KCET Counselling 2026: Registration, Option Entry and Round-Wise Seat Allotment

KCET Counselling 2026 is conducted by the Karnataka Examinations Authority (KEA) to allot seats in BE, B.Tech, B.Arch, B.Pharm, and Pharma D programmes across government, aided, and private unaided colleges in Karnataka. The mock allotment was released on July 6, 2026, and the option modification window is currently open until July 9, 2026 (10:00 AM) — students have until then to add, delete, or reorder preferences before Round 1 allotment on July 15.

• Round 1 final seat allotment is scheduled for July 15, 2026. Choices frozen at the close of the modification window on July 9 will be used for this allotment.
• KCET 2026 rank is calculated on a 50:50 basis: 50% weightage to the KCET exam score and 50% to Class 12 (II PUC) marks in the relevant subject combination.
• Category reservations include SC (15%), ST (3%), OBC categories 2A, 2B, 3A, 3B (combined 32%), plus a Horanadu/Gadinadu Kannadiga quota for eligible Karnataka-origin students.
• Document verification at a KEA Help Centre is the mandatory first step — login credentials for the option entry portal are issued only after successful verification.
• Fill at least 15–20 college-branch combinations during option entry to maximise your chances of a preferred seat across all rounds.

Reservation of Quotas for KCET Counselling 2026

KEA distributes seats in government-controlled colleges under a multi-tier reservation framework. The percentages below apply to the Government Seat Quota (GSQ) — all seats in government and aided institutions, and the government-controlled share surrendered by private colleges. Supernumerary quotas (NRI, 371J) are additions above the regular intake and do not displace GSQ seats.

Horizontal reservations (PD, sports, defence, ex-serviceman) cut across all vertical categories — a PD-SC student’s seat is counted simultaneously within the SC vertical quota and the PD horizontal quota. Ensure your category certificate is current, in KEA’s prescribed format, and was accepted at document verification before proceeding to option entry. A certificate rejected at verification cannot be used to claim a reserved-category seat during allotment.

How to Apply for KCET Counselling 2026?

KCET 2026 counselling follows a structured five-step process managed entirely by KEA on its official portal. Each step is mandatory and sequential — document verification must precede option entry, and option entry must precede seat acceptance. Missing any step breaks your eligibility for subsequent steps.

Step 1: Document Verification

Document verification for KCET 2026 was conducted at KEA-designated Help Centres from May 11 to May 22, 2026. Students visited their assigned Help Centre in person, submitted originals and attested copies of required documents, and were issued a unique CET login ID and secret key/password upon successful verification. KEA uses these credentials to gate access to the option entry portal — students without a verified login cannot enter choices or receive a seat. If you missed the scheduled window, check the official portal at cetonline.karnataka.gov.in/kea/ for any supplementary verification notices or late-submission provisions.

Step 2: Online Registration

After document verification, students registered on the KEA counselling portal at cetonline.karnataka.gov.in/kea/ using the CET number and secret key received at the Help Centre. The registration fee — ₹650 for General/OBC students and ₹500 for SC/ST/Category-1 students — was paid online via net banking, debit card, or credit card. This fee is not refundable under any circumstances, including cases where no seat is allotted or where the student later withdraws from counselling.

Step 3: Option Entry (Choice Filling)

Option entry is the core step that determines allotment. After logging in to the portal, students search for colleges and branches, add college-branch combinations as numbered "options," and arrange them in order of preference. The system displays real-time seat availability by category for each combination. Fill at least 15–20 choices to maximise your chances across all rounds. There is no upper limit on options — adding more combinations only improves your probability of a preferred seat; it never reduces your chances of getting a top-ranked option. A combination your rank does not qualify for is simply skipped by the system; it does not block valid options ranked below it.

Step 4: Option Modification Window

KEA released the mock allotment result on July 6, 2026, showing each registered student the seat they would receive based on their option list at that point. The option modification window is open from July 6, 2026 (2:00 PM) to July 9, 2026 (10:00 AM). During this window, students can add new college-branch options, remove existing ones, and reorder their preference list in light of the mock result. The mock result is a decision-support tool, not a confirmed allotment — other students are simultaneously revising their lists, so the final Round 1 allotment on July 15 will reflect the entire pool’s frozen choices. Save changes and freeze your final list before July 9, 10:00 AM — the portal does not auto-freeze; unsaved changes are lost when the window closes.

