KCET 2026

Exam: 23-24 Apr 2026 | Deadline: 27 Feb 2026 | Mode: Offline | Karnataka (Govt)

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When Is KCET 2026? Key Dates & Deadlines

Application Start

16 Jan 2026 (Closed)

Application Deadline

27 Feb 2026 (Closed) (Extended)

Exam Date

23-24 Apr 2026 (Concluded)

Mode
Offline

Which Colleges Accept KCET 2026 Scores?

Top institutes accepting KCET scores:

M.S. Ramaiah
#75
Bengaluru, Karnataka
BMS College
#151-200
Bengaluru, Karnataka
PES University
#101-150
Bengaluru, Karnataka
RV College of Engg
#101-150
Bengaluru, Karnataka
Siddaganga (SIT)
101-150
Tumakuru, Karnataka
KLE Tech Univ
#151-200
Hubballi, Karnataka
New Horizon College
#151-200
Bengaluru, Karnataka
Dayananda Sagar College of Engineering (DSCE)
#201-300
Bengaluru, Karnataka
Sri Jayachamarajendra College of Engineering (SJCE)
201-300
Mysuru, Karnataka
C M R Institute of Technology
151-200
Bengaluru, Karnataka
NMAM Institute of Technology
151-200
NITTE, Udupi, Karnataka
Visvesvaraya Technological University
151-200
Belgaum, Karnataka
P E S College of Engineering, MANDYA
201-300
Mandya, Karnataka
International Institute of Information Technology Bangalore
#69
Bengaluru, Karnataka
The National Institute of Engineering
151-200
Mysuru, Karnataka
RV University
N/A
Bengaluru, Karnataka

What Is KCET 2026? (Karnataka Common Entrance Test)

KCET 2026 exam date is 23-24 Apr 2026 (Concluded); application deadline is 27 Feb 2026 (Closed) (Extended); exam mode is Offline. KCET (Karnataka Common Entrance Test) is a major entrance examination for admission to Karnataka (Govt). It is conducted annually for 2026 admissions across participating institutions in India.

The application process opens from 16 Jan 2026 (Closed) and the last date to apply is 27 Feb 2026 (Closed) (Extended). Candidates are advised to complete their registration well before the deadline to avoid last-minute technical issues. All applications must be submitted online through the official portal. Keep your academic documents, photograph, and signature ready before starting the registration process.

KCET scores are accepted by 16 institutes across India, including M.S. Ramaiah, BMS College, PES University. The complete list of participating institutions includes: M.S. Ramaiah (Bengaluru, Karnataka); BMS College (Bengaluru, Karnataka); PES University (Bengaluru, Karnataka); RV College of Engg (Bengaluru, Karnataka); Siddaganga (SIT) (Tumakuru, Karnataka); KLE Tech Univ (Hubballi, Karnataka); New Horizon College (Bengaluru, Karnataka); Dayananda Sagar College of Engineering (DSCE) (Bengaluru, Karnataka); Sri Jayachamarajendra College of Engineering (SJCE) (Mysuru, Karnataka); C M R Institute of Technology (Bengaluru, Karnataka); NMAM Institute of Technology (NITTE, Udupi, Karnataka); Visvesvaraya Technological University (Belgaum, Karnataka); P E S College of Engineering, MANDYA (Mandya, Karnataka); International Institute of Information Technology Bangalore (Bengaluru, Karnataka); The National Institute of Engineering (Mysuru, Karnataka); RV University (Bengaluru, Karnataka). Candidates will be allotted seats based on their rank in the entrance exam along with the counselling process.

For the most current and accurate information on KCET 2026 — including admit card release, syllabus, exam-day instructions, answer key, and result announcement — candidates should regularly check the official website at https://cetonline.karnataka.gov.in/kea/. Bookmark the page and set reminders for key dates to avoid missing any deadlines.

Candidates planning ahead for KCET 2027 and KCET 2028 should note that this exam is conducted annually, with the schedule typically following the same academic calendar each year. Eligibility norms, exam pattern, and participating institutes generally remain consistent across cycles. Bookmark this page — it will be updated with verified KCET 2027 dates and application details as soon as the official notification is released.

How to Apply for KCET 2026

  1. Visit the Official Website — Go to KCET official website and click Apply Online or New Registration.
  2. Register and Create Account — Enter your name, email, and mobile number. Verify via OTP.
  3. Fill the Application Form — Complete personal details, educational qualifications, exam city preferences, and category information.
  4. Upload Documents — Upload your passport-size photograph, signature, and Class 10/12 mark sheets as per specifications.
  5. Pay the Application Fee — Pay online via card, net banking, or UPI before 27 Feb 2026 (Closed) (Extended). Save the payment receipt.
  6. Submit and Download Confirmation — Review, submit, and download your confirmation page. The admit card will be released before the exam (23-24 Apr 2026 (Concluded)).

