KCET Reservation 2026: Check Category-Wise and Special Reservations, Documents Required

Karnataka Examinations Authority implements a structured reservation policy to promote social justice, equity, and representation of underprivileged sections of society.

Non-Karnataka candidates will not be eligible for reservation in the following:

• In admissions through KEA for Medical, Dental, and AYUSH courses. They have to score the required minimum 50th percentile or above, fixed for the UR category.
• The government's share of seats in the B.Sc (Nursing) course through KEA.
• Reservation of seats in certain categories, such as Rural, Kannada, etc., and in Special Categories like NCC, Sports, Physically Disabled, etc.

The Agriculturist Quota is one of the largest special reservations in India. In Farm Science courses, ~23.8% of seats are reserved for children of agriculturists or agricultural labourers.

Related Articles:

• KCET 2026 Application Process
• KCET 2026 Eligibility Criteria
• KCET 2026 Exam Dates

Key Summary

• The Hyderabad-Karnataka quota is constitutionally protected under Article 371(J). This reserves 70% seats in regional universities exclusively for local candidates.
• 5% of the reservation is given to PwD candidates as a horizontal reservation.
• A Candidate can claim only one vertical category but can combine it with multiple horizontal categories. For example, SC + PwD + Rural.
• Management quota seats do not come under reservation, as they are filled on the basis of management’s discretion.
• Candidates are advised to use original and correct documents to avoid any trouble during the counselling process.

KCET Reservation 2026: Overview

The structure of the reservation policy followed by KEA in KCET is as follows:

• Vertical Reservations
• Horizontal Reservations
• Special Categories such as quota for rural, Kannada medium, Defence, etc.
• Special regional quota for the Hyderabad-Karnataka region.

KCET Reservation Criteria 2026 Based on Marks

Before applying for KCET 2026, candidates are required to check the KCET eligibility criteria. Eligibility criteria include factors, one of which is the score in the qualifying exam. Karnataka Examination Authority gives relaxation in the aggregate marks to the reserved category candidates.

Check the relaxation criteria given below:

• All the aspirants must score 50% aggregate marks in the 10+2 level exam.
• SC/ST/OBC candidates have a relaxation of 10% marks. Thus, candidates need to score 40% marks at the 10+2 level exam.

KCET Reservation 2026: Certain Categories

Reservation for RESERVED CATEGORY CANDIDATES

• Reservation is made in favour of candidates belonging to the Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and Other Backward Classes of citizens under categories 1, 2A, 2B, 3A and 3B.
• Production of a “Caste Certificate / Caste Income Certificate” in support of the claim is mandatory for selecting a seat under the reserved category.
• Candidates belonging to SC, ST & Category - I should produce an Income certificate to claim Tuition Fee exemption and Government of India scholarship
• Only candidates of Karnataka origin who are claiming eligibility for Government seats shall be eligible to claim the benefit of reservation.
• The candidates claiming eligibility for Government seats under eligibility clauses (c), (d), (e), (g), (i), (m), (n) are not eligible to claim the benefit of reservation.

Reservation for RURAL CANDIDATES

• 15% of the Government seats will be reserved horizontally in favour of rural candidates who have studied for 10 full academic years in educational institutions situated in Karnataka other than larger urban areas, smaller urban area or transitional areas.
• The candidates whose parents are not under the creamy layer and the candidates who have studied TEN full academic years in places other than the places listed in the official brochure will be eligible for Rural reservations.
• However, if the candidates have studied in these places from 1st to 10th standard before the date of notification as urban area, such candidates are eligible to claim the rural reservation benefit.

Reservation for KANNADA MEDIUM CANDIDATES

• 5% of the Government seats will be reserved horizontally in favour of the Kannada medium candidates who have studied TEN full academic years in Kannada medium from 1st Standard to 10th Standard.

Reservation for WARD OF JAMMU & KASHMIRI MIGRANTS

• Reservation is made in favour of the son/daughter of Jammu & Kashmiri migrants, who satisfy the eligibility condition for Government seats.
• One seat each in all the Government Medical and Dental Colleges of the state, & One seat each in Engineering colleges, irrespective of course.

Reservation of seats for ARTICLE 371(J) KALYANA KARNATAKA (HYDERABAD KARNATAKA)

Reservation as per “The Karnataka Educational Institutions Order, 2013”.

• The Hyderabad-Karnataka Region, comprising the districts of Bidar, Gulbarga, Yadgir, Raichur, Koppal, and Bellary-Vijayanagar, shall be regarded as the local area.
• 70% of the available seats in every course in the local area shall be reserved in favour of local persons.
• 8% of the available seats in every course shall be allocated among the local candidates of the Hyderabad-Karnataka Region.
• The eligible candidates should produce the relevant certificate during document verification to claim a seat under the Hyderabad-Karnataka Reservation.

KCET Reservation 2026: Special Categories

Reservation for NCC

(I) Candidates who have participated in the Republic Day or scaled Mount Everest and possess a ‘B’ Certificate obtained during study in Karnataka between 8th and 12th standards; or

(ii) Candidates who have participated in the following camps from Karnataka and who possess a ‘B’ Certificate obtained during study in Karnataka between 8th and 12th standards, namely;

• All India Thal Sainik Camp (Boys) - TSC (B);
• All India Thal Sainik Camp (Girls) - TSC (G) ;
• All India Nau Sainik Camp - NSC;
• All India Vayu Sainik Camp – VSC;
• Cadets who have selected in the NCC team to participate in the All India Movalankar Shooting Championship at the National Level, Youth Exchange Programmes and “Foreign Naval Cruise” or NSCC, etc.

