The Karnataka Examinations Authority (KEA) has released the KCET 2026 seat matrix, detailing branch-wise, college-wise, and category-wise seat distribution across Karnataka engineering, pharmacy, nursing, agriculture, and veterinary colleges. KCET 2026 offers over 86,000 KCET quota seats across all participating programmes, with engineering accounting for the largest share at approximately 66,000+ KCET quota seats across 200+ colleges and 30+ branches. Students filling their option entry before the June 30, 2026 deadline (10:00 AM) must use this seat matrix to finalise college preferences and verify category-wise availability before the Round 1 mock allotment on July 6.

  • KCET 2026 seat matrix is released by KEA. The final seat matrix went live before option entry opened on June 20, 2026 — students can verify college and branch seats now at cetonline.karnataka.gov.in.
  • Total KCET quota seats across all programmes: over 86,000, spanning engineering (BE/BTech), pharmacy (B.Pharm/Pharm.D), nursing (B.Sc Nursing), agriculture (B.Sc Agriculture), farm science, and veterinary (B.V.Sc & AH) courses.
  • Engineering (BE/BTech) is the largest stream: ~66,000+ KCET quota seats across 200+ colleges (total engineering intake across all quotas is approximately 77,000+).
  • General Merit (GM) students compete for 50% of all seats; OBC subcategories (Cat 1, 2A, 2B, 3A, 3B) together hold approximately 32–33%; SC holds 15%; ST holds 3%.
  • A 7.5% rural horizontal reservation is applied within each vertical category for students who studied in Karnataka rural-area schools continuously from Class 1 to Class 10.
  • Government and aided colleges allocate 100% of their seats through KCET at ₹44,311 per year; private unaided colleges allocate 45% at ₹1.13–1.22 lakh per year.
  • Approximately 5,458 supernumerary SNQ (Special NRI Quota) engineering seats are available over and above the regular KCET intake in private and minority colleges.

Key Summary

  • KCET 2026 seat matrix is released; option entry closes June 30, 2026 at 10:00 AM on cetonline.karnataka.gov.in.
  • Total KCET seats: 86,000+ across engineering, pharmacy, nursing, agriculture, farm science, and veterinary programmes.
  • Engineering: ~66,000+ KCET quota seats across 200+ colleges; total engineering intake (all quotas) is ~77,000+.
  • Category split: GM 50%, SC 15%, ST 3%, OBC subcategories ~32%; EWS carved from GM pool under Karnataka government orders.
  • Horizontal reservations: Women 30%, Rural 7.5%, PwD 3% — applied within each vertical category, not as extra seats.
  • SNQ (NRI quota): ~5,458 supernumerary engineering seats at ~5% of intake across private and minority colleges.
  • Round 1 schedule: Mock allotment July 6, 2026; final allotment July 15, 2026.

KCET 2026 Seat Intake Overview

KCET Seat Intake 2026: Overview

KCET (Karnataka Common Entrance Test), conducted annually by KEA, is the gateway to professional undergraduate programmes at government, aided, and private unaided colleges in Karnataka. The KCET 2026 seat matrix covers over 86,000 KCET quota seats across engineering, pharmacy, nursing, agriculture, farm science, and veterinary programmes. Unlike national exams such as JEE or NEET, KCET seats are exclusively in Karnataka colleges — there is no All India Quota (AIQ) split. All seats are Karnataka state quota seats, distributed through KEA’s counselling process.

KEA released the draft engineering seat matrix on June 2, 2026, invited objections until June 9, and published the final seat matrix before the option entry portal opened on June 20, 2026. Option entry for Round 1 closes on June 30, 2026 at 10:00 AM, making today one of the final days to review the seat matrix and lock in your college preferences.

