KEA Warns: Fraudsters Promising Medical Seats Outside Official Process

The Karnataka Examinations Authority (KEA) has issued a warning to students and parents against individuals claiming to secure medical, dental, and AYUSH course seats outside the official counselling process. KEA Executive Director H. Prasanna clarified that all seats—including government, management, NRI, and private quotas—are allotted exclusively through KEA counselling.

KEA has received complaints about people asserting they can arrange management and NRI quota seats. While private colleges can set fees for these quotas, they have no authority to allot seats. “Anyone claiming otherwise is attempting to mislead and cheat candidates,” Mr. Prasanna said.

He explained the seat distribution: 15% of government medical college seats are allotted by the National Medical Commission (NMC), and the remaining 85% by KEA. All seats in private medical colleges and private universities in Karnataka are also allotted through KEA. Seat allotment is strictly based on NEET ranks from the National Testing Agency (NTA).

Once KEA receives official NEET data, candidates will be able to link their NEET roll number with their CET application. After NEET rank integration, candidates must download a verification slip. The state counselling process begins only after the NMC announces the national counselling schedule. Meanwhile, students can refer to previous years’ seat allotment data on the KEA portal to assess their prospects.

After receiving NEET data, KEA will publish a state merit list of candidates with Karnataka domicile in ascending rank order. Candidates who missed applying for medical courses will get another chance to submit applications, and document verification will be scheduled accordingly.

For pharmacy courses, Mr. Prasanna said the seat matrix is pending. Once available, candidates can enter preferences before the second round of allotment. He advised students to choose ‘Choice 2’ if they are allotted a seat in the first round but wish to participate in later rounds for a better option.