The seat allotment process for admission to all the professional courses, such as Engineering/ Technology, Agriculture, and Veterinary courses, for the KCET exam will be handled by the Karnataka Examinations Authority (KEA). The KCET 2026 seat allotment process is expected to begin around 16 July with option entry and will continue until 18 September 2026.
In 2026, Certain changes have been made by KEA in the seat allocation process, such as
- The vacant seats in the special category, which include NCC, Sports, Scout etc., will be converted to general merit in the 1st round of seat allotment. – The Hindu
- SC candidates must update the caste certificates with the new revenue department (RD) number.
As per the directions given by the government, the seat allotment process will be conducted in three rounds, and the process will be completely online. The allocation of the seats will be based on merit.
KEA will release the complete schedule of the seat allotment process with instructions, procedures, guidelines and also the eligibility criteria on its official website.
Related Articles:
- KCET 2026 Seat Matrix PDF and Course-Wise Seat Intake
- KCET 2026 Marks Vs Percentile, Qualifying Marks, Expected Rank and Cutoff
- KCET 2026 Counselling Process, Schedule, and Fees
Key Summary
- The ranks will be determined based on 50% of KCET marks and 50% marks in the 2nd PUC for the KCET 2026.
- Last year, around 2.75 lakh candidates were qualified for the counselling process out of the ~3.31 lakh who appeared.
- Top colleges such as RVCE Bengaluru and PES university requires a rank under 1,000 for the CSE branch.
- The fees in the govt. Engineering colleges are lower than private/unaided colleges. For example govt.College charges around Rs. 33,810/year, whereas private colleges charge around 80k-90k/year.
- To surrender a seat, a candidate has to do so only by filing details online with KEA.
- It should not be presumed by the candidate that not reporting to college means he/she has surrendered that seat.
What is KCET 2026 Seat Allotment?
The KCET 2026 seat allotment is the process conducted by KEA to allocate seats for various professional courses based on the KCET rank, reservation category, and preferences filled by the candidates during the options entry.
The seat allotment will be conducted in various rounds, and the candidates must reject, accept, or upgrade the allotted seat within the prescribed time.
For the Architecture Course
- NATA-2026 results published before the commencement of the first round of KEA seat allotment will only be considered for Architecture seat allotment, and it will take place as per norms/rules as applicable to other courses.
- NATA results published after the commencement of the KEA first round seat allotment will be considered for allotment during the final round.
Source: KCET 2026 Official Information Brochure
Ques. Is the entire seat allotment process online in KCET 2026?
Ans. The seat allotment process in KCET is completely online. However, the document verification process may involve offline verification.
Ques. How is seat allotment decided in KCET 2026?
Ans. The seat allotment is based on merit, as it is decided based on the rank secured by the candidate. The seat allotment is also influenced by the category, choices filled and the availability of seats.
KCET 2026 Seat Allotment: Important Dates
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Results Declaration | Late May 2026 (tentative) |
| Document Verification | June 2026 (tentative) |
| Option Entry (Round 1) | July 2026 (tentative) |
| Mock Allotment | Late July 2026 (tentative) |
| First Round Allotment | Early August 2026 (e.g., August 2, tentative) |
| Choice Modification/Acceptance | Mid-August 2026 (tentative) |
| Round 2 Allotment | Late August 2026 (tentative) |
| Final/Extended Rounds | September 2026 onward (tentative) |
Ques. Have the dates for seat allotment rounds been extended by KEA in Previous years?
Ans. Yes, the KCET seat allotment dates have been extended by KEA multiple times, such as in 2025, the 1st round option entry deadline was extended first to July 18 and then to July 22.
How to Check KCET 2026 Seat Allotment
The KEA will handle the complete seat allotment and the counselling process on its official website. Candidates are requested to keep in touch with the KEA website.
KEA will share the link for the seat allotment and seat matrix for each round separately as per the schedule prescribed by it.
KCET 2026: Seat Allotment Process
The KCET counselling process includes online registration, document verification, online counselling procedure, seat allotment, and the admission order.
The KCET 2026 seat allotment process will be completely online and transparent to ensure fairness and integrity. Once the KCET 2026 results are declared, the qualified candidates will register for the counselling process.
Ques. What details are shown in the allotment result?
Ans. The allotment result included the allotted college, course/branch, category reservation, allotment round, fee details, and other reporting instructions for the candidates.
KCET 2026 Seat Allotment: Document Required
Online seat allotment for admission to various Professional Courses will be based on the claims made by the candidates in their online application form. Hence, candidates are advised to be ready with all the necessary certificates/documents in original form.
