Karnataka PGCET 2026 pass percentage indicates how many students scored at or above the minimum qualifying marks — 25 out of 100 for General category — as declared by the Karnataka Examinations Authority (KEA) with the result on June 30, 2026.

KEA conducts Karnataka PGCET every year for admission to M.Tech, M.E., M.Arch, and M.Plan programmes across government, aided, and private engineering colleges in the state. The result carries each student’s marks, rank, and qualifying status. Students who meet the category-wise qualifying threshold are eligible for KEA’s centralised counselling and seat allotment process. Based on previous year trends, the overall pass percentage for Karnataka PGCET has ranged between 60% and 72%.

  • The minimum qualifying marks for General and OBC category students is 25 out of 100 (25%).
  • SC and ST category students need a minimum of 15 out of 100 (15%) to qualify, based on previous year norms.
  • In 2025, approximately 40,000–47,000 students appeared for Karnataka PGCET, with an estimated pass percentage of 65–72%.
  • Karnataka PGCET has 100 MCQ questions carrying 1 mark each with no negative marking.
  • Only students who qualify are eligible for KEA PGCET 2026 counselling and seat allotment.
Direct Link to Karnataka PGCET 2026 Result (OUT) Check Result @ cetonline.karnataka.gov.in

Karnataka PGCET 2026 Pass Percentage Overview

Karnataka PGCET 2026 was conducted for various engineering, technology, and architecture streams. The result published on June 30, 2026 includes subject-wise and category-wise qualifying data. KEA defines a student as qualified when they score at or above the minimum qualifying marks — a threshold that varies by category. The overall pass percentage for 2026 is expected to be between 60% and 72%, based on 2024 and 2025 trends.

Detail Information
Conducting Body Karnataka Examinations Authority (KEA)
Total Marks 100
Total Questions 100 MCQs (no negative marking)
Result Date June 30, 2026
Expected Pass Percentage (2026) 60–72% (based on 2025 trends)
Qualifying Threshold (General/OBC) 25 marks (25%)
Qualifying Threshold (SC/ST) 15 marks (15%)
Official Portal cetonline.karnataka.gov.in

Karnataka PGCET 2026 Minimum Qualifying Marks by Category

KEA prescribes different minimum qualifying marks for different reservation categories. Students who meet their respective threshold appear on the rank list and become eligible to participate in PGCET counselling. The table below reflects the qualifying marks based on 2025 Karnataka PGCET norms.

Category Minimum Qualifying Marks (out of 100) Qualifying Percentage
General Merit (GM) 25 25%
OBC — Category 1, 2A, 2B, 3A, 3B 25 25%
SC (Scheduled Caste) 15 15%
ST (Scheduled Tribe) 15 15%

These qualifying thresholds are based on previous year KEA notifications and are expected to remain the same for 2026. Students should confirm the exact figures from the official KEA result notification once published on the portal.


Karnataka PGCET Year-wise Pass Percentage Trend

Reviewing previous years gives a clearer picture of what to expect in 2026. The number of registered students and the overall pass percentage have been relatively stable, with a slight upward trend as more students pursue postgraduate engineering programmes in Karnataka.

Year Registered (Approx.) Appeared (Approx.) Qualified (Approx.) Pass Percentage (Approx.)
2025 ~47,000 ~41,000 ~27,000–30,000 ~65–72%
2024 ~44,000 ~38,000 ~24,000–27,000 ~63–70%
2023 ~42,000 ~36,000 ~22,000–25,000 ~61–68%

All figures above are approximate estimates based on available trend data and are not official KEA statistics. The official 2026 pass percentage will be published with the Karnataka PGCET 2026 result. The high qualifying rate is partly because the minimum qualifying bar (25%) is set intentionally low — the real competition is for rank and college seat allotment, not just clearing the qualifying cut.


What Happens After You Qualify Karnataka PGCET 2026

Qualifying Karnataka PGCET 2026 earns you a rank and makes you eligible for KEA’s centralised counselling. Here is the step-by-step process that follows after the result:

  1. Download your rank card from the KEA portal at cetonline.karnataka.gov.in using your application number and date of birth.
  2. Register for counselling — KEA announces the schedule for document verification and choice filling shortly after the result.
  3. Document verification — carry originals of your qualifying degree certificate, category certificate (if applicable), Karnataka domicile proof, and PGCET 2026 rank card.
  4. Choice filling — select your preferred colleges and branches through the KEA online portal within the given window.
  5. Seat allotment — KEA publishes the allotment result based on your rank, category, choices, and available seats.
  6. Fee payment and reporting — pay the seat acceptance fee online and report to the allotted college within the deadline to confirm your admission.

Students who do not qualify Karnataka PGCET 2026 can re-appear in the next academic year. There is no restriction on the number of attempts for Karnataka PGCET.

Karnataka PGCET 2026 Pass Percentage FAQs

Ques. What is the minimum marks required to pass Karnataka PGCET 2026?

Ans. General and OBC category students need at least 25 marks out of 100 (25%) to qualify Karnataka PGCET 2026. SC and ST category students need a minimum of 15 marks (15%), based on previous year KEA norms.

Ques. What is the expected pass percentage for Karnataka PGCET 2026?

Ans. Based on 2024 and 2025 trends, the overall pass percentage for Karnataka PGCET 2026 is expected to be between 60% and 72%. The official figure will be available on the KEA portal with the June 30, 2026 result.

Ques. How many students are expected to qualify Karnataka PGCET 2026?

Ans. Based on previous year trends, approximately 27,000 to 32,000 students out of around 40,000–47,000 who appear are expected to qualify Karnataka PGCET 2026. The exact number will be confirmed in the official result.

Ques. Where can I check my Karnataka PGCET 2026 qualifying status?

Ans. You can check your qualifying status and rank on the official KEA portal at cetonline.karnataka.gov.in. Log in using your application number and date of birth to download your rank card.

Ques. Does qualifying Karnataka PGCET 2026 guarantee a college seat?

Ans. No. Qualifying PGCET only makes you eligible for KEA counselling. A seat is allotted based on your rank, category, choice of college and branch, and availability of seats in the centralised allotment rounds.

Ques. Is there negative marking in Karnataka PGCET 2026?

Ans. No. Karnataka PGCET does not carry negative marking. Each correct answer earns 1 mark out of a total of 100, and unanswered or incorrect responses carry zero marks.