KEAM 2026 Round 2 Counselling: How to Register and Fill Options

KEAM 2026 Round 2 counselling registration opens on July 20, 2026 at cee.kerala.gov.in — students must log in, pay the registration fee, and submit their option entry (choice filling) within the announced window to compete for seats remaining after Round 1 allotment.

The Commissioner for Entrance Examinations (CEE), Kerala conducts KEAM 2026 counselling in multiple rounds. Round 2 gives students a fresh chance to secure a preferred college or branch, either because they missed Round 1 or want to upgrade their existing allotment. Seat allotment is purely merit-based — your KEAM rank and the order in which you fill options on the portal determine what you get.

• Round 2 Registration Start: July 20, 2026 on cee.kerala.gov.in
• Students must pay the counselling registration fee online before option entry unlocks
• Round 2 includes seats vacated, surrendered, or unfilled after Round 1 allotment
• Students with a Round 1 seat can participate to try for an upgrade — the current seat is held unless a better option is allotted
• Options must be locked before the deadline — unlocked lists are not considered for allotment

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KEAM 2026 Round 2 Counselling Important Dates

The schedule below is based on the Round 2 start date confirmed by CEE Kerala. Remaining dates are expected based on 2025 counselling trends and will be updated once the official notification is out. Track cee.kerala.gov.in for the finalised schedule.

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Who Can Participate in KEAM 2026 Round 2 Counselling

Not all students are required to participate in Round 2. Check your status before registering to avoid paying fees unnecessarily.

• Students who did not register in Round 1 — all fresh participants with a valid KEAM 2026 rank are eligible
• Students allotted a Round 1 seat who want an upgrade — you can fill new options above your current college; your existing seat is retained unless a better one is allotted
• Students who rejected or cancelled their Round 1 seat — eligible to re-enter, but you must pay the registration fee again
• Students satisfied with their Round 1 allotment — no need to participate; report to the allotted college as per the Round 1 schedule

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How to Register for KEAM 2026 Round 2 Counselling

Complete your registration on cee.kerala.gov.in before attempting option entry. Option entry only activates after a successful fee payment.

1. Visit cee.kerala.gov.in — open the official CEE Kerala portal on a desktop or laptop browser for the best experience.
2. Click the KEAM 2026 Counselling link — look for the Round 2 registration or counselling login link on the homepage or the KEAM 2026 section.
3. Log in with your credentials — enter your KEAM 2026 application number and date of birth or the password you set during the original registration.
4. Check and confirm your personal details — verify your category, nativity, and qualifying exam marks as pre-filled by CEE Kerala. Report discrepancies to CEE before proceeding.
5. Pay the counselling registration fee — complete the payment online using net banking, debit card, credit card, or UPI. Download the payment receipt immediately after success.
6. Proceed to option entry — after fee payment is confirmed, the option entry module becomes accessible from the counselling dashboard.

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How to Fill Option Entry in KEAM 2026 Round 2

Option entry is the choice-filling step where you arrange colleges and branches in your preferred order. Your seat allotment is determined by your KEAM rank and the position of available options in your submitted list. Higher-ranked students get first pick, so fill options strategically.

1. Open the Option Entry module — click on "Option Entry" from the counselling dashboard after logging in.
2. Browse available colleges and courses — the portal lists all government, aided, and self-financing engineering, architecture, and pharmacy colleges participating in KEAM 2026 allotment.
3. Filter by district, college, or branch — use the search and filter tools to shortlist college-branch combinations that match your interests and location preference.
4. Add options to your preference list — click "Add" next to each college-branch combination you want to include. You can add as many as you like.
5. Arrange options in priority order — reorder your list using the drag-and-drop feature or the up/down arrows. Place your most-wanted college-branch at the top.
6. Save regularly — click "Save" after each editing session. The portal allows you to return and edit saved options until the closing date.
7. Lock options before the deadline — once you are satisfied with your preference list, click "Lock Options". Locked lists cannot be edited — do not lock until you have reviewed your final order.
8. Download the option entry confirmation — after locking, download or screenshot the confirmation page showing your locked preference list.

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Documents Required for KEAM 2026 Counselling

You do not need to upload documents during online option entry, but originals must be produced at the allotted college at the time of physical reporting and admission. Keep these ready.

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Tips for Filling Options in KEAM 2026 Round 2

Round 2 is often the deciding round for students who missed their target branch in Round 1. These tips can help you make better use of the option entry window.

• Add every acceptable option — there is no penalty for adding more choices. A longer list maximises your chances of getting a seat.
• Keep your Round 1 college in the list — if you already hold a seat, add all better options above it. Your current seat stays unless CEE allots something higher on your list.
• Study previous-year closing ranks — check KEAM 2024 and 2025 closing ranks for your target colleges and branches before finalising your preference order. Closing ranks vary significantly by category.
• Check category-specific seat availability — some branches have very few reserved seats. Category closing ranks are often very different from general category closing ranks.
• Do not wait until the last moment to lock — set a reminder well before the deadline. Technical issues on the last day are common and CEE does not grant extensions for individual cases.
• Verify your locked list before confirming — scroll through the entire preference list one final time to ensure the order is correct before clicking Lock.