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The Karnataka PGCET reservation matrix is to help students from specific communities and groups access postgraduate courses. The system follows state rules and is applied during counselling by the Karnataka Examinations Authority (KEA).
- Seats are reserved for SC, ST, Category-I, Category-IIA, II-B, III-A, and III-B candidates.
- There are special quotas for Persons with Disabilities (PwD), Hyderabad-Karnataka (371J) candidates, defence and ex-servicemen, sports achievers, and NCC cadets.
- Applicants must have the correct Karnataka format certificates (caste, income, disability, or 371J) to claim a reservation.
Get the Karnataka PGCET Reservation PDF direct link here:
Reserved seats are filled by rank within each category, and any unused seats become available to other candidates in later rounds. Candidates who meet the criteria can use these reservations to improve their chances of admission into programs like MBA, MCA, M.Tech, M.E., and M.Arch.
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Key Summary
- If you intend to submit the application for Karnataka PGCET 2026, it is important to know about the reservation. What is in our reservation:
- Karnataka PGCET follows the state's reservation rules and offers reservations for those in the SC, ST, Category-I, IIA, IIB, IIIA, IIIB, PwD, Hyderabad-Karnataka (371J), defence/ex-servicemen, NCC, and sports categories.
- Around 50% of the seats are reserved for these categories, with the remaining 50% being General merit (open category) seats.
- Eligible candidates must be domiciled in Karnataka, qualify under multiple reservations, and present the required certificates in the prescribed formats to claim the benefit of reservation(s).
- Fee reimbursements, scholarships and payment waivers are available for eligible categories who belong to the reserved category, especially SC/ST, and eligible category-I with lower family income.
- What is Karnataka PGCET?
- Karnataka PGCET Reservation 2026 Categories
2.1 Category-Wise Reservation Percentages
- Karnataka PGCET Reservation 2026 Eligibility
- Karnataka PGCET Reservation 2026 Required Documents
- Karnataka PGCET Reservation 2026 Seat Allocation
5.1 Previous Seat Matrix Distribution for Karnataka PGCET
- Karnataka PGCET Reservation 2026 Fees
- Karnataka PGCET Reservation 2026 Last Date and Date Schedule
- Karnataka PGCET Reservation 2026 Online Process
- FAQs
What is Karnataka PGCET?
The Karnataka Post Graduate Common Entrance Test (PGCET) is a state-level entrance exam conducted by the Karnataka Examinations Authority (KEA) for admission to postgraduate courses like MBA, MCA, M.Tech, M.E., and M.Arch. Candidates must apply online through kea.kar.nic.in or cetonline.karnataka.gov.in.
| Particulars | Details |
|---|---|
| Exam Name | Karnataka Post Graduate Common Entrance Test (PGCET) |
| Conducting Body | Karnataka Examinations Authority (KEA) |
| Exam Level | State-level |
| Frequency | Once a year |
| Exam Mode | Offline (Pen-and-Paper) |
| Courses Offered | MBA, MCA, M.Tech, M.E., M.Arch |
| Application Mode | Online via kea.kar.nic.in or cetonline.karnataka.gov.in |
| Typical Exam Month | June-July |
| Eligibility | Bachelor’s degree from a recognised university (min. 50% for GM, 45% for reserved categories) |
| Reservation Policy | Applicable only for Karnataka-domicile candidates |
| Non-Karnataka Candidate Status | Considered under General Merit or Management quota |
| Exam Duration | 2 hours 30 minutes (varies by course) |
| Validity of Score | Valid only for the same admission year |
Karnataka PGCET Reservation 2026 Categories
Reservation under PGCET 2026 covers caste/community groups, regional quotas, and special categories. Candidates must meet Karnataka domicile rules and produce valid certificates at the time of verification.
- SC, ST, Category-I, Category-IIA, IIB, IIIA, IIIB categories
- Persons with Disability (PwD)
- Hyderabad-Karnataka region (371J)
- Defence / Ex-servicemen, NCC, Sports
- GATE-qualified candidates (for M.Tech only)
- General Merit (open category, no reservation benefit)
Category-Wise Reservation Percentages
The total state-mandated reservation is 50%, leaving 50% for the General Merit (GM) category. This applies to government and aided colleges and the government-quota seats in private colleges.