Step 5: Seat Acceptance After Allotment

After the Round 1 allotment result is published on July 15, 2026, students must log in to the KEA portal and select one of three responses: accept and freeze (final admission, no further rounds), accept and seek an upgrade in Round 2, or surrender the seat. Students who accept must pay the seat acceptance fee online through the portal. College reporting — appearing in person at the allotted college with original documents — follows within the deadline KEA will notify after July 15. Students who do not accept within the deadline forfeit their allotted seat automatically.

How to Fill and Lock Choices for KCET Counselling 2026

The option modification window is currently live and closes on July 9, 2026 at 10:00 AM — two days from today. Use the step-by-step guide below to add new preferences, reorder your list, or remove entries you no longer want before the window shuts. The same portal process applies for first-time option entry during Round 2.

Note: The mock allotment released on July 6 is a preview only. Your actual Round 1 seat (July 15) may differ because all students are simultaneously revising their lists. Use the mock result as guidance for reordering, not as a guarantee.

Step 1: Log In to the KEA Option Entry Portal

• Visit cetonline.karnataka.gov.in/kea/ on a desktop or laptop browser.
• Click on CET-2026 Counselling and then on Option Entry / Modification.
• Enter your CET Application Number and the secret key issued at document verification, then click Login.

Step 2: Review Your Current Mock Allotment

• Click View Mock Allotment Result to see which seat the system would currently assign you.
• Note the college name, branch, and category of the mock allotment.
• Decide whether to move higher-preference options above this result, add better-matching options, or keep the list unchanged if the mock result already meets your goal.

Step 3: Add New College-Branch Options

• Use the search bar to find colleges by name, district, or course code.
• Select the college, choose the branch (for example, CSE, ECE, or Mechanical Engineering), and click Add Option.
• The new option appears at the bottom of your list — drag it to the correct position after adding.
• Repeat for each additional college-branch combination you want to include.

Step 4: Reorder Your Preferences

• Use the drag-and-drop handle or the Up/Down arrow buttons to reposition options in your list.
• Place your most desired college-branch combination at the top (Option 1).
• The system allots you the highest-ranked option in your list for which a seat is available in your category and your rank qualifies.
• Place safe options (colleges where your rank clearly clears last year’s closing rank) toward the bottom as fallback insurance.

Step 5: Delete Options You No Longer Want

• Click the Delete or Remove icon next to any combination you want to remove.
• Remove options where last year’s closing rank was far better than your current rank and where you are certain your rank will not qualify in any category.
• Do not delete options you are ambivalent about — keeping more options never hurts your allotment chances.

Step 6: Save and Freeze Your Final List

• Click Save Options after each significant change — do not wait until you are finished to save for the first time.
• Once satisfied with your final list, click Freeze Choices / Lock Options and confirm in the pop-up prompt.
• After freezing, no further changes are permitted until KEA opens the next modification window, if any.
• Complete this before July 9, 2026 at 10:00 AM. Portal traffic spikes near the deadline — submit early to avoid technical delays.

KCET Counselling 2026 Documents Required

The documents listed below were verified at KEA Help Centres during the May 11–22 verification phase. You will need the originals again — along with three sets of self-attested photocopies — when you report to your allotted college after seat acceptance. Keep all originals accessible; they are not permanently retained by KEA but may be temporarily held by the college during admission formalities.

• KCET 2026 Admit Card
• KCET 2026 Rank Card / Score Card
• SSLC (Class 10) Marks Card and Passing / Transfer Certificate
• II PUC / Class 12 Marks Card (original; if the final marks card is not yet issued, a provisional marks card may be accepted at verification, but the original must be produced at college reporting)
• 7-year study certificate issued by the Head of Institution of the last school/college attended in Karnataka, confirming the minimum seven-year study period in the state
• Transfer Certificate (TC) from the last institution attended
• Karnataka domicile / residence certificate
• 4 recent passport-size photographs
• Caste / category certificate — for SC/ST students, Form-D certificate with RD (Revenue Department) Number; for OBC students, the appropriate category certificate (2A, 2B, 3A, 3B, or Category 1)
• Income certificate (annual family income ≤ ₹8 lakh) — required for OBC Category 1 students and for OBC students claiming fee concessions
• Horanadu / Gadinadu Kannadiga certificate from the competent authority (if claiming this sub-quota)
• 371J Kalyana Karnataka Region certificate (if claiming the Hyderabad-Karnataka region quota at a designated institution in the eight specified districts)
• Physical Disability (PD) certificate from a government medical authority certifying minimum 40% disability (if applicable)
• Sports or cultural achievement certificate issued by the competent authority (if claiming sports/cultural quota seats)
• Ex-serviceman / Defence Service certificate (if claiming defence quota)
• NRI/OCI/PIO quota applicants: valid passport, visa/residence proof, documentation confirming NRI/OCI/PIO status of the sponsor, and proof of relationship between the student and the sponsor

Note: Admission will be cancelled at any stage — including after reporting — if any document is found to be fraudulent, invalid, or inconsistent with KEA’s verification records. Always produce originals; attested copies alone are not accepted as final proof.

