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KCET Eligibility Criteria 2026: Age Limit, Domicile, Reservation & Required Documents

Exam Level: StateState: KarnatakaAdmit Card Release Date: Apr 05, 2025

Last Updated on 8th January 2026

Karnataka Common Entrance Test

KCET Eligibility Criteria 2026 Overview

Students are required to fulfil the KCET 2026 eligibility criteria to participate in the exam. To be eligible for the exam, students must have passed 10+2 in any stream from a recognised board.

Applicants are supposed to meet the nationality and domicile regulations that have been established by the Karnataka Examinations Authority. The eligibility depends on the course, and subject combinations are essential in the engineering programs, pharmacy, nursing, and agriculture programs, 10 + 2. There are age qualifications based on the stream, with the relaxed categories being provided based on the government norms. To participate in counselling and seat allotment, it is a requirement to have a minimum academic qualification. Before applying to KCET 2026, the official guidelines must be checked thoroughly, and the candidate must justify the application of all the eligibility criteria.


KCET 2026 Eligibility Criteria 2026: Quick Highlights

Mentioned below Karnataka B.Sc. Nursing Entrance Exam Eligibility criteria, which is conducted by KEA.

Eligibility Criteria

Details

Nationality

Candidate must be an Indian National or a Person of Indian Origin (PIO) / Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) cardholder.

Domicile

Candidate must belong to Telangana or Andhra Pradesh and satisfy local/non-local status requirements as per state government rules.

Age Limit (Engineering & Pharmacy)

Minimum 16 years of age as of 31 December of the admission year. No upper age limit.

Age Limit (Agriculture, Dairy, etc.)

Minimum 17 years and maximum 22 years as of 31 December (25 years for SC/ST candidates).

Educational Qualification – Engineering Stream

Must have passed or appeared in 10+2 with Mathematics, Physics, and Chemistry or equivalent vocational courses.

Educational Qualification – Agriculture Stream

Must have passed or appeared in 10+2 with Physical Sciences and Biological Sciences or Agriculture subjects.

Minimum Marks in Qualifying Exam

At least 45% marks (40% for reserved categories) in group subjects in 10+2 or equivalent.

TS EAMCET Qualifying Marks

Minimum 25% marks required to qualify. No minimum qualifying marks for SC/ST candidates, but ranking depends on performance.

Eligibility for Pharm D Course

Must have passed 10+2 with Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics or Biology. Minimum age: 17 years by year-end of admission.

Appearing Candidates

Students appearing for their final 10+2 exams are eligible to apply, provided they meet eligibility at the time of admission.


KCET 2026: Documents Required 

Candidates should carefully verify the following details printed on the admit card:

  • Candidate’s name
  • KCET application number
  • Roll number
  • Photograph and signature
  • Exam date and time
  • Exam center name and address
  • Course/subject details
  • Reporting time
  • Exam day instructions
  • Authority signature/seal

Karnataka Common Entrance Test

KCET Eligibility Criteria 2026

Refer to the table below to check the eligibility criteria for the KCET exam:

Course

Eligibility

B.Tech Course

  • Candidates must have completed 10+2 or equivalent from a recognised board.
  • Candidates must have scored a minimum of 45% in Physics, Mathematics, and English, along with Chemistry, Biology, or Biotechnology, and 40% for with Chemistry, Biology, or Biotechnology, and 40% for the reserved category.
  • Appearing students are also eligible to apply.

B.Arch Course

  • Candidates must have completed 10+2 or equivalent from a recognised board.
  • Candidates must have scored on a recognised board.
  • Candidates must have scored a minimum of 45% in Physics, Mathematics, and Chemistry as compulsory subjects. 
  • Candidate with a minimum of 45% marks in a diploma in pharmacy from a PCI-approved institution, and 40% for the reserved category
  • To be eligible, candidates must have a valid score in the NATA exam.

B.Pharm Course

  • Candidates must have completed 10+2 or a diploma in Pharmacy from a Pharmacy Council of India-approved institution.
  • Candidates must have scored a minimum of 45% in Physics, Mathematics/Biology, and Chemistry, and 40% for the reserved category.


KCET 2026 Eligibility Criteria: Nationality

KCET Nationality Eligibility Criteria includes candidates of Indian nationals, Persons of Indian Origin (PIO), or Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) cardholders. 

