KCET 2026 Seat Allotment is the step where Karnataka Examinations Authority (KEA) assigns a college and branch to each student based on CET rank and submitted preferences. KEA declared the Round 1 Final Seat Allotment on July 15, 2026, on cetonline.karnataka.gov.in/kea/. Students allotted in Round 1 must now select their acceptance choice and pay the fee before the deadline. Round 2 and Mop-up round allotments are expected in August and September 2026 respectively, once Round 1 reporting closes.


Allotment Dates

KCET Seat Allotment 2026 Dates

KEA conducts KCET 2026 counselling in three rounds — Round 1, Round 2, and a Mop-up Round. Round 1 Final Seat Allotment was released on July 15, 2026, after 11:00 AM on cetonline.karnataka.gov.in/kea/. Students allotted in Round 1 now have a short window to select their choice and pay the acceptance fee. Exact dates for Round 2 and the Mop-up Round will be published on the official portal after Round 1 reporting concludes. The table below lists upcoming rounds first, followed by the released Round 1.

Round Allotment Result Date Acceptance / Fee Payment Window Reporting to College Status
Round 2 August 2026 (expected) August 2026 (to be announced) August–September 2026 (expected) Awaited
Round 3 / Mop-up September 2026 (expected) September 2026 (to be announced) September 2026 (expected) Awaited
Round 1 July 15, 2026 July 15–20, 2026 (tentative) July 21 – August 4, 2026 (tentative) Released

KEA publishes Round 2 and Mop-up dates with short notice after each allotment cycle closes. Students must monitor cetonline.karnataka.gov.in/kea/ regularly — missing the acceptance window causes automatic cancellation of the allotment for that round.


How to Check

How to Check KCET Seat Allotment Result 2026

The KCET 2026 Round 1 Final Seat Allotment Result is live at cetonline.karnataka.gov.in/kea/. Follow these steps to view your allotment letter and download it for reporting. Complete the entire process in one session — including choice selection and fee payment — to avoid losing your allotted seat.

  1. Visit the official KEA portal at cetonline.karnataka.gov.in/kea/.
  2. Click on the "Round 1 Final Seat Allotment Result" link on the homepage.
  3. Enter your Karnataka CET Application Number and your registered date of birth or password.
  4. Click "Submit" to load your allotment details.
  5. Your screen will display your allotted college, branch, category seat, and reporting date.
  6. Download and print the Allotment Letter. This document is mandatory at college reporting and must not be misplaced.
  7. Select your seat acceptance choice (Choice 1, 2, 3, or 4) and complete the fee payment online before the deadline.

If the portal is slow due to high traffic, try logging in during early morning hours. Helpline numbers listed on the official portal can be contacted for genuine technical issues only — allotment details are visible only after login.


Accept / Freeze / Float

Accept, Freeze or Float — What to Do After Allotment

After viewing your Round 1 allotment, you must select one of four choices within the acceptance window. Your choice determines whether you lock in the current seat, try for an upgrade in Round 2, or exit counselling — read each option before deciding.

KEA Choice Common Name What It Means When to Choose This
Choice 1 Freeze / Accept & Join Accept the allotted seat, pay the acceptance fee, and receive the admission order. You will not participate in Round 2 or the Mop-up Round. You are satisfied with the allotted college and branch. Locking in removes all risk of losing the seat in later rounds.
Choice 2 Float / Accept & Upgrade Provisionally accept the current seat and remain eligible for Round 2. If a higher-preference option is allotted in Round 2, the Round 1 seat is released automatically. If no upgrade occurs, the current seat is retained. You want the Round 1 seat as a safety net while still trying for a better college or branch in Round 2. This is the most widely selected option.
Choice 3 Reject & Continue Decline the current allotment but remain in the pool for Round 2. You will have no confirmed seat in the interim. You are confident of a significantly better allotment in Round 2 and are willing to give up the Round 1 seat entirely. This carries real risk — there is no guarantee of a Round 2 allotment.
Choice 4 Withdraw / Exit Decline the allotment and exit KCET 2026 counselling permanently. The seat reverts to the general pool and the processing fee is forfeited. You have confirmed admission through another exam or institution and no longer wish to participate in KCET counselling.