How Much Money is Needed for KCET Counselling 2026?

KCET counselling involves two distinct fee components managed by KEA: a non-refundable registration fee paid at the start of counselling, and a seat acceptance fee paid after receiving an allotment. Beyond KEA fees, you will also pay your first-year tuition fee directly to the allotted college when you report for admission.

Non-Refundable Fees

The registration fee is a one-time charge paid online at the start of counselling. It is not returned even if no seat is allotted to you, even if you withdraw after registration, or even if you choose not to participate in any allotment round. Pay this fee only after confirming that you intend to actively participate in KCET 2026 counselling.

Refundable Fees and Seat Acceptance

If you withdraw after accepting a seat in the extended or casual vacancy round, the seat acceptance fee is not refunded. To protect your investment, use the "Accept and Seek Upgrade" option after Round 1 rather than surrendering — this lets you hold the current seat as a fallback while competing for a better preference in Round 2 without triggering the ₹5,000 deduction.

KCET 2026 Round-Wise Seat Allotment

KEA conducts allotment in multiple rounds. After each round, seats that are surrendered, not accepted within the deadline, or left vacant after reporting are pooled and added to the next round’s available inventory. Students who did not receive a seat in an earlier round, and students who selected "Accept and Seek Upgrade," participate in subsequent rounds.

Students allotted a seat in Round 1 who wish to try for a higher preference in Round 2 must not surrender their Round 1 seat. They should select "Accept and Seek Upgrade," which holds the current seat while KEA attempts to move them to a better-ranked option in Round 2. If Round 2 does not yield an upgrade, you retain the Round 1 allotment — never surrender a seat you are willing to accept. Once surrendered, that seat returns to the pool and cannot be reclaimed.

Accept, Upgrade, or Withdraw: Making the Right Decision

After each allotment result, every student who has received a seat must respond within the KEA-notified deadline. There are three options, each with distinct consequences for seat retention, fee refunds, and future-round eligibility. Understanding the difference before you click is critical.

Choose "Accept and Seek Upgrade" if the allotted seat is acceptable but you ranked a better option higher in your list. This is the lowest-risk strategy — it preserves your current allotment as a safety net while giving you another opportunity to move to a better preference. The only scenario where surrendering makes sense is if you have a confirmed admission at a preferred institution outside KEA’s process and you do not want the allotted KEA seat under any circumstances.

Students who received no seat across all rounds, or who surrendered and were not allotted again, may be eligible to appear in the Extended / Casual Vacancy Round (September 2026) subject to KEA’s eligibility conditions for that round, notified separately on the official portal.

Reporting to Your Allotted College

College reporting is the final step that converts your allotment into actual admission. You must appear in person at the allotted college within the KEA-notified reporting deadline. Non-reporting within the deadline is treated as non-acceptance — your seat is cancelled and returned to KEA’s pool for the next round, with no refund of the seat acceptance fee.

Step 1: Download the Allotment Order

• Log in to cetonline.karnataka.gov.in/kea/ after the allotment result is published.
• Download and print the official KEA Allotment Order — this document is your admission authority letter.

Step 2: Pay the Seat Acceptance Fee Online

• Pay through the KEA portal using net banking, debit card, or credit card before visiting the college.
• Download and print the fee payment receipt — it is required at the college admissions counter.

Step 3: Report to the College in Person

• Visit the allotted college’s admissions office on or before the KEA reporting deadline.
• Carry the original KEA Allotment Order, fee payment receipt, and all original documents listed in the Documents Required section.
• Also carry three sets of self-attested photocopies of every document.

Step 4: Complete College Admission Formalities

• Submit the required photocopies to the college admissions team.
• Complete any college-specific admission forms and pay the first-year tuition fee balance (the seat acceptance fee already paid to KEA is adjusted or applied toward the total as per the college’s billing process).
• Collect the college admission confirmation receipt — retain it for all future university registration and scholarship applications.

Do not report after the KEA deadline. If a genuine emergency prevents you from reporting on time, contact both KEA and the college admissions office immediately with written documentation — late reporting without valid justification is treated as automatic cancellation with no fee refund.