If any candidate fails to produce any of the documents/certificates/mark cards, such candidates will not be eligible to exercise the options for seat allotment.
| Documents Required |
|---|
| KCET 2026 Application Form |
| SSLC / 10th Standard Marks Card |
| Seven-Year Study Certificate countersigned by the concerned BEO / DDPI. |
The following documents should be kept ready, only if applicable:
- Kannada Medium Certificate
- Rural Study Certificate
- Caste / Caste Income Certificate (Income and Caste Certificate)– with RD Number
- Income Certificate
| Note: EWS certificate and Arya Vyshya certificate (Form-G) will not be considered as Income Certificate. |
- Eligibility Certificate for candidates claiming Kalyana-Karnataka Region Reservation
- Candidates claiming eligibility for Government seats based on the domicile/study/employment of the parent should give proof of domicile or employment.
- Affidavit for claiming eligibility under Horanadu and Gadinadu Kannadiga clauses
- Identity Card for the candidates claiming eligibility for Government seats under the Jammu & Kashmiri Migrants quota.
OCI/PUO Candidates
| Birth certificate and Aadhar Card of the candidate. |
| Passport, VISA / Resident VISA of the candidate and parent (Copies). |
| Citizenship of the candidate - OCI / PIO Card. |
| Income Tax Documents required as per the Income Tax Act 1961. |
| Candidate's parents' resident certificate to establish evidence that they are residents of that country/affidavit on Rs.100/- e-stamp paper to that effect. |
| Study certificate of the candidate and the parent as per the eligibility “Clause-a” or “Clause-b”. |
Also Read: Detailed Eligibility Clauses for KCET 2026
For Medical and Dental candidates only
| Religious Minority: With RD Number |
|---|
| Linguistic Minority |
| Eligibility for St. John Medical College |
| NRI Ward Certificate |
Foreign Nationals
|
Source: KCET 2026 Official Information Brochure
Ques. What documents are required for verification during the KCET 2026 counselling?
Ans. The documents required for the KCET 2026 counselling process are given below:
- KCET 2026 Application Form
- Class 10th/12th marksheets
- Category certificates (If applicable)
- Income Certificate
- Seven-year study certificate
KCET 2026 Seat Allotment: Option Entry
- The options entered by the candidate for the first round will remain the same for all the rounds of seat allotment.
- The candidates will not be allowed to enter options again.
- Option Entry done before the first round will be the final list of options.
- The priority of options entered by the candidate will be shown on the option entry module by obtaining the candidate's credentials.
- The candidate may delete or alter the order of higher options.
- The candidate will be allowed to add new options for any colleges and courses that came into the seat matrix after the first round.
Ques. Can I participate in the KCET 2026 counselling process with a low rank?
Ans. Yes, candidates with lower ranks can also participate in the counselling process as lower rank students can get seats in later rounds or in less demanded courses and colleges.
KCET 2026 Seat Allotment: 1st Round
The round 1 seat allotment is likely to start from August 2026. It is the primary round of allotment of seats based on the choices filled by the candidates. In this round, the vacant seats of the special quota will be converted to general seats.
KCET 2026 Seat Allotment: 2nd Round
The second round will be conducted to fill the unfilled and surrendered seats in August. The seats can be accepted by students in this round, or they can also participate in the next round.
KCET 2026 Seat Allotment: Extended Round
The third round, also known as the casual vacancy round, is likely to start in September 2026. The seats still left will be allotted to candidates in this round, often with relaxed cutoffs. It is the last chance for seat allotment as per the regular counselling cycle.
KCET 2026 Seat Allotment: Required Fees
The candidates have to pay the acceptance or the counselling fees after the seat allotment process, which is different from the actual fees paid to the respective college.
These fees vary by course, college, and the student's category.
| Course / College Type | General / OBC / Higher Income SC/ST | SNQ (Engineering) | SC/ST Lower Income |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engineering / Architecture – Govt. Colleges | 33,810 | 18,220 | 500 |
| Aided Colleges | 43,810 | 28,220 | 500 |
| Unaided / Minority – Type 1 | 83,526 | 28,220 | 500 |
| Unaided / Minority – Type 2 | 90,060 | 28,220 | 500 |
| Deemed / Private Universities | 90,293 | — | 500 |
| B.Pharm – Government | 14,530 | — | 500 |
| B.Pharm – Unaided | 26,500 | — | 500 |
| D.Pharm – Unaided | 67,500 | — | 500 |
| B.V.Sc – Government | 57,125 | — | 17,350 |
| B.F.Sc – Government | 27,525 | — | 11,640 |
| BNYS – Government | 25,500 | — | 500 |
| BNYS – Unaided Govt. Quota | 60,500 | — | 500 |
| BNYS – Unaided Pvt. Quota | 1,84,250 | — | 1,84,250 |
| B.Sc (Hons) – Unaided | 8,220 | 8,220 | 500 |
Ques. Should we have to pay for the KCET 2026 counselling?
Ans. Yes, there is a seat confirmation or counselling fee to be paid by the candidates, depending on their course and category. The fee can be varied between 10,000 (Caution fee) and 40,000+ as per their course, category and college.
