KCET Eligibility Criteria 2026: Qualification, Age Limit, Course-Wise Eligibility

The Karnataka Examination Authority (KEA) has released the KCET eligibility criteria 2026 on the official website, cetonline.karnataka.gov.in. Applicants appearing for the exam are advised to check the KCET eligibility criteria 2026 before filling out the application form.

According to the eligibility criteria of KCET 2026, candidates must be Indian citizens. To claim a reservation under the Karnataka state quota, candidates must satisfy the domicile or eligibility clauses specified by the Karnataka Examinations Authority (KEA). They must have secured a minimum of 45% marks in Physics, Chemistry, and either Mathematics, Biology / Biotechnology / Computer Science.

KCET Eligibility Criteria 2026: Highlights

KCET 2026 Eligibility Criteria is set by the Karnataka Examination Authority (KEA). The minimum qualification to be eligible for this exam is to have passed the 12th exam in the relevant disciplines. Given below are the quick highlights for the eligibility of the KCET Exam 2026:

KCET Eligibility Criteria 2026: Nationality 

Candidates must be Indian citizens. However, candidates seeking admission under the Karnataka quota must satisfy the domicile conditions specified by KEA. Only those candidates who satisfy this criterion are eligible to apply for KCET 2026 exam.

KCET Eligibility Criteria 2026: Domicile Requirements 

Candidates must fulfil specific domicile requirements to be eligible for KCET Exam 2026. These include having studied in Karnataka for a specified period or providing proof of residency. Below are the conditions that candidates must meet, at least one of which must be satisfied to satisfy the domicile criteria:

Clause A: Studied in Karnataka for a minimum of seven academic years from 1st standard to 2nd PUC/12th standard as of July 1, 2026, and passed either SSLC/10th or 2nd PUC/12th examination from Karnataka State.

Clause B: Studied and passed 1st and 2nd year Pre-University Examination or 11th and 12th standard within Karnataka from an institution recognized by the State Government, with either parent having studied in Karnataka for at least seven years.

Clause C: Candidate and either parent’s mother tongue is Kannada, Tulu, or Kodava, and either parent was domiciled in Karnataka. The candidate should have passed the qualifying examination from an institution outside Karnataka and be residing outside Karnataka as of May 1, 2023. A Kannada Language Test conducted by KEA is mandatory for such candidates.

Clause D: Candidate's mother tongue is Kannada, Tulu, or Kodava, and has resided and studied for seven years between 1st and 12th standards in disputed Kannada-speaking areas of Maharashtra or Kerala. A Kannada Language Test is required.

Clause E: Son or daughter of defence personnel who has worked continuously in Karnataka for a minimum of one year during the candidate's 11th and 12th standard studies.

Clause F: Son or daughter of serving defence personnel from Karnataka who, at the time of joining the defence service, declared Karnataka as their hometown.

Clause G: Son or daughter of defence personnel who served in Karnataka for at least one year and are posted on duty in disturbed areas like Jammu and Kashmir or North-East, with family permitted to stay in Karnataka.

Clause H: Son or daughter of ex-servicemen who, at the time of joining the defence service, declared Karnataka as their hometown.

Clause I: Son or daughter of employees of the Union Government or Union or Karnataka State Government Undertaking or Joint Sector Undertaking, who are liable to be transferred anywhere in India and have worked in Karnataka for a minimum of one year during the candidate's 11th and 12th standard studies.

Clause J: Son or daughter of a working or retired employee of the Union Government or Union or Karnataka State Government undertaking or Joint Sector undertaking, who declared Karnataka as their hometown at the time of joining service and studied in Karnataka for at least seven years.

Clause K: Son or daughter of Members of Parliament elected from Karnataka.

Clause L: Son or daughter of serving or retired employees of the All India Service of Karnataka cadre or Karnataka State Government, who have served or are serving outside Karnataka during the candidate's 1st to 12th standard studies.

Clause M: Son or daughter of Jammu & Kashmir migrants, with proof of migration obtained from the jurisdictional District Magistrate and Deputy Commissioner of any state in India.

Clause N: Candidates who have studied ten full academic years in Kannada medium from 1st to 10th standard in places outside Karnataka. Such candidates need not appear for the Kannada Language Test.

Clause O: Son or daughter of a working or retired employee in the Central Armed Police Force service, who at the time of joining the CAPF service declared Karnataka as their hometown.

Check: KCET 2026 Application Process

KCET Eligibility Criteria 2026: Age Limit 

Applicants should be 17 years of age as of December 31, 2026. There is no upper age limit for appearing in KCET 2026.

KCET Eligibility Criteria 2026: Educational Qualifications 

Candidates must have passed the 12th standard (2nd PUC) or an equivalent examination with English as one of the compulsory subjects. They should have secured a minimum of 45% marks in Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics/Biology/Biotechnology/Computer combined. For SC/ST/OBC/PwD candidates, a 5% relaxation is provided, meaning they require a minimum of 40% marks in the qualifying subjects.

KCET Course-Wise Eligibility Criteria 2026

The detailed, course-wise eligibility criteria for KCET 2026 are provided below for the reference of applicants:

• B.Tech/B.E.: Candidates must have a minimum of 45% aggregate marks in Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics / Biology / Biotechnology / Electronics / Computer Science in the qualifying examination (40% for SC/ST candidates).
• B.Arch: Candidates must have a minimum of 50% aggregate marks in Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics in the qualifying examination (45% for SC/ST candidates), along with a valid score in JEE Main Paper 2 or NATA.
• B.Pharma: Candidates must have a minimum of 45% aggregate marks in Physics, Chemistry, and Biology or Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics in the qualifying examination (40% for SC/ST candidates). Alternatively, candidates should have a Diploma in Pharmacy with a minimum of 45% marks.
• Farm Science Courses: Candidates must have a minimum of 50% aggregate marks in Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics, and Biology in the qualifying examination. Candidates seeking admission through the Agriculture Quota should undergo a practical test, which will carry 50% weightage in the final admission process.
• B.VSc and AH: Candidates must have a minimum of 50% aggregate marks in Physics, Chemistry, Biology, and English in the qualifying examination (40% for SC/ST candidates).

Also Read: KCET 2026 Admit Card

KCET Additional Eligibility Criteria 2026

Candidates appearing for the Karnataka Common Entrance Test 2026 must review the specific additional eligibility requirements to ensure their eligibility for admission to various undergraduate courses. Below are the key additional eligibility details for KCET 2026:

• Appearing Candidates: Students awaiting their 12th standard results in 2026 are eligible to apply, provided they meet the requisite marks upon result declaration.
• Number of Attempts: There is no restriction on the number of attempts for KCET. Candidates can appear for the examination multiple times, subject to fulfilling the eligibility criteria each time.

KCET Eligibility Criteria 2026 FAQs