KCET Eligibility Criteria 2026- Karnataka Examination Authority has released the eligibility criteria for KCET 2026 on the official website cetonline.karnataka.gov.in. Karnataka CET exam candidates must fulfil all the conditions to apply for the exam. KCET eligibility criteria include birth, academic, course-wise categories and other requirements. Only those candidates who fulfil the KCET 2026 eligibility criteria were able to submit the KCET application form. The authority will conduct KCET 2026 for admission to various undergraduate programmes. The KCET exam dates are April 2026. The authority will conduct the Kannada medium exam in April 2026. Read the complete article and get more details here.
The Karnataka Examinations Authority will be announcing the notification having the KCET eligibility criteria. Candidates seeking admission in the engineering courses are advised to visit the KCET eligibility criteria before submitting the application form. The KCET 2026 eligibility criteria include age limit, educational qualification, domicile criteria, and many more. All applicants must fulfil the KCET eligibility criteria 2026. Any applicant who is disqualified at subsequent phases of the admission procedure will be terminated from the process. KEA is likely to publish the KCET application form 2026 in January 2026. Candidates can fill out the KCET registration 2026 by checking the official portal kea.kar.nic.in on or before the final date. Just to ensure, applicants should keep all documents in handy as per the KCET 2026 eligibility criteria before filling up the application form. For further information regarding the KCET eligibility criteria 2026, candidates can go through the article below.
Karnataka Examination Authority (KEA) has stipulated the KCET 2026 eligibility criteria for the students who need to qualify for the entrance test. The requirements mainly revolve around the educational qualification, citizenship, and residential status of the candidate. Initially, they must have completed the Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics education of their 12th class or an equivalent examination from the concerned board of the state. This condition enables students to have a strong grounding in the subjects that are necessary for further education in the area of engineering or other related courses.
KCET eligibility is also closely tied to the residential criterion, besides the educational one. As a majority of the seats are meant for local students, being a resident of Karnataka consequently qualifies one as eligible to participate in the KCET exams. Still, the applicants from outside the state can submit their enrollment under the " other than the state" group; however, they need to be aware of the fact that their chances for benefits related to the reservation would not start from zero. But, students have to be forewarned that eligibility for the different categories of applicants (General, SC/ST, OBC, etc.) are different. Thus, learners should ensure that all the needs are met before applying.
The learners have to check that they satisfy the study and residence standards before they start completing the application form. This brief description of eligibility will allow candidates to have some idea of whether they qualify to take part in the KCET 2026 exam.
| Section | Details |
|---|---|
| Exam Name | Karnataka Common Entrance Test (KCET) 2026 |
| Purpose | State-level entrance exam for admission to undergraduate courses in Engineering, Pharmacy, and other professional programs in Karnataka |
| Conducting Authority | Karnataka Examinations Authority (KEA) |
| Mode of Exam | Offline (Pen-and-Paper-Based Test) |
| Duration | 3 hours |
| Question Type | Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs) |
The Karnataka Examinations Authority (KEA) released the KCET special eligibility list for counselling. Students can check and download PDF below -
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Category |
Download PDF |
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Veterinary physical disabled candidates eligibility list |
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CAPF |
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Ex- CAPF |
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Defence |
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Ex-Defence |
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NCC |
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Scout and Guide |
No candidate can qualify for admission into courses conducted under KCET 2026 unless they meet the following KCET eligibility criteria:
KCET 2026 Educational qualification is one of the most vital parts of the exam to be fulfilled. To be eligible for the KCET, the requirement is that the student must have completed 12th grade (or the equivalent) from a recognised educational board with the following: Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics (for engineering courses) and/or Physics, Chemistry, and Biology (for medical or agriculture-related courses). Meanwhile, it is essential for the students to score not less than 45% marks in the subjects (40% for the category of students that is set by the government, like SC/ST and OBC).
In the case of students who are enrolled in "Engineering", Mathematics and Physics subjects are a must, and candidates can pick Chemistry or any other corresponding subject as their third subject. Moreover, for the 12th examination results, candidates should clear it from a board that is recognised by the KEA with the pass marks.
