Kerala NEET Counselling 2026

Eligibility Criteria for NEET Counselling

Candidates seeking admission through Kerala NEET state quota counselling must fulfill the following eligibility requirements set by the counselling authority and the National Medical Commission (NMC).

• Must have qualified NEET UG 2026 with the minimum required percentile: 50th percentile for General category, 40th percentile for SC/ST/OBC-NCL, and 45th percentile for General-PwD candidates.
• Domicile requirement: Candidates must have a Kerala domicile (at least 5 years) in Kerala or be born in the state. Children of central government employees posted in Kerala may also be eligible under certain conditions.
• Age requirement: Candidate must have completed 17 years of age as of December 31, 2026. There is no upper age limit for NEET as per the latest NMC guidelines.
• Educational qualification: Must have passed Class 12th or equivalent with Physics, Chemistry, Biology/Biotechnology, and English individually. General category candidates need 50% aggregate in PCB, while reserved category candidates need 40%.
• Kerala domicile required for government quota. Candidates who have studied in Kerala for 5+ years are eligible. NRI quota seats in private colleges have separate eligibility.

Documents Required for Counselling Registration

Candidates must keep the following documents ready in original and scanned format for online registration and physical verification during the NEET counselling process. All documents must be self-attested where required.

• NEET UG 2026 scorecard downloaded from the official NTA website
• NEET UG 2026 admit card
• Class 10th mark sheet and passing certificate
• Class 12th mark sheet and passing certificate
• State domicile certificate issued by competent authority
• Caste certificate (SC/ST/OBC-NCL) if applicable, issued by competent authority
• EWS certificate if applicable, in the prescribed format
• Income certificate for fee concession eligibility
• Aadhaar card or any government-issued photo ID
• Passport-size photographs (same as uploaded on NEET application)
• PH/PwD certificate if claiming disability quota
• School leaving certificate / Transfer certificate
• Character certificate from the institution last attended
• Gap year affidavit (if applicable)

Note: Additional documents may be requested by the counselling authority. Candidates are advised to carry multiple sets of photocopies to the document verification centre and keep digital copies ready for online upload.

Reservation Policy in Kerala NEET Counselling

The Kerala government follows a structured reservation policy for NEET UG counselling to ensure equitable access to medical education for all sections of society. The reservation percentages are applied to state quota seats in government medical colleges.

Category-wise Reservation Breakdown

• Scheduled Caste (SC): 15% of state quota seats
• Scheduled Tribe (ST): 5% of state quota seats
• Other Backward Classes (OBC): 40% of state quota seats
• Economically Weaker Sections (EWS): 10% of state quota seats
• Horizontal reservation for Persons with Disability (PwD): 5% across all categories
• Kerala has one of the highest OBC reservations in India at 40% (including Ezhava, Muslim, and Other Backward Hindus). SC at 15%, ST at 5%, and EWS at 10%. There is also a 3% reservation for OEC (Other Eligible Communities).

Additionally, there may be reservation for wards of defence personnel, ex-servicemen, and sports quota candidates as per state government norms. Candidates claiming reservation benefits must submit valid certificates issued by competent authorities.

Fee Structure for MBBS in Kerala

The tuition fees for MBBS programs in Kerala vary significantly depending on the type of institution — government colleges, private colleges, and deemed universities. The following are the approximate annual fee ranges for the 2026-27 academic session.

• Government Medical Colleges: ₹12,000 — ₹40,000 per year. These are highly subsidised and affordable for state domicile students.
• Private Medical Colleges: ₹5,00,000 — ₹18,00,000 per year. Fees vary based on the institution's location, infrastructure, and reputation.
• Deemed Universities / Central Universities: ₹10,00,000 — ₹22,00,000 per year. These institutions have higher fee structures.
• The Kerala government provides free education to SC/ST students in government colleges. The state also offers the Suvarna Jubilee Merit Scholarship for top rankers.

Note: The above fees are indicative and subject to change. Candidates should verify the exact fee structure from the respective college's official website or the counselling authority's information bulletin. Hostel and mess charges are additional.