KCET 2026 Round 1 fee payment window is open and the last date to pay is July 12, 2026 — every student allotted a seat in Round 1 must complete fee payment on the KEA portal before this deadline to confirm their admission.
Karnataka Examinations Authority (KEA) runs KCET counselling in multiple rounds. After the Round 1 seat allotment, students who accept the offered seat must pay the prescribed fee online at cetonline.karnataka.gov.in/kea to lock in their admission. Missing the July 12 deadline cancels your Round 1 seat and it is released for other students in subsequent rounds.
- Last date for KCET 2026 Round 1 fee payment: July 12, 2026
- Fee payment is online only at cetonline.karnataka.gov.in/kea
- Fee amount varies by college type (Government / Aided / Private) and student category
- Paying the Round 1 fee does not prevent you from upgrading your seat in Round 2
- Students who miss the deadline lose their Round 1 allotted seat
| Direct Link — KCET 2026 Fee Payment Portal (ACTIVE) — cetonline.karnataka.gov.in/kea |
KCET 2026 Round 1 Fee Payment Overview
Fee payment is the mandatory step between seat allotment and college reporting. After KEA releases the Round 1 allotment order, you must log in to the KEA portal, verify your seat details, and pay the prescribed tuition fee before July 12, 2026. Your admission is not confirmed until payment is complete.
KEA accepts fee payment entirely online — there is no offline or bank challan mode for KCET 2026 counselling. Once payment is processed, you receive a digital acknowledgement receipt that serves as proof of seat acceptance. This receipt is mandatory when you report to the allotted college.
- Payment modes accepted: Net Banking, Debit Card, Credit Card, UPI
- No cash or offline payment is available at any stage
- Partial refund applies if you withdraw before college reporting, as per KEA refund policy
KCET 2026 Round 1 Fee Amount by Category
The fee payable after KCET 2026 Round 1 allotment depends on your allotted college type and student category. The table below shows expected fee ranges based on 2025 fee structure trends. The exact amount for your college and course is displayed on the KEA portal before you confirm payment.
| College Type | Category | Expected Annual Fee (Engineering) |
|---|---|---|
| Government College | SC / ST | Rs 6,000 – Rs 10,000 |
| Government College | GM / OBC / EWS | Rs 15,000 – Rs 25,000 |
| Government Aided College | All Categories | Rs 20,000 – Rs 40,000 |
| Private Unaided — CET Seats | GM | Rs 60,000 – Rs 1,20,000 |
| Private Unaided — CET Seats | SC / ST (Govt. Scheme) | Rs 25,000 – Rs 50,000 |
Fees for B.Arch and other non-engineering courses differ from the figures above. Hyderabad Karnataka (HK) region and minority quota seats may also have separate slabs as per 2025 trends. The KEA portal shows the complete fee breakup — tuition fee, development fee, and other charges — before you confirm payment.
How to Pay KCET 2026 Round 1 Fee on KEA Portal
Follow these steps to pay your KCET 2026 Round 1 fee and secure your seat before July 12, 2026:
- Visit cetonline.karnataka.gov.in/kea and click the KCET 2026 Counselling link on the homepage
- Log in using your CET application number and date of birth
- Navigate to Round 1 Seat Allotment and click Fee Payment
- Verify your allotted college, branch, and the fee amount displayed on screen
- Select a payment mode — Net Banking, Debit Card, Credit Card, or UPI
- Complete the transaction and wait for the payment confirmation screen to load fully
- Download and save the fee payment acknowledgement receipt
Do not refresh or close your browser during payment. If your payment is deducted but no receipt is generated, wait 24 hours and log in again to check updated status before contacting the KEA helpline with your bank transaction reference number.
KCET 2026 Round 1 Counselling — Important Dates
The fee payment deadline for KCET 2026 Round 1 is July 12, 2026. Key milestones for Round 1 and the upcoming counselling stages are listed below.
| Event | Date / Status |
|---|---|
| KCET 2026 Round 1 Mock Seat Allotment | July 6, 2026 |
| Mock allotment edit window closes | July 9, 2026 (10 AM) |
| KCET 2026 Round 1 Final Seat Allotment | July 10 – 11, 2026 (expected) |
| Last date for Round 1 fee payment | July 12, 2026 |
| College reporting after Round 1 | To be announced by KEA |
| KCET 2026 Round 2 seat allotment | To be announced by KEA |
| KCET 2026 Round 3 / Mop-Up Round | To be announced by KEA |
Round 2 and Round 3 (mop-up) schedules will be published on the KEA portal after Round 1 reporting closes. Check cetonline.karnataka.gov.in/kea regularly for updated dates.
What to Do After KCET 2026 Round 1 Fee Payment
After paying the Round 1 fee, you have three paths: report to the allotted college, opt for a seat upgrade in Round 2, or apply for withdrawal.
- Report to College: Carry your Round 1 allotment order, fee payment receipt, KCET 2026 admit card, original 10th and 12th mark sheets with photocopies, category certificate (if applicable), domicile certificate, and passport-size photographs. Report within the dates KEA specifies.
- Opt for Seat Upgrade in Round 2: You can participate in Round 2 without forfeiting your current seat. If you get a better allotment, fees are adjusted. If Round 2 brings no improvement, your Round 1 seat is retained.
- Freeze Your Seat: If satisfied with the Round 1 allotment, select the freeze option and skip Round 2. Proceed directly to college reporting to complete your admission.
- Withdrawal: If you choose not to join, apply for withdrawal on the KEA portal. A refund is processed as per KEA cancellation policy after deducting applicable processing charges.
KEA advises all students who receive a Round 1 seat to pay the fee by July 12 regardless of Round 2 intentions — this secures your fallback seat while you wait for Round 2 allotment results.
KCET 2026 Round 1 Fee Payment FAQs
Ques. What is the last date for KCET 2026 Round 1 fee payment?
Ans. The last date for KCET 2026 Round 1 fee payment is July 12, 2026. Students who do not pay by this deadline lose their Round 1 allotted seat and it is released for other students.
Ques. How much fee do I need to pay after KCET 2026 Round 1 seat allotment?
Ans. The fee depends on your allotted college type and category. Government college students (GM) pay approximately Rs 15,000–25,000 per year. Private unaided CET-seat students (GM) pay approximately Rs 60,000–1,20,000 per year based on 2025 trends. The exact amount is displayed on the KEA portal before you confirm payment.
Ques. Can I pay the KCET 2026 Round 1 fee offline?
Ans. No. KCET 2026 Round 1 fee payment is done exclusively online at cetonline.karnataka.gov.in/kea. Accepted modes are net banking, debit card, credit card, and UPI. No offline or cash payment window is available.
Ques. Will I lose my Round 1 seat if I pay the fee but opt for a Round 2 upgrade?
Ans. No. Paying the Round 1 fee and opting for Round 2 upgrade keeps your current seat as a fallback. If Round 2 offers a better college, fees are adjusted. If not, your Round 1 seat remains intact.
Ques. What documents do I need when reporting to college after KCET 2026 Round 1?
Ans. You must carry the KCET 2026 allotment order, fee payment receipt, KCET 2026 admit card, original 10th and 12th mark sheets with photocopies, category certificate (if applicable), domicile certificate, and recent passport-size photographs.
Ques. My payment was deducted but I did not receive a receipt — what should I do?
Ans. Do not make a second payment. Log back into the KEA portal after 24 hours — the receipt usually reflects automatically. If it does not appear, contact the KEA helpline with your CET application number and your bank transaction reference number.
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