KCET 2026 Registration Starts Tomorrow; Check Schedule, Application Link & Exam Updates Here

The Karnataka Examinations Authority (KEA) will open KCET/UGCET 2026 online registration on January 17, 2026 (tomorrow). Candidates seeking admission to professional undergraduate courses in Karnataka will be able to apply on the official KEA portal: cetonline.karnataka.gov.in/kea. 

KEA has already released the KCET 2026 notification schedule dated January 2, 2026, and the exam dates are also out. As per the published schedule, the Kannada language test (for eligible candidates such as Horanadu/Gadinadu Kannadiga categories, as applicable) is scheduled on April 22, 2026, and the main KCET papers will be held on April 23 and April 24, 2026. 

Candidates are advised to keep their basic documents and scanned images ready, check eligibility carefully, and apply early to avoid last-minute payment or upload issues. 

Latest Updates:

• KCET 2026 application form (Opens on Jan 17) – Apply Here

KCET 2026 Key highlights

Here are the key KCET 2026 basics students should know before starting the application.

• Exam name: Karnataka Common Entrance Test (KCET/UGCET) 2026 
• Conducting body: Karnataka Examinations Authority (KEA) 
• Exam level: State level
• Official website: cetonline.karnataka.gov.in/kea  
• Mode of exam: Offline (pen-and-paper/OMR-based) 
• Purpose: Entrance exam used for admission/merit determination for various professional UG courses through KEA (UGCET) 
• Courses offered (through KCET/UGCET route): Engineering, Pharmacy, Agriculture, Veterinary, Yoga & Naturopathy (as listed in KEA-linked updates) 
• Total applicants: KEA has not yet released KCET 2026 registration/appearance statistics at the time registration opens. For context, KCET 2025 recorded 3,30,787 registrations and 3,11,996 appearances.

KCET 2026 Important Dates 

KEA’s schedule is now out. Refer to the table below for application and exam dates. The remaining schedule will be released shortly.

How to apply for KCET 2026

The KCET 2026 application process will be held online. Students should use the same official KEA portal for registration, fee payment, and form submission.

A simple step-wise process is given below:

1. Visit the official KEA KCET portal at cetonline.karnataka.gov.in/kea and open the UGCET/KCET 2026 application link once it goes live on January 17. 
2. Register using your mobile number and email ID, and complete verification (OTP-based verification is commonly mentioned in application guidance). 
3. Log in using the credentials created during registration. 
4. Fill the application form with personal, academic and communication details as required. 
5. Upload scanned images/documents as per the required format and size. (
6. Pay the application fee through the available payment modes on the portal. 
7. Submit the form and download/print the confirmation page for records.

Category-wise KCET 2026 Application Fee 

The KCET fee depends on category and residency status. Candidates should pay the exact amount applicable to them as shown on the portal.

KCET 2026 Registration – Documents Required

Candidates should keep original academic documents handy for reference while filling the form, and also keep scanned images ready for upload. 

The list of mandatory documents, and their format and size are given in the table below.

In addition to uploads, candidates may need document numbers/details while filling the form (for example, SSLC/Class 10 details; Aadhaar; and reservation-related certificate numbers where applicable). 

KCET 2026 Correction Window 

KEA typically provides an application correction facility, but candidates should rely on KEA’s final notice for the exact dates and editable fields. 

The correction facility will open soon after the application form closes.

Using the correction facility, you can edit some of the particulars in the application form.

Further, it is recommended that you avoid depending on correction opportunities and try to enter details carefully the first time, especially category, name spelling, and academic identifiers.

KCET 2026 Eligibility Criteria

KCET eligibility can vary by course and category, and includes academic requirements and (in many cases) domicile-related rules. Candidates should read the course-wise eligibility section before applying.

For B.Tech, Careers360’s eligibility notes include:

• Candidates should have passed Class 12/2nd PUC with Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics/Biology/Biotechnology (as applicable), and English as a language; qualifying marks requirements differ for general and reserved categories as listed. 

The requirements also highlight domicile/study conditions in Karnataka for certain eligibility routes and categories, and note the Kannada language test schedule for applicable candidates. 

Because eligibility conditions can be course- and category-specific, candidates should cross-check the exact requirement for their target program(s) on the KEA portal notices and the official information bulletin once updated for 2026. 

KCET 2026 Exam pattern 

KCET is conducted in offline (pen-and-paper/OMR) mode and uses objective MCQs. Students should understand the paper-wise structure because KCET is conducted as separate papers by subject.

The exam pattern of KCET 2026 is outlined below:

• Subjects/Papers: Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics/Biology (as applicable) 
• Questions: 60 questions per subject paper (as described in Careers360 pattern coverage) 
• Duration: 80 minutes per paper 
• Marking scheme: +1 for each correct answer; no negative marking 
• Total marks (for the three main subject papers): 180 (60 per subject) 

KEA has also issued the KCET 2026 subject-wise timetable indicating exam days and shift timings for papers across April 23–24, 2026, and the Kannada language test on April 22, 2026.