KCET 2026 seat matrix (Round 1) is out with over 66,000 engineering CET quota seats across 200+ government and private colleges in Karnataka; students can download the PDF from the official KEA portal at cetonline.karnataka.gov.in/kea/ now.
The Karnataka Examinations Authority (KEA) released the final KCET 2026 seat matrix before Round 1 option entry. It lists college-wise, branch-wise and category-wise seats available under CET quota across all government, government-aided and private unaided engineering colleges. The draft matrix was published on June 2, 2026, objections were accepted until June 9, 2026, and the final Round 1 seat matrix was released on June 30, 2026.
- KCET 2026 lists over 66,000 engineering CET quota seats across 200+ colleges; total seats across all streams (Engineering, Pharmacy, B.Arch) exceed 86,000.
- Government and aided colleges allocate 100% of their seats to CET quota; private unaided colleges allocate 45% to CET quota.
- Karnataka reserves 50% of seats for General Merit (GM) — which includes the EWS sub-quota — and 50% for SC, ST and OBC categories.
- An additional 5,458 supernumerary seats are available in private and minority colleges over and above the regular CET quota.
- Computer Science Engineering has the highest seat count at 18,000–20,000 seats across all colleges.
| Direct Link to KCET 2026 Seat Matrix — Official KEA Portal (cetonline.karnataka.gov.in/kea/) (OUT) |
KCET 2026 Seat Matrix Overview
The KCET seat matrix provides a complete picture of CET quota seats available in Karnataka engineering colleges affiliated to Visvesvaraya Technological University (VTU) and other Karnataka universities. KEA publishes the matrix in multiple versions: draft, final and round-wise. The table below shows the 2026 seat counts by stream.
| Stream | Total CET Quota Seats | Participating Colleges |
|---|---|---|
| Engineering (B.E. / B.Tech) | 66,000+ | 200+ |
| Pharmacy (B.Pharm) and Architecture (B.Arch) | Included in 86,000+ total | — |
| Supernumerary Seats (Engineering — private and minority colleges) | 5,458 | Select private and minority colleges |
| Total (All Streams) | 86,000+ | — |
Supernumerary seats are filled after all regular counselling rounds and are over and above the standard CET quota. Over 30 engineering branches are listed in the KCET 2026 seat matrix. The official PDF on the KEA portal provides individual college and branch level detail.
College-type Wise Seat Allocation in KCET 2026
KEA classifies participating colleges into four types for seat allocation. The CET quota percentage and the annual fee differ by type. The table below shows how KCET 2026 engineering seats are split by college type.
| College Type | CET Quota Allocation | Annual Fee (Approx.) |
|---|---|---|
| Government Engineering Colleges | 100% CET quota | ₹44,311 per year |
| Government-Aided Engineering Colleges | 100% CET quota | ₹44,311 per year |
| Private Unaided Engineering Colleges | 45% CET quota | ₹1.13–1.22 lakh per year |
| Minority Religious Colleges | 40% CET quota | Varies by institution |
Government and aided colleges attract the strongest competition in KCET counselling because all their seats are under CET quota at subsidised fees. RV College of Engineering, BMS College of Engineering, SJCE Mysuru and NIE Mysuru are among the most sought-after government-aided colleges. In private unaided colleges, the remaining 55% of seats go to management and NRI quota filled directly by the institution.
Category-wise Seat Reservation in KCET 2026
Karnataka’s reservation policy divides CET quota seats into vertical and horizontal reservations under the Karnataka Educational Institutions (Regulation of Admission) Act. Vertical reservations cover caste and community categories. Horizontal reservations for women, rural students and PwD students are applied within each vertical category. The table below shows vertical reservation percentages for KCET 2026 engineering admissions.
| Category | Reservation Percentage | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| General Merit (GM) | 50% | Open to all eligible Karnataka students; 10% EWS sub-quota applies within GM pool |
| Scheduled Caste (SC) | 15% | SC certificate required |
| Scheduled Tribe (ST) | 3% | ST certificate required |
| OBC Category 1 | 4% | Other Backward Classes — Category 1 |
| OBC Category 2A | 15% | Other Backward Classes — Category 2A |
| OBC Category 2B | 5% | Other Backward Classes — Category 2B |
| OBC Category 3A | 4% | Other Backward Classes — Category 3A |
| OBC Category 3B | 4% | Other Backward Classes — Category 3B |
| Total | 100% | — |
Horizontal reservations apply within every vertical category: 30% for women, 7.5% for rural students and 3% for PwD students. Students from reserved categories can also compete for GM seats if their KCET rank qualifies. Horanadu Kannadiga and Gadinadu Kannadiga students residing outside Karnataka are eligible for a separate quota in the seat matrix.