KCET 2026 Event Date Status
Option Entry Deadline (Round 1) June 30, 2026 (10:00 AM) Upcoming
Round 1 Mock Allotment Result July 6, 2026 (After 11:00 AM) Upcoming
Mock Allotment Modification Window July 6 (2:00 PM) – July 9, 2026 (10:00 AM) Upcoming
Round 1 Final Allotment Result July 15, 2026 (After 11:00 AM) Upcoming
Draft Seat Matrix Released June 2, 2026 Over
KCET 2026 Result Declared June 6, 2026 Over
Seat Matrix Objection Window Closed June 9, 2026 Over
Option Entry Portal Opened June 20, 2026 (11:30 AM) Over
Parameter Details
Conducting Body Karnataka Examinations Authority (KEA)
Total KCET Seats (All Programmes) 86,000+
Engineering KCET Quota Seats ~66,000+
Total Engineering Intake (All Quotas) ~77,000+ across 200+ colleges
Engineering Branches Available 30+
B.Sc Nursing Seats ~31,656
Agriculture / Farm Science Seats ~3,350
B.Pharm / Pharm.D Seats (KCET Quota) ~9,000–12,000
B.V.Sc & AH (Veterinary) Seats ~300–400
SNQ (NRI Quota) Engineering Seats ~5,458 (supernumerary)
Official Portal cetonline.karnataka.gov.in/kea

Institute-Wise Seat Distribution

KCET 2026 Institute-Wise Seat Intake

KCET 2026 engineering seats are distributed across eight college types, each with a different KEA quota percentage and fee structure. The share of seats allocated through KCET ranges from 40% (minority religious colleges) to 100% (government and aided colleges). Government and aided colleges attract the most intense competition because they pair low fees with high KCET quota percentages — seats that carry COMEDK or management quota at private colleges are outside KEA’s counselling altogether.

Engineering Seat Distribution by College Type

The table below shows the number of colleges, approximate KCET quota engineering seats, and SNQ (Special NRI Quota) seats for each college type participating in KCET 2026.

College Type No. of Colleges KCET Quota Approx. KCET Seats SNQ Seats Annual Fee (Approx.)
Government 16 100% 4,030 ~202 ₹44,311
University (UVCE, Bengaluru) 1 100% 760 Government rate
Private Aided 6 100% 2,260 ~113 ₹44,311
Minority Aided 8 95% 2,803 ~148 ₹44,311
Private Unaided 145 45% ~40,499 ~4,500 ₹1,13,205–₹1,22,300
Minority Religious 16 40% ~3,960 ~495 ₹1,13,205–₹1,22,300
Minority Linguistic 28 45% ~718+ ₹1,13,205–₹1,22,300
Minority Medical 28 40% ~11,736 ₹1,13,205–₹1,22,300

Top KCET 2026 Engineering Colleges: Approximate Seat Intake

The colleges below are among the most sought-after in the KCET 2026 seat matrix. Aided private colleges — RVCE, MSRIT, BMSCE, NIE — are especially competitive because they carry government fee rates while ranking among Karnataka’s top engineering institutions. All seat counts are approximate; verify exact figures using the KEA seat matrix tool.

College Name Location Type Approx. Total Intake Approx. KCET Seats
RV College of Engineering (RVCE) Bengaluru Private Aided ~1,200 ~720
M.S. Ramaiah Institute of Technology (MSRIT) Bengaluru Private Aided ~1,260 ~756
BMS College of Engineering (BMSCE) Bengaluru Private Aided ~1,080 ~648
PES University Bengaluru Private Unaided ~1,500 ~600 (45% quota)
Dayananda Sagar College of Engineering (DSCE) Bengaluru Private Unaided ~1,440 ~576 (45% quota)
BIT Bangalore (BITS) Bengaluru Private Aided ~720 ~432
National Institute of Engineering (NIE) Mysuru Private Aided ~900 ~540
University Visvesvaraya College of Engineering (UVCE) Bengaluru Government University ~540 ~486 (100% quota)
Adichunchanagiri Institute of Technology (AIT) Chikkamagaluru Govt. Aided ~420 ~378

Search the exact branch-wise and category-wise seat count for any college by entering the college code at cetonline.karnataka.gov.in/viewmaps/SeatMatrix.aspx.

KCET 2026 Seat Intake by Region (Engineering)

Karnataka’s engineering colleges span five administrative divisions. Bengaluru Urban and Rural together account for approximately 45% of all KCET engineering seats, making Bengaluru the single largest seat hub. North Karnataka carries the second-largest share, distributed across Hubballi-Dharwad, Belagavi, and other major cities.