(iii) Candidates who have participated in the following camps from Karnataka and who possess a ‘B’ Certificate obtained during study in Karnataka between 8th and 12th standards, namely;

• All India Thal Sainik Camp (Boys)
• All India Thal Sainik Camp (Girls)
• All India Nau Sainik Camp
• All India Vayu Sainik Camp
• Cadets participate in the All India Movalankar Shooting Championship as a part of the Karnataka and Goa Director Team. and in complete - Mountaineering Expeditions, etc.

(iv) Candidates who have participated in the following camps/coursesfrom Karnataka and who possess a ‘B’ Certificate obtained during the five years of study in Karnataka between 8th and 12th standards, namely:

• NIC
• Trekking
• Mountaineering
• BLC
• ALC
• RCTC and
• Army, Navy, Air Force & Hospital Attachments
• IMA / OTA, AF Stn, Naval Academy, Indian Naval or Coast Guard Ship, or
• any other attachment camp based on vacancies issued by the DG, NCC
• Mountaineering, Para Basic, SSB Screening or any other DG NCC-organised course and adventure camps.

(v) Candidates who possess a “B” certificate obtained during study in Karnataka between 8th and 12th Standards.

For selection of a reserved seat under the NCC category, candidates shall be considered in the following order of preference:

Reservation for SPORTS

1. Candidates who have won medals/participated in sports competitions during the last 03 financial years, including the financial year in which the candidate has filed the application in CET, shall be considered.

2. The selection of candidates under sports quota shall be as per the rules given below:

• The two best/highest achievements in sports competitions in the 03 financial years shall be taken into consideration. However, only one best/highest achievement shall be considered in a financial year.

• Marks shall be allotted for each sports achievement.

• In case of a tie, the 3rd best achievement of both candidates in the three years under consideration shall be taken into account to break the tie.

• The merit list shall be prepared considering the aggregate marks obtained by candidates based on the two highest achievements under consideration.

• Olympic/Asian/Commonwealth Games/National Games sports disciplines mean those sports/games included in the immediately preceding games.

Reservation for SCOUTS & GUIDES

Candidates who as “Scouts / Guides” have received the “President’s Award” during study in Karnataka between 8th and 12th standards.

Reservation for DEFENCE

Son or daughter of Defence Personnel should obtain the Defence certificates, failing which they will not be allowed for verification of certificates and also for the later allotment of seats under Defence.

Defence personnel means a person in Defence Service, including Personnel belonging to Civil GT COYS ASC who were Civilian Class ‘III’ or Class ‘IV’ Government servants and ‘Border Roads Organisational Personnel’.

• Candidates claiming eligibility under Clause (e) should produce the certificate of employment, where the parent is working, indicating the period during which the parent has worked in Karnataka.

• Candidates claiming eligibility under Clause (f) should produce a certificate indicating that the parent had declared a place in Karnataka as his hometown at the time of joining the service.

• Candidates claiming eligibility under Clause (g) should produce a certificate indicating the period during which the parent has worked in Karnataka, the present place of posting and also the fact that his family is permitted to stay in Karnataka.

• 10% of the seats shall be reserved horizontally for the children of defence personnel of Karnataka Origin.

Reservation for EX_DEFENCE

• Son or daughter of Ex-Servicemen should obtain a certificate showing the home address of the parent, failing which they will not be allowed for verification of certificates and also for the later allotment of seats under Ex-Defence.

• Ex-Servicemen for this clause include personnel belonging to the Civil GT COYS ASC who were Civilian Class III or Class IV Government Servants, who became permanently disabled or were killed during hostilities.

Reservation for PHYSICALLY DISABLED

• The PwD candidates will be required to appear for a medical examination before a Committee comprising the ED, KEA, as Chairman and three specialists nominated by the Government.

• Candidates with physical disabilities ranging above 40% should produce a Medical certificate issued in Karnataka, only on the day of the medical examination.

• Candidates suffering from hearing disability should produce a BSER, the latest PTA + BERA Audiometry report from All India Institute of Speech and Hearing, Mysore / NIMHANS, etc.

• The Medical Board will examine the candidate and certificate, and the decision of the Medical Board is final.

• The candidates with disability less than 40% will not be eligible for a seat under the PwD category.

• The candidates for the Physically Disabled Special category quota should appear for medical examination only at the KEA Office in BANGALORE.

Reservation for ANGLO-INDIAN

• Candidates from the Anglo-Indian Community should produce a certificate; failing which, they will not be allowed for allotment of seats under Anglo-Indian.

• The candidates claiming under Anglo Indian Special category quota should submit their documents only at the KEA Office in Bangalore.

Reservation for CENTRAL ARMED POLICE FORCE

Candidates claiming eligibility under Clause (o) should produce a certificate indicating that the parent had declared a place in Karnataka as his hometown at the time of joining the service.

Reservation for Ex CENTRAL ARMED POLICE FORCE

Candidates claiming eligibility under Clause (o) should produce a certificate indicating that the parent had declared a place in Karnataka as his hometown at the time of joining the service.

Also Read: The above used Clauses from A to O in detail

KCET Reservation 2026: Documents Required

Students should keep the following documents to be eligible for reservation in KCET 2026.

• Recent passport-size colour photograph
• Candidate’s signature
• Left thumb impression
• Class 10th marks card
• 2nd PUC marks card
• Category certificate, Rural study certificate, and Income certificate (if applicable)
• Kannada medium certificate ( if studied in Kannada from 1st to 10th std.)
• Domicile Certificate ( If Applicable)
• Aadhar card for verification
• Defence/Service Certificate (If Applicable)