Frequently Asked Questions – KCET 2026 & 2027

The KCET 2026 exam is scheduled for 23-24 Apr 2026 (Concluded). The exam is conducted in Offline mode. Candidates must download their admit card from the official website before the exam. Check the official website for any last-minute schedule updates.

The last date to apply for KCET 2026 is 27 Feb 2026 (Closed) (Extended). The application window opened from 16 Jan 2026 (Closed). Apply well before the closing date to avoid server congestion. Ensure fee payment and document upload are completed before the deadline, as late applications are typically not accepted.

KCET 2026 scores are accepted by M.S. Ramaiah (Bengaluru, Karnataka); BMS College (Bengaluru, Karnataka); PES University (Bengaluru, Karnataka). In total, 16 institutes participate in the KCET admissions process. Candidates must check each institute's individual cutoff and eligibility criteria on the official counselling portal.

The KCET 2026 application form opened/opens from 16 Jan 2026 (Closed). Registration is online through the official portal. You need a valid email ID, mobile number, and scanned copies of your photograph and signature. Submit the form with the required application fee before 27 Feb 2026 (Closed) (Extended).

To apply for KCET 2026, candidates typically need: a valid email ID and mobile number, Class 10 and 12 mark sheets, a recent passport-size photograph, a scanned signature, and a government-issued photo ID. Reserved category candidates may also need caste/category certificates. Always refer to the official notification for the exact and updated document checklist.

KCET 2026 is conducted in Offline mode. Candidates mark answers on a printed OMR sheet at designated exam centres. Admit cards must be downloaded from the official website and carried to the exam hall along with a valid photo ID.

The KCET 2027 notification and schedule are expected to follow the same annual cycle, typically announced in late 2026 or early 2027. Based on historical patterns, the application window usually opens several months before the exam. Candidates preparing for the 2027 cycle should bookmark this page — it will be updated with verified KCET 2027 dates, application deadlines, and eligibility details as soon as the official notification is published at the official website.

More Questions About KCET & Related Exams

Session 1 (Jan 21-30) allows early attempts while boards are ongoing. Session 2 (Apr 2-9) gives time to improve after boards. You can appear for one or both - best score is considered for ranking. Most toppers attempt both for safety.

Focus on JEE Main first as it covers 90% of the syllabus for other exams. Private exams like BITSAT (April), VITEEE (Mar-Apr), and SRMJEEE (Apr) often have overlapping content. Apply to 3-5 backup options based on your JEE mock scores.

MHT-CET (Maharashtra) follows state board syllabus with PCM+PCB combined. KCET (Karnataka) includes 1st and 2nd PUC syllabus. WBJEE (West Bengal) has slightly different weightage. AP EAPCET and TS EAMCET closely follow respective state boards.

For top 10 NITs (CS/IT): 98-99+ percentile. For core branches at top NITs: 95-97 percentile. Top IIITs (IIIT-H, IIIT-D): 98+ percentile. Home state quota gives significant advantage - plan accordingly.

Yes. BITSAT, VITEEE, MET are completely independent exams. BITS Pilani doesn't consider JEE scores at all. VIT and Manipal also conduct their own exams. Several students secure these seats even with moderate JEE performance.

No late registration is allowed for JEE Advanced. Top 2.5 lakh JEE Main qualified candidates must register within the tight window (usually 10-14 days). Missing this means no IIT admission for that year. Set multiple reminders.

Yes, but with caution. CSAB Special Rounds fill vacant seats in NITs/IIITs/GFTIs. Cutoffs often drop significantly, offering a chance for lower rankers. However, it's risky—you must be willing to lose your partial admission fee if you don't take the allotted seat.

The 75% aggregate in Class 12 boards (or top 20 percentile) is mandatory for admission to NITs, IIITs, and IITs, even for droppers. If you missed this, consider independent universities (VIT, BITS, Thapar) which have their own criteria.

JEE Main: You can attempt in 3 consecutive years after Class 12, with 2 sessions per year — giving you up to 6 attempts total. JEE Advanced: Only 2 attempts in consecutive years. Droppers must use these carefully — plan both sessions from the first year itself.

JoSAA (Joint Seat Allocation Authority) runs 6 rounds of counselling for IITs, NITs, IIITs, and GFTIs using your JEE ranks. You fill in course preferences in order of priority, and seats are allotted based on rank and availability. Accepting a seat requires paying a partial fee. You can upgrade in later rounds. Missing any round deadline forfeits your allotment.

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