Region Key Districts / Cities Approx. KCET Engineering Seats
Bengaluru (Urban + Rural) Bengaluru Urban, Bengaluru Rural, Tumkuru, Ramanagara ~35,000+
North Karnataka Hubballi-Dharwad, Belagavi, Vijayapura, Kalaburagi, Bidar, Haveri ~8,000–10,000
Mysuru Region Mysuru, Mandya, Hassan, Chamarajanagar, Chikkamagaluru ~5,000–6,000
Coastal Karnataka Dakshina Kannada (Mangaluru), Udupi ~4,000–5,000
Central Karnataka Shivamogga, Davangere, Chitradurga, Ballari, Koppal ~3,000–5,000

Total Seats in KCET 2026

How Many Seats Are in KCET 2026?

KEA administers KCET admissions for six major programme streams, covering engineering, health sciences, pharmacy, agriculture, and veterinary education across Karnataka. The combined KCET quota seat count exceeds 86,000 when all streams are included. This figure covers only the KEA-administered share and excludes management quota and COMEDK seats at the same private colleges, which are filled through independent processes.

Engineering dominates the pool. B.Sc Nursing has grown into the second-largest stream by volume, with seats available across government, aided, and private nursing colleges. Agriculture, farm science, and veterinary seats are comparatively fewer but carry strong state government employment prospects in Karnataka.

Programme Duration Approx. KCET Seats 2026 No. of Colleges (Approx.)
BE / BTech (Engineering) 4 years 66,000+ 200+
B.Sc Nursing 4 years ~31,656 60+
B.Pharm / Pharm.D 4 years / 6 years ~9,000–12,000 100+
B.Sc Agriculture (including Farm Science) 4 years ~3,350 30+
B.V.Sc & AH (Veterinary) 5.5 years ~300–400 5–7

B.Sc Nursing and engineering run as separate streams under KEA’s UGCET 2026 umbrella, with distinct rank lists and allotment rounds. Students registered for both streams must fill separate option entries for each. Verify the stream-specific seat count for your target college at cetonline.karnataka.gov.in/kea before submitting your preferences.


Category-Wise Seat Distribution

KCET 2026 Seat Matrix: Category-Wise Distribution

Karnataka uses a state-specific reservation system that differs significantly from central reservation norms. Seats are divided into vertical (caste/community-based) and horizontal (cross-cutting group) reservations — vertical categories account for 100% of the seat pool, while horizontal quotas are earmarks within each vertical category, not additional seats.

The five OBC subcategories (Cat 1, 2A, 2B, 3A, 3B) are defined under Karnataka’s state OBC list. Central OBC certificates from other states or the central government are not valid for KCET OBC claim. You must hold a Karnataka-issued caste/community certificate to claim your category benefit.

Vertical Reservation: Category-Wise Seat Share

SC and ST categories together hold 18% of total seats, while the five OBC subcategories collectively account for approximately 32–33%. The remaining 50% forms the open GM pool that all students — including SC, ST, and OBC students — can compete in using their KCET rank.

Category Code Full Name Reservation % Approx. Seats (Engineering KCET Quota ~66,000) Certificate Required
GM General Merit (Open Pool) 50% ~33,000 None (open to all eligible students)
SC Scheduled Castes 15% ~9,900 Karnataka SC certificate
ST Scheduled Tribes 3% ~1,980 Karnataka ST certificate
Cat 1 Category 1 (OBC) 4% ~2,640 Karnataka Category 1 certificate
2A Category 2A (OBC) 15% ~9,900 Karnataka 2A certificate
2B Category 2B (OBC) 5% ~3,300 Karnataka 2B certificate
3A Category 3A (OBC) 4% ~2,640 Karnataka 3A certificate
3B Category 3B (OBC) 5% ~3,300 Karnataka 3B certificate

EWS (Economically Weaker Section): Karnataka has notified a 10% EWS quota carved out from within the GM pool, in line with the 103rd Constitutional Amendment. EWS students must meet annual income and asset criteria and present a valid EWS certificate issued by the revenue authority. The EWS earmark does not reduce the GM pool for non-EWS students beyond the 10% carve-out.