KCET Previous Year’s Seat Matrix
KEA releases the seat matrix every year on its official website. Given below are the official PDFs of the seat matrix released from 2023 to 2025.
KCET 2025: Seat Matrix
In 2025, the official final seat matrix was released by the KEA, after the draft seat matrix, on its official website. The seat matrix contains the number of seats available for the following categories of colleges or universities:
- Seats in Government Engineering Colleges/VTU Constituent Colleges
- Seats in Aided Courses of Aided Engineering Colleges
- Seats in Private Unaided Colleges & Unaided Courses
- Seats in Private Unaided Minority Colleges
- Seats for Government Courses in Public Universities
- Seats in Private Universities
- Seats in Deemed to be Universities
- Seats in Government Colleges with Higher Fees
Seats in Government Engineering College
| College Name | Total Seats |
|---|---|
| Constituent College Of VTU, Chintamani Chikaballapura | 120 |
| Government Engineering College, Arasikere | 240 |
| Government Engineering College, Challakere, Chitradurga | 180 |
| Government Engineering College, Chamarajanagara | 240 |
| Government Engineering College, Hassan | 360 |
Seats In Private Universities
| College Name | Total Seats |
|---|---|
| Adhichunchanagiri University | 780 |
| Alliance University | 1910 |
| Amity University | 1320 |
| Cmr University | 960 |
| Dayananda Sagar University | 2640 |
Seats in Private Unaided Colleges and Unaided Courses
| College Name | Total Seats |
|---|---|
| Acharya Institute of Technology, Soldevanahalli, Chikkabanavara post, Bangalore | 1380 |
| ACS College of Engineering, Mysore Road, Bangalore | 810 |
| Adhichunchanagiri Institute of Technology, Chickamagalur | 630 |
| Aditya College Of Engineering And Technology | 600 |
| AGM Rural Engineering College, Varur, Hubli | 570 |
Also Check: Detailed Course and College-Wise Seat Matrix
KCET 2026 Seat Allotment: Participating Colleges
The official and exhaustive list of participating colleges, along with the seat matrix for the KCET 2026, will be released by KEA after the KCET exam results. A common government quota fee is fixed by KEA based on college type such as Government college, Private unaided college etc.
Candidates can check the official seat matrix of KCET 2025 for a detailed list of colleges. Some of the participating colleges are given below as per the previous year's trends:
Also Check: KCET 2026 Participating Colleges
KCET 2026: Seat Cancellation
- If a candidate chooses to withdraw from the seat, they have to follow the instructions within the time specified for each round, and the request for cancellation of a seat should be submitted before the time specified for each round.
- Upon such receipt of cancellation, action would be taken to cancel the seat as per the rules.
- It is made clear that if a candidate submits the request after the expiry of the period specified for cancellation will not be entertained.
- The candidate has to state the genuine reason for the cancellation of a seat by stating a valid reason.
- If a candidate request for cancellation after the period specified for cancellation, legal action will be initiated as per the rules.
- Steps and procedure to be followed for cancellation will be notified later.
Ques. Is there any penalty for seat cancellation in KCET 2026?
Ans. Yes, Rs. 5,000/- will be deducted as a processing fee if the candidate has surrendered before the final or extended round. In some cases, full forfeiture of the fee also happens if the final round is completed.
KCET 2026: FAQs
Ques. Will my KCET 2026 seat allotment result be delivered by post?
Ans. No, candidates can check their seat allotment results on the official website of KEA. The allotment result will be displayed round-wise, and candidates are advised to download the allotment letter immediately after its release.
Ques. On what basis does the KCET seat allotment happen?
Ans. The seat allotment process will be based on merit, and it is a completely online process to ensure fairness and transparency. The seats will be allotted based on the KCET rank, reservation policy, preferences filled by candidates, and the availability of seats.
Ques. What are the Freeze, Float, and Slide options after allotment?
Ans. These are the options candidates can choose in the counselling rounds if they want to upgrade their seats or lock their seats.
- Freeze: It means the candidate has accepted the allotted seat permanently.
- Float: It means the candidate has accepted a seat, but he/she will remain eligible to upgrade for a seat with higher preference in the next round.
- Slide: It means the candidate wants to upgrade the branch within the same college.
Ques. Is there any major change in the seat allotment rules for KCET 2026?
Ans. Yes, there are certain changes as per the official information bulletin 2026 released by KEA on its official website. The vacant seats under the special categories, such as NCC, Sports, Ex- Servicemen etc will be converted to General merit seats in round 1 if no eligible candidates are available for these seats.
Ques. Can I participate in multiple rounds if I don’t like the first allotment?
Ans. Yes, if a candidate wants to upgrade in the 2nd round, he/she can choose the float option in the 1st round. You will remain eligible for seat allotment in other rounds. If a candidate doesn’t accept or pay the fee, the seat will go to the next candidate.
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