Thematic courses in the field of engineering are eligible for the credit application into the second year of engineering programs for those who set a percentage record in their diploma course if the subject shares are satisfied. At the same time, students who are taking their 12th-grade exams in the current academic year and those who are expecting their results are also eligible to apply if they meet the educational qualification requirement on the day of the counselling process.
We recommend that candidates ensure that the subject and percentage requirements are met to bypass the most vital rejection among the application or counselling phases.
| Qualification | Details |
|---|---|
| For Engineering | Candidates must have passed 10+2 or equivalent examination with Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics as core subjects with a minimum of 45% marks (40% for SC/ST/OBC candidates) |
| For Pharmacy | Candidates must have passed 10+2 or equivalent examination with Physics, Chemistry, and Biology/Mathematics as core subjects with a minimum of 45% marks (40% for SC/ST/OBC candidates) |
KCET 2026 Age limit is one of the major factors that children should take into account. As per the eligibility criteria, the candidates should be at least 17 years of age by December 2026, so that they can apply for the exam. From this formula, it is clear to the candidates that those who are born on or before December 31, 2008, can take part in the exam. The age limit is a perfect criterion to test the maturity of the candidates in academics.
Some relaxation may be allowed to the category of candidates who are moving to the reserved class, such as SC, ST, or OBC. In most cases, those from the said categories must be able to apply three years after the regular deadline, that is, born on or before 31st December 2008, and, as per some specific norms of their category get a few more years.
The KCET 2026 Age limit is a specific criterion, and the candidates should check carefully whether they are within the said age limit or not. If a person is not eligible by age, they will not be able to enter the entrance exam or the additional admission process.
Applicants should refer to their date of birth and be certain that they have reached the specified age limit before they submit applications for the KCET 2026 exam.
| Criteria | Details |
|---|---|
| Age Limit | No specific upper age limit for candidates |
Nationality is an integral part of the KCET 2026 eligibility criteria. For all such state-level exams that are conducted in India, only Indian nationals are eligible for the KCET 2026 exam. Foreign nationals and Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) may not take the exam.
Moreover, the other condition of being an Indian citizen is for the candidates to fulfil the residence privilege. Only the total number of people who live in Karnataka has the right to apply in the General category. On one side, children who were born in Karnataka but educated elsewhere can also apply under the "Karnataka Residents" slot. Besides, the ones who are children of the armed forces, the employees of the public sector undertakings, the civil services of central or state governments can have the possibility to be a part of the requests, which are open to the identified directions, even if they are not Karnataka residents.
For the candidates from other states, there is a different procedure for applying, but they will not be as benefits one from the same benefits as the Karnataka residents. This is critical to examine the status of the residency before starting the application, since this will make a difference in the category of admission and the reservations thereof.
| Criteria | Details |
|---|---|
| Indian Nationals | Eligible to apply for all courses |
| Karnataka Domicile | Applicants must be from Karnataka or have a Karnataka domicile to be eligible for government seats |
KCET 2026 reservation policy provided by the Karnataka Government to guarantee the possibility of equal opportunities to the students falling under different categories. The reservation structure in KCET consists of many reserves, such as Scheduled Castes (SC), Scheduled Tribes (ST), Other Backwards Classes (OBC), and Economically Weaker Sections (EWS).
As an instance, candidates belonging to the SC category are set aside a definite percentage of seats, and so are candidates of the ST and OBC categories. Apart from these, things such as rural candidates, differently-abled students, and defence personnel are likewise provisioned. The authorities are committed to making sure that students from these classes receive a fair chance to join the course of their choice.
It must be stressed that applicants under the reserved categories must provide genuine and current certificates to verify their rights to the reservation benefit. These certificates ought to be given by the official side of the government, and the students must ensure that they have met the necessary criteria for applying under the reservation category.
