Right, Touchable, Others), though the total allocation and the counselling process remain functionally the same for most candidates.
Candidates need a Caste/Income Certificate from the Tahasildar. Fee exemption at government colleges may be available for SC candidates with family income below Rs 10 lakh. Vacant SC seats follow the state’s inter-se vacancy filling rules.
ST (Scheduled Tribes): 3%
A 3% reservation for communities listed under the Constitution (Scheduled Tribes) Order for Karnataka. This is the smallest base reservation category. Given the limited allocation, ST seats at popular government colleges fill quickly; candidates should carefully consider their preference order. Caste/Income Certificate from the Tahasildar is required. No creamy layer exclusion. Fee exemptions available as with SC.
EWS (Economically Weaker Sections): 10%
A 10% reservation for economically weaker candidates from the general (unreserved) category, introduced after the 103rd Constitutional Amendment. EWS candidates cannot belong to any of the above reservation categories. Family annual income must be below Rs 8 lakh, with restrictions on agricultural land and residential property ownership.
The EWS certificate follows the format prescribed by the state government, though Karnataka has largely adopted the central government format following Supreme Court guidance on uniform NEET admission standards.
The suffix system: sub-quotas within each category
Karnataka is unique among Indian states in using a suffix-based encoding for sub-quotas. Each of the eight base categories can carry one of six suffixes, and these suffixes determine additional eligibility criteria:
G (General sub-quota)
The default. No additional eligibility beyond the base category requirements. A candidate coded as “SCG” is an SC candidate with no Kannada medium, rural, or HK region advantage. This is the standard pathway.
K (Kannada medium)
Reserved for candidates who completed 10 years of schooling (Classes 1 through 10) in Kannada medium schools recognized by the Karnataka government. Approximately 5% of government seats are allocated for Kannada medium students within each category. A Kannada Medium Study Certificate is required.
A candidate coded as “2AK” is a Category 2A candidate who studied in Kannada medium. Their cutoff is typically different from “2AG” (Category 2A general), often reflecting the smaller competitive pool.
R (Rural)
Reserved for candidates who studied in schools located in rural areas of Karnataka. Approximately 5% of government seats are set aside for rural area students. A Rural Area Study Certificate is required.
H (Hyderabad-Karnataka region)
The HK reservation is one of the most impactful sub-quotas in Karnataka. Two layers apply: 8% of seats statewide across all government colleges, plus up to 70% of seats at colleges located within the HK region (Bidar, Kalaburagi, Raichur, Yadgir, Koppal, Ballari). A GM candidate from Kalaburagi with HK status (“GMH”) can secure a seat at a Bengaluru government college with a considerably higher AIR than “GMG” would require.
Reserved for candidates from the six districts of the Hyderabad-Karnataka (now Kalyana-Karnataka) region. This sub-quota operates under Article 371(J) of the Constitution. Article 371(J) Certificate or Hyderabad-Karnataka Domicile Certificate from the Tahasildar’s office is required.
KH (Kannada medium + Hyderabad-Karnataka)
Candidates must meet both criteria: Kannada medium schooling and HK region domicile. A candidate coded “SCKH” is SC, Kannada medium, and from the HK region. The competitive pool for combination suffixes is the smallest, and cutoffs can differ substantially from the base category.
RH (Rural + Hyderabad-Karnataka)
Candidates must qualify for both the rural area and HK region criteria. Same logic as KH but with rural schooling instead of Kannada medium.
How the suffix system creates 48+ codes
Eight base categories multiplied by six suffixes gives 48 regular category codes. In practice, not all combinations appear in every counselling round (some combinations have zero eligible candidates for specific colleges), but our database tracks 78 distinct category codes across Karnataka’s allotment data.
Beyond the 48 regular codes, KEA uses special category codes:
GMP, GMPH: General Merit Private, GM Private + HK region. For private college seats specifically.
OPN: Open (private college), similar to GMP.
OTH: Others (miscellaneous seat categories).
MA, MC, ME, MM, MU: Minority quotas. MA = Minority Arabic, MC = Minority Christian, ME = Minority English (often the Christian minority medium), MM = Minority Muslim, MU = Minority Urdu.
RC1 through RC8: Religious Congregation seats at deemed universities, each numbered for a specific congregation or trust.
NRI: Non-Resident Indian quota.
PH, PHM: Persons with Disability. PHM is PWD within the Muslim minority sub-category.
NCC, SPO: NCC (National Cadet Corps) and Sports quota candidates.
XD, D: Defence quota variants.
JK: Jammu & Kashmir migrant quota.
S-G: Special Government seats.
In the Karnataka cutoff analyzer, you can filter by any of these codes to see closing ranks for specific sub-quotas at specific colleges. Start with your base category, add your suffix (e.g., “SCR” for SC Rural), and compare cutoffs across colleges to build your preference list.
Horizontal reservations: parallel to the base categories
Like Maharashtra’s specified reservations, Karnataka operates several horizontal reservations that run in parallel with the base category system:
Women: 30% of seats within each category are reserved for female candidates. A female SC candidate competes for the SC female sub-quota first; if all female SC seats are filled, she competes for general SC seats on merit.
PWD (Persons with Disability): 5% of seats, applied across all categories. Disability certificate from a designated medical board is required.
Rural: approximately 5% of government seats, encoded through the R suffix.
Kannada medium: approximately 5% of government seats, encoded through the K suffix.
Defence/Ex-servicemen: a small quota for children of defence personnel.
