As NEET UG 2026 state counselling gathers pace across the country, three southern states — Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, and Kerala — have all moved into active stages of their respective admission processes for MBBS and BDS courses under the 85% state quota. While Telangana and Andhra Pradesh have already released their state merit/rank lists, Kerala’s counselling continues to run on a slightly adjusted timeline following the re-conduct of the NEET UG exam earlier this year.
This article brings together the latest state-wise updates — merit list release status, cut-off rank versus category trends, and a complete document verification checklist to help candidates in these three states navigate counselling smoothly.
State NEET UG Counselling 2026: Quick Comparison
| State | Conducting Authority | Merit List Status | Official Portal |
|---|---|---|---|
| Telangana | KNRUHS, Warangal | Released — 38,021 candidates listed | knruhs.telangana.gov.in |
| Andhra Pradesh | Dr. NTR UHS | Released — 33,220 candidates qualified | drntr.uhsap.in |
| Kerala | CEE Kerala | Based on Re-NEET 2026 scores; counselling in progress | cee.kerala.gov.in |
Telangana NEET UG Merit List 2026: Expected Release Timeline
The Kaloji Narayana Rao University of Health Sciences (KNRUHS) has already published the rank-wise qualified list of candidates eligible for Telangana’s 85% state quota seats, covering roughly 10,250 MBBS seats across the state. However, candidates should note an important distinction: this published list is only an informational qualified-candidates list and not the final state merit list.
The actual sequence Telangana follows is:
- Rank-wise qualified list — already released, based on NEET UG scores and eligibility.
- Counselling registration — commenced from 5 August 2026, requiring candidates to submit applications and upload documents.
- Provisional state merit list — prepared after document verification of all registered candidates.
- Final state merit list — published after resolving objections and grievances raised during the provisional stage.
Only candidates featured in the final merit list proceed to web option entry and seat allotment, so candidates should treat the current rank list as a starting eligibility indicator rather than a confirmed counselling rank.
Andhra Pradesh NEET UG Rank List 2026: Current Status
Similarly, Dr. NTR University of Health Sciences (UHS), Andhra Pradesh, has released its NEET UG rank list with approximately 33,220 candidates qualifying for the state’s counselling process. As with Telangana, this rank list marks the beginning of the counselling cycle rather than its conclusion. Candidates included in this list must now proceed through registration, document verification, and provisional/final merit list stages before participating in web-based option entry and seat allotment rounds.
Kerala NEET UG Counselling 2026: A Slightly Different Timeline
Kerala’s counselling cycle this year carries a unique context. The original NEET UG exam scheduled for 3 May 2026 was cancelled following paper leak allegations and was re-conducted as Re-NEET 2026 on 21 June 2026. As a result, Kerala’s state merit list and all subsequent allotments are based entirely on Re-NEET 2026 scores rather than the originally scheduled exam.
The Commissioner for Entrance Examinations (CEE) Kerala conducts this counselling through the KEAM portal at cee.kerala.gov.in, and candidates must have also submitted the KEAM Online Application, regardless of their NEET score, to be eligible. Seat allotment for MBBS and BDS courses is expected to commence around September 2026, following merit list publication, choice filling, and category-wise verification.
Cut-off Rank vs Category: What Candidates Should Know
Across all three states, the qualifying cut-off and the rank required for actual admission vary significantly by category, and candidates often confuse the two. Here’s the key distinction:
- NTA Qualifying Percentile/Cut-off: This is the minimum percentile set by the National Testing Agency to be eligible to appear in any counselling at all — it differs by category (General, OBC, SC, ST, EWS, PwBD) and is the same baseline used nationally.
- State Admission Cut-off Rank: This is a much more competitive, college-and-course-specific rank threshold determined after counselling rounds, based on actual seat availability, candidate preferences, and category-wise reservation within that state.
In practical terms, simply clearing the NTA qualifying cut-off only makes a candidate eligible to register for state counselling — it does not guarantee a seat. The real determining factor is where a candidate’s rank falls relative to the category-wise closing ranks of previous counselling rounds, which typically get published progressively after each round in Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, and Kerala. Candidates are strongly advised to compare their category-wise rank against previous years’ closing rank trends for realistic seat expectations, rather than relying solely on the qualifying cut-off.
Document Verification Checklist for State Quotas
Regardless of which state you’re applying in, document verification is a non-negotiable stage of counselling. Keep the following ready, both in original and self-attested photocopy form:
- NEET UG 2026 admit card and scorecard
- Class 10 marksheet and certificate (for date of birth proof)
- Class 12 marksheet and certificate (with Physics, Chemistry, Biology)
- Transfer/Migration certificate from your last attended institution
- State domicile/nativity certificate, as applicable
- Category certificate (SC/ST/OBC/EWS), issued by a competent authority
- PwBD certificate, if applicable, from an authorised medical board
- Valid government-issued photo ID proof (Aadhaar, Passport, etc.)
- Recent passport-size photographs
- Counselling registration receipt and fee payment proof
Missing or mismatched documents at this stage are among the most common reasons candidates lose provisionally allotted seats, so it’s advisable to organise and cross-verify every document well before your scheduled verification slot.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q1. Has the Telangana NEET UG merit list 2026 been released? KNRUHS has released the rank-wise qualified list with 38,021 candidates; the final state merit list will follow after document verification and grievance redressal.
Q2. How many candidates qualified in the Andhra Pradesh NEET UG rank list 2026? Approximately 33,220 candidates have qualified as per the rank list released by Dr. NTR UHS.
Q3. Why is Kerala’s NEET counselling based on Re-NEET 2026 scores? The original NEET UG exam on 3 May 2026 was cancelled due to paper leak allegations and re-conducted as Re-NEET on 21 June 2026, so all Kerala counselling now uses those scores.
Q4. Is clearing the NTA qualifying cut-off enough to get a state quota seat? No, clearing the qualifying cut-off only makes you eligible to register for counselling; actual seat allotment depends on your category-wise rank relative to closing ranks in each round.
Q5. What documents are commonly required for state NEET UG counselling verification? Admit card, scorecard, Class 10 and 12 certificates, domicile and category certificates, photo ID, and counselling registration proof are typically required across most states.