Choice 2 (Float) is the safest strategy for most students who have received a reasonable allotment but want to explore a better option in Round 2. If you are fully satisfied with your allotted college and branch, Choice 1 gives you certainty. Avoid Choice 3 unless your current allotment is genuinely unacceptable — losing the Round 1 seat without a guaranteed Round 2 upgrade is a significant risk.


Seat Acceptance Fee

KCET Seat Acceptance Fee 2026

Students who select Choice 1 or Choice 2 must pay the seat acceptance fee online through the KEA portal to confirm their response. The exact fee for your category and college type will be displayed in your acceptance window after login at cetonline.karnataka.gov.in/kea/ — verify the amount there before paying. No offline or bank challan payment mode is accepted by KEA.

Category Approximate Fee (Based on 2025 Data) Payment Mode
General / GM ₹10,000 (first-year caution deposit / initial installment) Online — KEA portal only
OBC (2A, 2B, 3A, 3B) ₹10,000 Online — KEA portal only
Category 1 / EWS ₹5,000 (reduced fee for eligible categories) Online — KEA portal only
SC / ST Fee concession or waiver applicable in government colleges Online — KEA portal only

If you are upgraded from Round 1 to a different college in Round 2, the fee paid at Round 1 acceptance is adjusted against the new college — you will not pay it again. Students who surrender their seat after Round 2 will have ₹5,000 deducted as a processing charge; surrendering after the Mop-up Round results in complete forfeiture of the fee paid. Fee amounts above are based on KCET 2025 and are subject to revision by KEA for 2026; confirm the exact figure on the official portal before payment.


Reporting Documents

Documents Required for Reporting

After completing acceptance and fee payment (Choice 1 or Choice 2), you must report to the allotted college within the reporting window with the documents listed below. Carry originals and two sets of self-attested photocopies for every document — missing any mandatory document may result in cancellation of admission at the college level.

  1. KCET 2026 Admit Card (original)
  2. KCET 2026 Score Card / Rank Card (original)
  3. Round 1 Allotment Letter / Admission Order (printed from the KEA portal after fee payment)
  4. Fee Payment Receipt (printout from the KEA portal)
  5. SSLC / Class 10 Marks Card and Passing Certificate (original)
  6. 2nd PUC / Class 12 Marks Card and Passing Certificate (original)
  7. Study Certificate proving Karnataka residency or seven years of study in Karnataka
  8. Transfer Certificate (TC) from the last institution attended
  9. Aadhaar Card or any valid government-issued photo identity proof
  10. Recent passport-size photographs (minimum 6 copies)
  11. Caste / Community Certificate (for SC, ST, OBC, and other reservation categories)
  12. Income Certificate (if claiming fee concession under SC/ST or EWS categories)
  13. KEA Eligibility Certificate (issued at the time of document verification)
  14. PH / Disability Certificate (if applicable)
  15. Sports, NCC, or Ex-servicemen Certificate (if claiming a special category quota seat)

Students from the Hyderabad-Karnataka region must additionally carry the HK Region Eligibility Certificate if claiming seats under the HK reservation quota. Report within the specified window — colleges do not accept late reporting without explicit KEA approval.


If No Seat Allotted

What If No Seat Is Allotted

If you did not receive a seat in KCET 2026 Round 1, do not exit the counselling process. A significant number of seats go unfilled after Round 1 and become available in Round 2 and the Mop-up Round through surrenders and Choice 3 rejections. Here is what to do:

  1. Widen your options before Round 2: If your Round 1 preference list was too narrow or limited to high-demand branches, add more colleges and branches during the Round 2 option entry window. More preferences directly raise your allotment probability.
  2. Participate in Round 2 without fresh registration: Students not allotted in Round 1 are automatically eligible for Round 2. No re-registration is required. Watch cetonline.karnataka.gov.in/kea/ for Round 2 option entry and allotment dates.
  3. Try the Mop-up Round: After Round 2, KEA releases remaining vacant seats through the Mop-up Round. Eligibility conditions may differ slightly — check the official KEA notification when it is released.
  4. Benefit from surrendered seats: Seats surrendered by students choosing Choice 4, or vacated through upgrades, are added back to the pool each round. Round 2 and Mop-up pools often include good colleges that had high demand in Round 1.
  5. Explore management quota as a backup: If unallotted after all rounds, private engineering colleges in Karnataka offer management quota seats through direct admission. Fees and eligibility vary by institution.