The KCET 2026 reservation policy is a strategy driving the equitable and transparent admission process, making higher education available for students with different cultural backgrounds in Karnataka. Candidates must adhere to the provisions of reservation policies for their respective categories and should present the required documents during the counselling sessions.
| Category | Reservation Percentage |
|---|---|
| General | 50% |
| OBC | 27% |
| SC | 15% |
| ST | 7.5% |
| PwD | 5% |
| Hyderabad-Karnataka (HK) Region | 15% |
| Rural | 25% of the total seats |
Candidates can refer to the table provided below to check the course-wise KCET 2026 eligibility criteria to appear:
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Course |
Eligibility Norms |
Admission Criteria |
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Passed 2nd PUC / Class 12 with 50% (45% for SC / ST / OBC / PwD) marks in Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics |
NATAJEE Main Paper 2 |
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Passed 2nd PUC / Class 12 board with English as one of the languages and obtained a minimum of 45% (40% for SC / ST / OBC / PwD) marks in Physics and Mathematics along with Chemistry / Biotechnology / Biology / Electronics / Computer. |
Qualifying examination: KCET |
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Farm ScienceBSc (Hons) Agriculture / Sericulture / Horticulture / Forestry / Agriculture Marketing & CooperationBTech Agriculture / Food Technology / Dairy Technology / Food ScienceBFSc Fisheries |
Passed 2nd PUC / Class 12 with Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics and Biology |
Qualifying examination:KCET |
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Bachelors of Veterinary Science and Animal Husbandry (BVSc & AH) |
Passed 2nd PUC / Class 12 with 50% (40% for SC / ST / OBC / PwD) marks in Physics, Chemistry, Biology and English |
KCET |
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Passed 2nd PUC / Class 12 board with 45% (40% for SC / ST / OBC / PwD) marks in Physics, Chemistry & Biology.Passed Diploma in Pharmacy (Pharma D) exam from an institute/university approved by Pharmacy Council of India with a minimum of 45% (40% for SC / ST / OBC / PwD) marks.Qualifying Pharma D is also applicable in case of lateral entry to the second year of BPharma, |
KCET |
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Passed 2nd PUC / Class 12 board in Physics, Chemistry & Biology.Passed Diploma in Pharmacy (Pharma D) exam from an institute/university approved by Pharmacy Council of India. |
KCET |
Other than the general and academic KCET 2026 eligibility norms set by KEA, there is a domicile eligibility requirement that a candidate applying to appear for KCET 2026 must be an Indian resident and a Karnataka domicile. KEA has established some requirements under the domicile standards for KCET. Each requirement is defined as a clause and is referred to separately by a code. Have a look at KCET 2014 detailed domicile norms.
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CODES |
Eligibility |
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CODE A |
A candidate who has studied and is passed in one or more Government-recognised educational institutions located in the State of Karnataka for a minimum period of 7 academic years commencing from 1st standard to 2nd PUC to 12th standard as on July 1 of the year in which KCET is being held. Candidate must have also appeared and passed either SSLC / Class 10 or 2nd PUC / Class 12 examination from Karnataka. In case of candidates who have taken more than one year to pass a class or standard, the years of academic study is counted as one year only. |
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CODE B |
Candidate has studied and passed either 1st or 2nd year Pre-University Examination or 1+ 2 examinations within Karnataka from an Educational Institution recognized by the State Government. Either of the parents should have studied in Karnataka for 7 years |
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CODE C |
Either candidate or one of the parent’s mothers tongue should be Kannada, Tulu or Kodava and either of parents domiciled in the State of Karnataka. Such candidate should have passed the qualifying examination from a University or Board or any other Institution located outside Karnataka and should be residing outside the State of Karnataka as on May1, 2019. |
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CODE D |
A candidate whose mother tongue is Kannada, Tulu or Kodava who also resides and studied for a period of 7 years between 1st and 12th standards in disputed Kannada speaking area of South Sholapur or Akkalkot or jath or Gadhinglaj taluks of Maharashtra State or Kasargod or Hosadurga Taluks of Kerala State. Provided that the candidate shall undergo a Kannada Language test conducted by KEA. |
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CODE E |
In the case of a candidate who is son or daughter of defence personnel who has worked continuously in Karnataka for a minimum period of one year during the two year period of study of candidates in PUC/Class 11 or Class 12. The candidate should have studied and passed the qualifying examination from any Government recognized educational institution located in the State. |
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CODE F |
Son or daughter of serving Defence personnel from Karnataka who at the time of joining the Defence service had declared his/her hometown a place in the State. Proof of such domicile should be obtained and produced by obtaining the extract from the AG’S branch (Army Hqs) respective branch of integrated HQ of MoD for Officers and respective Record Offices for JCOs/OR. Further, the candidate should have passed the Q.E. from a University or board or any other institution located anywhere in India. |
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CODE G |