Branch-wise Seat Distribution in KCET 2026
Over 30 engineering branches are covered in the KCET 2026 seat matrix. Computer Science Engineering and its specialisation variants account for the largest share, driven by strong placement demand. The table below shows the approximate branch-wise seat distribution across all participating colleges.
| Engineering Branch | Approximate Total Seats (CET Quota) |
|---|---|
| Computer Science and Engineering (CSE) | 18,000–20,000 |
| Electronics and Communication Engineering (ECE) | 12,000–14,000 |
| Information Science and Engineering (ISE) | ~10,000 |
| Mechanical Engineering | ~7,000 |
| Civil Engineering | ~5,500 |
| Electrical and Electronics Engineering | ~4,500 |
| CSE Variants (AI and ML, Data Science, Cyber Security) | ~6,000 |
| Other Branches (Biotechnology, Chemical, Aerospace and others) | ~5,000 |
CSE and its variants together account for nearly 40% of all KCET 2026 engineering seats. Newer specialisations such as AI and ML and Data Science have seen significant intake growth in private colleges over the past three years. For the precise branch-wise count at each college, download the KCET 2026 seat matrix PDF from cetonline.karnataka.gov.in/kea/.
How to Check KCET 2026 Seat Matrix
KEA publishes the KCET 2026 seat matrix as a downloadable PDF on the official portal. The PDF lists each college with branch-wise and category-wise seat counts. Follow the steps below to access it.
- Visit cetonline.karnataka.gov.in/kea/ — the official KEA portal.
- Click on CET 2026 or the current academic year section on the homepage.
- Navigate to the Downloads or Information Brochure section in the left-side menu.
- Click the Seat Matrix for Engineering link (separate PDFs are available for Pharmacy and B.Arch).
- The PDF opens — it lists every college with branch-wise and category-wise seat counts.
- Press Ctrl+F to search for a college name or branch within the document.
- Download and save the PDF; use it to shortlist preferences before the option entry deadline.
KEA releases the seat matrix in multiple rounds. Download the round-specific matrix before each option entry session as available seats change after every allotment round.
KCET 2026 Seat Matrix FAQs
Ques. How many total engineering seats are available in KCET 2026?
Ans. KCET 2026 has over 66,000 engineering CET quota seats across 200+ colleges. Including Pharmacy and B.Arch, total seats across all streams exceed 86,000. An additional 5,458 supernumerary seats are available in private and minority colleges over and above the regular quota.
Ques. What percentage of seats in private engineering colleges is under KCET quota?
Ans. Private unaided engineering colleges allocate 45% of their total seats to the KCET CET quota. The remaining 55% is filled through management and NRI quota directly by the college. Government and government-aided colleges allocate 100% of their seats to CET quota.
Ques. What is the SC and ST reservation in KCET 2026?
Ans. SC students have 15% reservation and ST students have 3% reservation in KCET 2026 engineering admissions. These quotas apply in all government, aided and private unaided colleges participating in KEA counselling.
Ques. Does the KCET 2026 seat matrix include management quota seats?
Ans. No. The KEA seat matrix covers CET quota seats only. Management and NRI quota seats are filled directly by colleges under university oversight and are not part of the KEA counselling process.
Ques. Which branch has the most seats in KCET 2026?
Ans. Computer Science and Engineering (CSE) has the highest seat count with 18,000–20,000 seats across all colleges. Including CSE variants such as AI and ML and Data Science, the CSE group accounts for nearly 40% of total KCET 2026 engineering seats.
Ques. Where can I download the KCET 2026 seat matrix PDF?
Ans. The KCET 2026 seat matrix PDF is available on the official KEA portal at cetonline.karnataka.gov.in/kea/ under the CET 2026 section. KEA releases a separate PDF for each counselling round — always download the latest version before each option entry session.
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