Students who selected Choice 3 (Reject and Continue) in Round 1 have no confirmed seat and must participate actively in Round 2 option entry to remain in contention. If no seat is allotted even after the Mop-up Round, KEA processes a refund of the registration fee minus applicable processing charges as per the official refund policy.


FAQs

KCET Seat Allotment 2026 FAQs

Ques. How do I check my KCET 2026 seat allotment result?

Ans. Visit cetonline.karnataka.gov.in/kea/ and click on the Round 1 Final Seat Allotment Result link. Log in with your KCET application number and date of birth or registered password. Your allotted college, branch, and reporting date will appear on screen. Download and print the allotment letter immediately — you will need it at the time of reporting to the college.

Ques. What is the difference between Choice 1 and Choice 2 in KCET 2026 seat acceptance?

Ans. Choice 1 (Freeze) means you accept the allotted seat permanently and will not be considered for further rounds — your admission is confirmed at that college and branch. Choice 2 (Float) means you provisionally accept the current seat but remain in the running for an upgrade in Round 2. If a better option is allotted in Round 2, the Round 1 seat is released; if no upgrade happens, you retain the Round 1 seat.

Ques. What happens if I do not respond to my KCET Round 1 allotment before the deadline?

Ans. If you do not select any choice within the acceptance window, your Round 1 allotment is cancelled automatically. The seat reverts to the general pool and cannot be recovered. Depending on KEA rules, you may still be eligible for Round 2, but the Round 1 seat is permanently lost.

Ques. Is the seat acceptance fee refunded if I am upgraded to a better college in Round 2?

Ans. Yes. If you selected Choice 2 and are allotted a higher-preference college in Round 2, KEA adjusts the fee you paid in Round 1 against your new college. You are not required to pay the full fee again — only any additional amount (if the Round 2 college has a higher fee) is collected separately.

Ques. Can I revise my college preferences before Round 2?

Ans. You cannot change your Round 1 preference list after the allotment is declared. However, during the Round 2 option entry window, KEA typically allows students who selected Choice 2 or Choice 3 to revise, add, or reorder their college and branch preferences for the next round. Watch the official KEA portal for the Round 2 option entry schedule.

Ques. What documents do I need to carry when reporting to my allotted college?

Ans. Carry originals and two self-attested photocopies of your KCET admit card, score card, allotment letter, fee payment receipt, SSLC and 2nd PUC mark sheets, study certificate, transfer certificate, photo identity proof, passport-size photographs, and any applicable category or income certificates. Students claiming HK region reservation must also carry the HK Region Eligibility Certificate.

Ques. What should I do if no seat was allotted to me in KCET Round 1?

Ans. You are automatically eligible for Round 2 without re-registration. Widen your preference list during the Round 2 option entry window to include more colleges and branches — this directly improves your allotment chances. If still unallotted after Round 2, the Mop-up Round offers another opportunity. Track cetonline.karnataka.gov.in/kea/ for all upcoming dates.

Ques. How many counselling rounds does KCET 2026 have, and when are they?

Ans. KCET 2026 counselling has three main rounds — Round 1, Round 2, and a Mop-up Round. Round 1 allotment was declared on July 15, 2026. Round 2 is expected in August 2026 and the Mop-up Round in September 2026, with exact dates to be announced by KEA on cetonline.karnataka.gov.in/kea/ after Round 1 reporting closes. KEA may also conduct an Extended Mop-up round for remaining vacant seats subject to official notification.