| Category | Reservation Percentage |
|---|---|
| Scheduled Castes (SC) | 15% |
| Scheduled Tribes (ST) | 3% |
| Category-I | ~4% |
| Category-IIA | ~15% |
| Category-IIB | ~4% |
| Category-IIIA | ~7% |
| Category-IIIB | ~2% |
| Persons with Disabilities | 3% (Govt & aided colleges) |
| Hyderabad-Karnataka (371J) | 70% local seats in regional universities + 8% state-level seats |
| General Merit (GM) | Remaining 50% |
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Karnataka PGCET EligibilityKarnataka PGCET Reservation 2026 Eligibility
Candidates must be domicile of Karnataka to claim any reservation. They should have completed qualifying education in Karnataka and hold valid caste or special-category certificates.
| Category / Group | Eligibility requirement | Primary required document(s) |
|---|---|---|
| SC (Scheduled Castes) | Must belong to an SC community listed for Karnataka | Karnataka SC caste certificate (Form D) issued by Tahsildar |
| ST (Scheduled Tribes) | Must belong to a ST community listed for Karnataka | Karnataka ST caste certificate (Form D) issued by Tahsildar |
| Category-I (Cat-I) | Must belong to Cat-I community listed for Karnataka | Karnataka caste certificate (Form E) issued by Tahsildar |
| Category-IIA / IIB / IIIA / IIIB (OBC) | Must belong to the specified OBC sub-category and family income ≤ ₹8,00,000 p.a. | Karnataka Caste & Income certificate (Form F) issued by Tahsildar |
| PwD (Persons with Disabilities) | Must have permanent disability ≥ 40% | Disability certificate (≥40%) from a Government hospital; audiometry report where applicable |
| Hyderabad-Karnataka (371J) | Must be from HK districts (Bidar, Yadgir, Raichur, Koppal, Bellary, Kalaburagi) | 371J Eligibility certificate (Annexure-A) from Assistant Commissioner |
| Ex-Servicemen / Defence | Dependent or eligible ex-serviceman as per KEA rules | Service / discharge certificate from Sainik Welfare Board / competent authority |
| Sports achievers | Must meet KEA sports criteria (state/national levels as specified) | Sports achievement certificates from recognised authority / federation |
| NCC cadets | Must meet KEA NCC criteria (certificate level as specified) | NCC certificate (A/B/C) and related records |
| GATE-qualified (M.Tech) | Valid GATE score in relevant paper | GATE scorecard / online score printout (as required) |
Karnataka PGCET Reservation 2026 Required Documents
To claim reservation, candidates must present the correct certificate formats at the time of document verification. Without these, they will be treated as General Merit. The KEA verifies all documents online using RD numbers, and only certificates issued by Karnataka authorities are accepted.
| Reservation Category | Required Certificate | Issuing Authority |
|---|---|---|
| SC/ST | Caste Certificate (Form D) | Tahsildar |
| Category-I | Caste Certificate (Form E) | Tahsildar |
| Cat-IIA, IIB, IIIA, IIIB | Caste & Income Certificate (Form F) | Tahsildar |
| PwD | Disability Certificate (≥40%) | Government hospital |
| Hyderabad-Karnataka (371J) | Eligibility Certificate (Annexure-A) | Assistant Commissioner |
| Ex-Servicemen | Parent’s Service Certificate | Sainik Welfare Board (District) |
| NCC / Sports | Achievement Certificates | Relevant NCC/Sports authorities |
| GATE candidates (M.Tech) | Valid GATE Scorecard | GATE organising body |
Karnataka PGCET Reservation 2026 Seat Allocation
Seat allotment is done online at kea.kar.nic.in. Reserved seats are filled by eligible candidates first, followed by General Merit.
- KEA releases a seat matrix PDF showing college-wise reserved seats.
- Seats are allotted based on rank + preference + reservation eligibility.
- If reserved seats remain vacant, they are converted to General Merit in later rounds.
- Government and aided colleges follow full reservation rules; private unaided colleges follow them only for their government-quota seats.
Previous Seat Matrix Distribution for Karnataka PGCET
This sample seat matrix shows how a college’s MBA intake can be divided across reserved categories and general merit. It gives a quick view of category-wise seat counts so you can estimate competition and plan choices during counselling.
| Category | No. of Seats |
|---|---|
| SC | 9 |
| ST | 2 |
| Cat-I | 3 |
| Cat-IIA | 14 |
| Cat-IIB | 3 |
| Cat-IIIA | 6 |
| Cat-IIIB | 2 |
| GM | 31 |
| Total Seats | 70 |
Karnataka PGCET Reservation 2026 Fees
While the reservation does not change the tuition fee directly, it affects eligibility for fee reimbursement and scholarships.
- SC/ST and Category-I candidates are eligible for full or partial fee reimbursement by the Government if their family income is below notified limits.
- OBC candidates must have family income ≤ ₹8 lakh to get fee reimbursement.