Horizontal Reservations (Applied Within Each Vertical Category)

Horizontal reservations earmark a share of each vertical category’s seats for a specific group but do not create additional seats beyond the vertical total. If the horizontal earmark goes partially unfilled, the remaining seats revert to the same vertical category’s open sub-pool — they are never lost to another category.

Horizontal Category Quota Applies Within Key Eligibility Condition
Women 30% GM, SC, ST, Cat 1, 2A, 2B, 3A, 3B Female gender declaration at KCET registration
Rural 7.5% GM, SC, ST, Cat 1, 2A, 2B, 3A, 3B Studied Class 1–10 continuously in Karnataka rural-area institutions
Persons with Disabilities (PwD) 3% GM, SC, ST, Cat 1, 2A, 2B, 3A, 3B Minimum 40% disability as certified by the concerned medical authority

A student in the Women sub-pool of Cat 2A, for instance, competes first within the Women earmark of 2A seats. If women-earmarked 2A seats go unfilled, they open to all Cat 2A students. To claim the rural horizontal quota, you must produce a Rural Study Certificate from your school countersigned by the revenue authority — a self-declaration is not sufficient.


NRI/OCI/Foreign National Seats

KCET 2026 Seats for NRI / OCI / Foreign Nationals

KCET 2026 includes a Special NRI Quota (SNQ) in private unaided and minority colleges. SNQ seats are supernumerary — allocated over and above the approved regular KCET intake — so they do not reduce any category-wise seat pool for domestic students at the same college.

SNQ Engineering Seats by College Type

College Type Approx. SNQ Engineering Seats SNQ Share of Intake
Government Colleges ~202 ~5%
Private Aided ~113 ~5%
Minority Aided ~148 ~5%
Private Unaided ~4,500 ~5%
Minority Religious ~495 ~5%
Total SNQ (Engineering, Approx.) ~5,458 ~5% of engineering intake
  • SNQ seats are filled through a separate KEA NRI counselling round, distinct from the main option entry process for domestic KCET students.
  • Eligible students include Non-Resident Indians (NRIs), Overseas Citizens of India (OCI) cardholders, Persons of Indian Origin (PIOs), and their children or wards.
  • The annual fee for SNQ seats is significantly higher — typically USD 3,000–5,000 per year in private unaided colleges, compared to ₹1.13–1.22 lakh under the regular KCET quota at the same college.
  • SNQ students must produce valid NRI/OCI/PIO documentation and proof of relationship with the NRI/OCI/PIO sponsor at document verification.
  • Unfilled SNQ seats are converted to the general KCET pool before subsequent allotment rounds, which can add seats at popular colleges in Round 2 and later.

Foreign nationals who are neither OCI cardholders nor PIOs may apply through the Foreign National (FN) category. KEA does not directly administer FN admissions; such students must contact individual colleges or approach the Association of Indian Universities (AIU) for academic equivalency certification. FN seat availability and fee structures vary by college and programme.


Seat Matrix and KCET Cutoff

How the Seat Matrix Affects KCET 2026 Cutoff Ranks

The KCET seat matrix and closing ranks move in opposite directions: fewer available seats in a branch or college drives the closing rank lower (meaning a better rank is required), while more seats allow higher rank numbers to secure admission. Understanding this relationship is essential when you prioritise colleges in your option entry before the June 30 deadline.

  • Aided colleges with limited intake are the most competitive. RVCE and MSRIT CSE under GM category have historically closed below rank 500, partly because 100% of their intake goes through KCET with no dilution from management or COMEDK quotas.
  • When KEA adds new seats to a college or approves a new branch in the final seat matrix, the closing rank for that college-branch combination typically rises — giving more students a realistic chance of securing that option.
  • Category-wise seat counts directly drive category-specific cutoffs. SC seats are fixed at 15% and ST at 3% of each college’s KCET intake; because the eligible applicant pool within each category differs from GM, category-specific closing ranks often vary substantially from GM ranks for the same seat.
  • The 7.5% rural horizontal earmark creates a rural sub-pool within each vertical category. Non-rural students compete for the remaining 92.5% of that category’s seats — which can tighten closing ranks slightly for non-rural students at high-demand colleges.
  • Minority colleges that allocate only 40% through KCET produce tighter effective closing ranks than their total intake figure suggests — a college with 1,000 total seats offers only 400 through KCET, concentrating competition on a smaller seat pool.
  • Unfilled SNQ seats converted to the general pool in Round 2 can lower effective closing ranks at those colleges in later rounds by increasing the available seat count.