In case if a candidate who is a son or daughter of defence personnel who had served in Karnataka for at least one year. The officer is also posted on duty in Field/Active service and whose family is permitted by Defense Authorities to continue to stay in Karnataka. Such candidate should have studied and passed the qualifying examination from any government or government recognized educational institution located in Karnataka. |
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CODE H |
Son or daughter of ex-servicemen who at the time of joining the defence service had declared a place in Karnataka as their hometown proof of such domicile should be obtained and produced from the “Deputy Director, Department of Sainik Welfare and Resettlement” of that district and the same should be countersigned by the Director, Department of Sainik Welfare and Resettlement. Further, the candidate should have passed the qualifying examination from a university or board or any other institution located anywhere in India. |
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CODE I |
In the case if a candidate being a son or daughter of an employee of the Union Government of the Karnataka State Government Undertaking or Joint Sector Undertaking, who is liable to be transferred anywhere in India as per the terms and conditions of his employment and has worked in Karnataka for a minimum period of one year during the two year period of study of candidate in PUC/Class 11 or Class 12 standards course and, such candidate has studied and passed the qualifying examination from any government or government recognized educational institution located in the state of Karnataka. |
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CODE J |
Son or daughter of a working or retired employee of the Union Government or employee of Union or Karnataka State Government undertaking or Joint Sector undertaking where such employee; (a) had declared to the employer at the time of joining service any place in Karnataka to be their hometown; (b) had studied in any government or government recognized educational institutions or institutions located in Karnataka for a minimum period of seven years, and was or is liable to be transferred anywhere in India as per the terms and conditions of his employment. The candidate also should have passed the qualifying examination from a university or board or any other institution located anywhere in India. |
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CODE K |
Son or daughter of Members of Parliament elected from Karnataka. Further, the candidate should have passed the qualifying examination from a university or board or any other institution located anywhere in India. |
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CODE L |
Son or father of serving or retired employee: (a) belonging to All India Service of Karnataka cadre; (b) of the Karnataka State Government, who has served or is serving outside the State of Karnataka during the period corresponding to candidate’s study outside the state from 1st standard to 2nd PUC or Class 12 examination can be added to make up for seven years within Karnataka. |
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CODE M |
For son or daughter of Jammu and Kashmir migrants, a proof of migration is needed to be produced from jurisdictional “District Magistrate and Deputy Commissioner” of any state in India. |
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CODE N |
Candidates having studied 10 years in Kannada medium from Class 1 to 12 in places outside of Karnataka need not to appear for Kannada Language test conducted by KEA. |
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CODE O |
Son/daughter of working or retired employee in Central Armed Police Force service, who at the time of joining the CAPF service had declared the hometown as a place in the state of Karnataka, proof of such domicile having been produced by obtaining the extract from the Record Office of the CAPF unit where the parents’ service record is maintained. Further, the candidate should have passed the Q.E. from a University or board or any other institution located anywhere in India. |
As mentioned earlier, the domicile norms of KCET 2026 have certain eligibility clauses divided into Codes, based on which candidates will be required to submit the relevant documents. Documents to be submitted at the time of verification in favour of the claim for all the clauses are discussed below:
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Code |
List of Documents |
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CODE A |
SSLC / Class 10 mark sheet
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CODE B |
SSLC / Class 10 mark sheet
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CODE C |
SSLC / Class 10 mark sheet
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CODE D |
SSLC/Class 10 Marks Card and 2nd PUC/Class 12 Marks Card
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CODE E |
SSLC/Class 10 Marks Cards
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CODE F |
SSLC/Class 10 Marks Card
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CODE G |
SSLC/Class 10 Marks Cards
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CODE H |
SSLC/Class 10 mark sheet
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CODE I |
SSLC/ Class 10 Marks Cards
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CODE J |
SSLC/Class 10 mark sheet
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CODE K |
SSLC / Class 10 mark sheet
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CODE L |
SSLC / Class 10 mark sheet
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CODE M |
SSLC / Class 10 mark sheet
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CODE N |
SSLC / Class 10 mark sheet
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CODE O |
SSLC / Class 10 mark sheet
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