- All candidates pay a counselling fee (~₹650 for GM and ₹500 for SC/ST/Category-I).
Karnataka PGCET Reservation 2026 Last Date and Date Schedule
KEA releases the official schedule on cetonline.karnataka.gov.in and kea.kar.nic.in.
Key dates usually are:
| Event | Tentative Date (2026) |
|---|---|
| Release of Notification / Brochure PDF | May 2026 |
| Online Application Start | May 2026 |
| Last Date to Apply Online | June 2026 |
| PGCET Exam Date | July 2026 |
| Document Verification | July–August 2026 |
| Option Entry & Seat Allotment | August–September 2026 |
Karnataka PGCET Reservation 2026 Online Process
The application and reservation claim are made online on the KEA website.
- Candidates must fill reservation details correctly in the online form.
- Caste, income, and other details are verified via Karnataka’s RD number database.
- Uploading scanned certificates is mandatory before document verification.
- Once verified, reservation is applied during seat allotment.
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Karnataka PGCET College PredictorFAQs
Ques. When should we apply for PGCET 2026?
Ans. The application window for the PGCET 2026 will officially begin in the 4th week of May 2026 once KEA has made the announcement in the preparation for the 2026 PGCET exam.
- All applications and fees for will, in all likelihood be due in the 3rd week of June.
- When you are ready to apply, it is essential to have all reservation or caste/income/PwD certificates ready to upload before the application deadline.
- KEA will of course announce these dates specifically on both the KEA website kea.kar.nic.in and on cetonline.karnataka.gov.in.
Ques. Is there any reservation in PGCET?
Ans. Yes. PGCET 2026 has reservation for various categories to provide equal access to seats available for admission to postgraduate courses in Karnataka.
- Categories include SC (Scheduled Castes), ST (Scheduled Tribes), OBC sub‐categories (Category I, II-A, II-B, III-A, III-B).
- There is a special reservation for below categories, Hyderabad-Karnataka (371J), Persons with Disabilities (PwD), smaller sub categories for defence, ex-servicemen, sports, National Cadet Corps.
- Reservation can only be claimed by just candidates belonging to Karnataka domicile status after obtaining required certificates from the respective state authorities in a specified order.
- If reserved seats remain unutilised, they may be converted and made available for General Merit seats in subsequent rounds of the counselling process.
Ques. When counselling starts for PGCET 2025?
Ans. Counselling for PGCET 2025 was expected to begin after results are declared, typically in the months following. Based on past trends:
- Results for 2025 were released in July; counselling was expected around October for the first round.
- There are usually three rounds of counselling (Round 1, Round 2, and a final/casual vacancy round).
- Prior to seat allotment, documents are verified and option entry (where candidates choose colleges in order of preference) takes place.
- KEA provides a seat matrix before option entry so candidates know what seats are available in each category.
Ques. Who is eligible for PGCET 2025 in Karnataka?
Ans. Eligibility for PGCET encompasses academic qualifications, marks as well as work experience, when applicable. Rules included for 2025:
- For MBA, MCA, M.Tech/M.E. /M.Arch: Applicants must possess a relevant Bachelor’s degree,equivalent of minimum 3 years duration. Minimum aggregate marks are asked, with the minimum of 50% for general category; reserved categories, and many times relaxed criteria (for example SC, ST, Category-I may accept 45%).
- For MCA, either Mathematics during 10+2 or Mathematics at graduation levels passed (mode depends on stream).
- For part-time or work based MBA/MCA there may be a minimum work experience (for example 3 years) applied.
Ques. How many years is PGCET valid?
Ans. PGCET scores are valid for that particular admission cycle only. There is no multi-year validity.
- The test score/rank is used for counselling in the same year in which the exam is taken.
- If you don’t use it (don’t get a seat or don’t participate in counselling), you cannot carry it forward for next year’s PGCET.
- For certain seats (M.Tech) a valid GATE score may substitute PGCET, but that is separate.
Ques. Can we write PGCET in 3rd year?
Ans. If by “3rd year” you mean final year of your Bachelor’s degree (before you complete it), it depends on KEA’s rules for provisional eligibility.
- Many candidates in final year are allowed to apply provisionally, provided they complete their degree before the admission date.
- The results/transcript or passing certificate should be submitted as required by KEA.
- For some courses and categories, full marks from qualifying degree are required to determine eligibility (i.e. you must have achieved the required percentage).
*The article might have information for the previous academic years, which will be updated soon subject to the notification issued by the University/College.
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Karnataka PGCET application process is available only in online mode. There are no options to submit your application or documents in offline mode.