When filling your option entry, cross-reference the seat matrix with the previous year’s category-specific closing ranks. A college-branch showing 8 SC seats will have a very tight SC closing rank; the same branch at a college showing 80 SC seats will be significantly more accessible to SC students. Always examine both the seat count and the category-closing rank together before setting your preference order.


List of courses and seats

List of Courses and Seats Under KCET 2026

KCET 2026 covers six major programme streams. Engineering (BE/BTech) is the dominant stream by volume, with CSE and its allied variants (AI & ML, Data Science, Cyber Security, IoT) now accounting for an estimated 40–45% of all KCET engineering seats, driven by sustained new-programme approvals at private colleges over the past three admission cycles.

Course-Wise Seat Intake (All Streams, KCET 2026)

Course / Programme Duration Approx. KCET Seats 2026 Popular Specialisations
BE / BTech (Engineering) 4 years 66,000+ CSE, ECE, Mechanical, Civil, EEE, ISE, AI & ML, Data Science, Cyber Security, IoT
B.Sc Nursing 4 years ~31,656 General Nursing and Midwifery
B.Pharm (Pharmacy) 4 years ~9,000–12,000 (B.Pharm and Pharm.D combined) Pharmaceutics, Pharmacology, Pharmacognosy, Pharmaceutical Chemistry
Pharm.D (Pharmacy Doctorate) 6 years Clinical Pharmacy
B.Sc Agriculture 4 years ~3,350 (all agri and farm science streams combined) Agronomy, Soil Science, Plant Pathology, Agricultural Economics
B.Sc Horticulture 4 years Fruit Science, Vegetable Science, Floriculture
B.Sc Sericulture / Food Science 4 years Farm Science allied programmes
B.V.Sc & AH (Veterinary) 5.5 years ~300–400 Veterinary Science, Animal Husbandry

KCET 2026 Engineering: Branch-Wise Approximate Seat Count (Across Karnataka)

The seat counts below are approximate totals across all participating Karnataka colleges for each engineering branch under KCET quota. Individual college branch-wise seat counts differ — use the KEA seat matrix tool to check your specific target college.

Branch Approx. Total KCET Quota Seats Across Karnataka (2026)
Computer Science & Engineering (CSE) ~18,000–20,000
AI & ML / Data Science / Cyber Security / IoT (allied variants) ~7,000–9,000
Information Science & Engineering (ISE) ~5,000–6,000
Electronics & Communication Engineering (ECE) ~8,000–10,000
Mechanical Engineering ~7,000–9,000
Civil Engineering ~4,000–5,000
Electrical & Electronics Engineering (EEE) ~3,000–4,000
Other branches (Biotech, Chemical, Mining, Aerospace, Industrial, etc.) ~5,000–7,000

You can view exact branch-wise and category-wise seat counts for any KCET 2026 college at cetonline.karnataka.gov.in/viewmaps/SeatMatrix.aspx by entering the college code and selecting the programme.


Frequently Asked Questions

KCET 2026 Seat Matrix FAQs

Ques. How many total seats are available through KCET 2026?

Ans. KCET 2026 offers over 86,000 KCET quota seats across all KEA-administered programmes. Engineering (BE/BTech) accounts for 66,000+ KCET quota seats across 200+ colleges. B.Sc Nursing adds approximately 31,656 seats. B.Pharm and Pharm.D contribute another 9,000–12,000. Agriculture and Farm Science add around 3,350, and B.V.Sc & AH adds 300–400. Verify the latest stream-wise totals at cetonline.karnataka.gov.in/kea.

Ques. Where can I check the KCET 2026 seat matrix college-wise and branch-wise?

Ans. The official KCET seat matrix search tool is at cetonline.karnataka.gov.in/viewmaps/SeatMatrix.aspx. Enter your college code, select the programme, and view the branch-wise and category-wise seat breakdown. For the KEA homepage with latest notifications, visit cetonline.karnataka.gov.in/kea.