NCC and Sports: quotas for NCC cadets and state/national level sportspersons.
Documents needed for each category
Category
Required documents
GM
No category-specific documents (standard NEET + academic documents only)
Category 1
Caste/Income Certificate from Tahasildar
2A, 2B, 3A, 3B
Caste Certificate from Tahasildar + Non-Creamy Layer Certificate with RD number (income below Rs 8 lakh)
SC, ST
Caste/Income Certificate from Tahasildar (no NCL required)
EWS
EWS certificate with income proof (below Rs 8 lakh)
K suffix
Kannada Medium Study Certificate (Classes 1-10)
R suffix
Rural Area Study Certificate
H/KH/RH suffix
Article 371(J) or HK Domicile Certificate from Tahasildar
PWD
Disability certificate from designated Disability Assessment Board
All category claims must be made during KEA registration. You cannot add or change your category after the deadline. If documents are missing or invalid at verification, you are treated as GM. Start gathering certificates immediately after NEET results. NCL certificates from the Tahasildar can take weeks to process. See our documents guide for the full checklist.
Non-Creamy Layer: who needs it and who does not
NCL applies to OBC categories 2A, 2B, 3A, and 3B. It does not apply to Category 1, SC, or ST. The certificate must include an RD (Registration Department) number and confirm family annual income below Rs 8 lakh. An expired or improperly formatted NCL means your reservation claim is denied and you compete under GM for the entire counselling cycle. Apply for NCL as early as possible after receiving your NEET result.
The certificate is issued by the Tahasildar of your taluk. Processing time varies; apply early.
How Karnataka categories map to central government categories
Your category for MCC (All India Quota) counselling is determined by the central government list. Your category for KEA (state) counselling is determined by Karnataka’s list. These are independent classifications. A single candidate can hold different categories in each system.
Karnataka category
Likely central government equivalent
GM
General/Unreserved
Category 1, 2A, 2B, 3A, 3B
OBC-NCL (if your caste is on the central OBC list)
SC
SC
ST
ST
EWS
EWS
The mapping is not automatic. Some Karnataka OBC communities may not appear on the central OBC list, making you General/Unreserved for AIQ purposes. Check your specific caste against the central list independently. Your KEA category and MCC category can be different.
What our data shows about category cutoffs
Our database tracks 45,673 Karnataka allotment records across 2023, 2024, and 2025, with 78 distinct category codes. Some patterns from the data:
The gap between GM and reserved category closing AIRs at government colleges follows a consistent hierarchy. At Bangalore Medical College (Round 2, 2025), the GM closing AIR was 3,025. Category 2A, the largest OBC group, had noticeably higher (less competitive) closing AIRs, while SC and ST closings were higher still. This hierarchy holds across colleges, though the gap narrows at less competitive institutions.
HK region codes (H, KH, RH suffixes) consistently show the largest advantage over their non-HK equivalents at the same college. At colleges within the HK region (Gulbarga, Raichur), HK cutoffs can be multiple times higher than GM cutoffs because those institutions reserve 70% of seats for HK candidates under Article 371(J). Kannada medium (K) and Rural (R) cutoffs fall between the general suffix (G) and HK suffix (H).
Year-over-year, all categories have seen cutoffs tighten. Between 2023 and 2025, closing AIRs at top government colleges dropped by 25% to 63%, depending on the college and category. This trend reflects the growing number of NEET qualifiers competing for a seat pool that has not expanded at the same rate.
I am OBC-NCL under the central government list. Which Karnataka category am I?
Karnataka’s five OBC groups (Category 1, 2A, 2B, 3A, 3B) are based on the Karnataka State Commission for Backward Classes classification, which is separate from the central OBC list. Your specific caste determines your Karnataka OBC sub-category. Check the state backward classes list for your community, or consult the Tahasildar’s office in your taluk.
Can I claim both a base category and a suffix simultaneously?
You always have exactly one code: a base category plus one suffix. If you are Category 2A, studied in Kannada medium, and are from the HK region, you would be “2AKH.” You cannot hold multiple suffix codes simultaneously. KEA assigns the most advantageous applicable code based on your documented eligibility.
If I am from the HK region but studying in Bengaluru, can I claim the H suffix?
HK eligibility is based on your residential origin in one of the six qualifying districts, not on where you attend school. If you are from Kalaburagi district but studied in Bengaluru, you can still claim the H suffix if you hold the Article 371(J) certificate. However, for the KH (Kannada medium + HK) or RH (Rural + HK) suffixes, your school must meet the respective medium or rural criteria.
Does the creamy layer apply to Category 1?
No. Category 1 is exempt from the creamy layer exclusion. This distinguishes it from Categories 2A, 2B, 3A, and 3B, where families with annual income above Rs 8 lakh lose reservation eligibility and must compete under GM.
What are the RC codes (RC1, RC2, etc.) in deemed university allotments?
RC stands for Religious Congregation. Deemed universities in Karnataka often have seats reserved for specific religious congregations or trusts that run the institution. RC1 through RC8 are numbered codes for these specific congregations. The eligibility criteria are set by each institution and involve membership in or affiliation with the specific religious congregation.
How do I know which category codes to filter for in the cutoff analyzer?
Start with your base category, then add your suffix. If you are SC from a rural area, filter for “SCR.” If you are GM with no special sub-quota, filter for “GM” (which includes GMG and all GM variants). The cutoff analyzer shows all available category codes in the filter dropdown for Karnataka.
