Karnataka Common Entrance Test (KCET) 2026 counselling will be conducted by the Karnataka Examinations Authority (KEA) over three primary rounds plus a final extended counselling round, beginning approximately mid-June 2026 after results are announced.
Round 1 — Choice Filling and Allotment After KCET results are released (expected mid-May 2026), KEA will publish a tentative seat matrix listing all participating engineering colleges, branches, and seat counts. Candidates who cleared the cutoff register on the KEA portal, complete document verification, pay the counselling fee (~₹500), and lock in their college and branch preferences in order of choice. Allotment is purely rank-based: the candidate with the best KCET rank who chose a particular branch + college combination gets it. After Round 1 allotment, candidates can either (a) accept and pay tuition, (b) wait for Round 2 with their seat reserved, or (c) reject and re-enter Round 2 fresh.
Round 2 — Slide Up and Vacant Seat Allocation Round 2 reopens choice filling for candidates who chose options (b) or (c) above. Candidates can update preferences based on what was filled in Round 1. The process repeats — best ranks get first picks. Most engineering aspirants secure their final seat in Round 2.
Round 3 — Mop-Up Round For seats still vacant after Round 2, KEA conducts a mop-up round in late July with relaxed cutoffs. This is the last centralised round; after Round 3, vacant seats revert to college-level admission.
Extended Counselling Some colleges may conduct extended counselling for any remaining seats in late August. This is rare for top colleges (RVCE, BMS, MSRIT, PES) but common at tier-3/4 colleges.
Documents Required Original PUC/12th marksheet, KCET admit card, KCET rank card, Aadhaar, caste certificate (if applicable), income certificate (for fee concession), Karnataka domicile certificate, photographs.
Counselling Fee KEA charges approximately ₹500 for counselling registration. Tuition fee for the allotted college is paid directly to KEA at allotment confirmation, or to the college upon reporting (varies by year).
Tip for Candidates Do not lock a seat in Round 1 if you have a strong rank — wait for Round 2 to maximise your branch + college options. But if your rank is borderline for the seats you want, lock immediately to avoid losing it in Round 2 to a stronger candidate.