Ques. What percentage of KCET 2026 seats are reserved for OBC students?

Ans. Karnataka uses five OBC subcategories with their own reservation percentages — Category 1 (4%), Category 2A (15%), Category 2B (5%), Category 3A (4%), and Category 3B (5%). The combined OBC reservation across all five subcategories totals approximately 33%. Central Government OBC certificates are not valid for KCET OBC benefits — you must hold a Karnataka-issued caste/community certificate.

Ques. What is the KCET 2026 option entry deadline, and what are the next steps?

Ans. The option entry deadline for KCET 2026 Round 1 is June 30, 2026 at 10:00 AM at cetonline.karnataka.gov.in. After this, KEA processes preferences and releases a mock allotment on July 6, 2026. Students can modify preferences between July 6 (2:00 PM) and July 9, 2026 (10:00 AM). The final Round 1 allotment result is released on July 15, 2026 after 11:00 AM.

Ques. How are KCET 2026 seats split between government and private colleges?

Ans. Government and government-aided engineering colleges allocate 100% of their seats through the KCET quota. Private unaided colleges allocate 45% through KCET (approximately 30% goes to management quota and 25% to COMEDK). Minority religious colleges allocate 40% through KCET. Government colleges at ₹44,311 per year are the most sought-after options — their closing ranks are historically the tightest in the seat matrix.

Ques. What is the rural quota in KCET 2026, and how do I claim it?

Ans. KCET reserves 7.5% of seats within each vertical category for students who studied from Class 1 to Class 10 continuously in Karnataka rural-area institutions. To claim this benefit, you must produce a Rural Study Certificate from your school Principal, countersigned by the concerned revenue authority — a self-declaration is not sufficient. If rural-earmarked seats go unfilled, they revert to the open pool of the same vertical category.

Ques. How many seats are reserved for women students in KCET 2026?

Ans. KCET applies a 30% horizontal reservation for women within each vertical category (GM, SC, ST, and all OBC subcategories). For every 100 GM seats at a college-branch, 30 are earmarked for female GM students; the same 30% ratio applies within SC, ST, and each OBC subcategory. If the women-earmarked seats in any vertical category go unfilled, they are offered to male students of the same category — the seats are not transferred to a different vertical category.

Ques. What are SNQ seats in KCET 2026, and who is eligible?

Ans. SNQ (Special NRI Quota) seats are supernumerary — over and above the regular KCET intake — at private unaided and minority colleges. Approximately 5,458 SNQ engineering seats are available in KCET 2026. Eligible students include NRIs, OCI cardholders, PIOs, and their children or wards. SNQ admissions carry significantly higher fees (typically USD 3,000–5,000 per year) and are processed through a separate KEA NRI counselling round. Unfilled SNQ seats revert to the general KCET pool in subsequent rounds.

Ques. Does the KCET seat matrix change between counselling rounds?

Ans. Yes. After Round 1 allotment, seats declined or surrendered by allotted students are added to the Round 2 pool. Unfilled SNQ seats are also converted to the general pool before subsequent rounds. This means more seats — sometimes at highly competitive colleges — become available in Round 2 and later rounds. Students not allotted a preferred choice in Round 1 should not exit counselling prematurely, as the available pool can grow significantly in later rounds.

Ques. How does the KCET seat matrix help predict closing ranks?

Ans. Closing ranks and seat counts are inversely related: fewer category-wise seats at a college-branch lead to a lower (tighter) closing rank, while more seats allow higher rank numbers to secure admission. To estimate your chances, find the number of category-wise seats for your target college-branch in the 2026 seat matrix, then compare it with the previous year’s closing rank in your category. If the seat count has increased, the closing rank will likely rise slightly; if seats decreased, competition will be tighter. Always examine both data points together before prioritising an option.


Disclaimer: The seat matrix data provided here is based on official KEA sources and past year records. Actual seat counts may vary and are subject to revision by KEA. Always verify current seat availability with the official Karnataka Examinations Authority portal at cetonline.karnataka.gov.in before making admission decisions.