Q1.What is the eligibility for KCET 2026?
Candidates must be Karnataka domicile OR a Kannada medium student from anywhere in India. They must have passed 2nd PUC / 12th with Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics (for engineering) or Biology (for medical) with a minimum of 45% aggregate marks (40% for SC/ST/OBC-I/OBC-II).
Q2.How is KCET conducted?
KCET is an offline (OMR-based) exam. It consists of separate papers: Physics (60 Q), Chemistry (60 Q), Mathematics or Biology (60 Q), and Kannada (50 Q — mandatory for Horanadu/Gadinadu Kannadigas). Each question carries 1 mark and there is no negative marking.
Q3.What is the total number of seats available through KCET?
Approximately 80,000 engineering seats across 230+ engineering colleges in Karnataka are filled through KCET counselling conducted by KEA (Karnataka Examinations Authority).
Q4.What rank is needed for RVCE or MSRIT through KCET?
For premier colleges like RVCE and MSRIT, a KCET rank within 1–500 is generally required for CSE. For other branches like ECE, a rank up to 1,500–2,000 may be sufficient. Exact cutoffs vary each year based on demand and seat availability.
Q5.Does KCET rank include the Kannada paper?
The Kannada paper is mandatory only for Horanadu and Gadinadu Kannadigas (Kannada-medium students from outside Karnataka). For students from Karnataka who qualify via domicile, only the Science papers are used for ranking. The Kannada paper score provides additional reservation benefits.
Q6.What is the KCET 2026 exam date?
KCET 2026 is expected to be held in April 2026 (typically the last week of April). The Kannada paper is usually held a day before the Science papers. Official dates are announced by KEA on kea.kar.nic.in.