Particulars

Details

Citizenship

Candidate must be an Indian citizen

PIO / OCI Eligibility

PIO and OCI cardholders are eligible as per Karnataka rules

Domicile Requirement

Must satisfy Karnataka local eligibility/domicile norms defined by KEA

Regional Eligibility

Hyderabad-Karnataka / Kalyana Karnataka reservation applicable as per government rules


KCET 2026 Eligibility Criteria: Age Limit

The KCET 2026 age criteria for medical is 17 years, and there is no upper age limit. Check the table for other course type age limit criteria.

Course Category

Age Requirement

Engineering / Pharmacy / General courses

No fixed upper age limit (minimum age as per course norms)

Medical / Allied courses

Minimum 17 years by 31 December of the admission year

Reserved Categories

Age relaxation applicable as per government norms


KCET 2026 Eligibility Criteria: Courses

KCET 2026 is conducted for admission into different streams like Engineering (E), Agriculture & Medical (AM), and Pharmacy. Check the eligible courses mentioned below.

Course

Required Subjects in 10+2

B.E / B.Tech

Physics, Mathematics, Chemistry

B.Pharm

Physics, Chemistry + Biology/Mathematics

Pharm D

Physics, Chemistry + Biology/Mathematics

BSc Nursing

Physics, Chemistry, Biology

Veterinary Sciences

PCB (Physics, Chemistry, Biology)

Agriculture Courses

PCB / Agriculture subjects

Dairy / Food / Agricultural Engineering

PCM (Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics)

Karnataka Common Entrance Test

KCET 2026 Syllabus: Subject-wise Topics for Physics, Chemistry, Maths & Biology

The KCET 2026 syllabus is the first step toward preparation. The KCET syllabus is divided into four subjects: Mathematics/Biology, Physics, and Chemistry. It does not have a fixed syllabus, but based on previous years, the major questions are mostly from these areas. Refer to the table below for all the details of the KCET syllabus:

Subjects

Important topics

Physics

Mechanics (Work, Energy, Power, Laws of Motion), Thermodynamics (Laws of Thermodynamics, Heat), Optics (Refraction, Lenses, Reflection), Gravitation (Satellites, Universal Law of Gravitation), Electrostatics (Electric field, Electric chnarges, Coulumb’s law), Mechanical properties of solid, Kinetic energy, Oscillation, Waves.

Mathematics

Calculus (Continuity, Differentiation, Integration), Algebra (Progressions, Polynomials, Quadratic equations), Trigonometry (Heights & Distance, Trig Ratios), Linear inequalities, Statistics, Probability.

Chemistry

Organic chemistry (Phenols, Ethers, Hydrocarbons, Alcohols), Physical chemistry (Chemical bonding, Atomic structure, Mole concept), Chemical kinetics (Arrhenius equation, Rate of reaction), Inorganic chemistry (d-block elements, p-block elements), Equilibrium, Hydrocarbons, Environmental chemistry, Hydrogen.

Biology

Human Physiology (Excretory system, Circulatory system), Cell Biology (Enzymes, Cell structure, Metabolism), Plant and Animal Physiology (Respiration, Photosynthesis), Genetics and Evolution (Darwin’s theory of evolution, Heredity), Locomotion and movement, Chemical coordination and integration.

Karnataka Common Entrance Test

KCET Preparation Tips 2026

KCET scores are considered for admission to various programs in colleges in Karnataka. However, with the right preparation and strategies, candidates can get a good score and rank in the KCET exam. Here are some KCET 2026 preparation tips that need to be followed:

  • The candidate must understand the exam pattern and syllabus and be familiar with the KCET exam pattern.
  • The candidate must make a practical study schedule and divide time subject-wise, and include weekly mock test sessions.
  • The candidate must stick to the NCERT books and practice the question banks and previous year question papers.
  • The candidate must practice mock tests regularly and review their mistake to improve recovery.
  • The candidate must keep short notes for quick revisions and revise important formulas and concepts weekly.

Karnataka Common Entrance Test

Latest News

AcronymKarnataka Common Entrance Test
Conducting BodyOther
Mode and TypeOffline (Paper Based Test (PBT))
Application ModeOnline
Frequency2 in a year
LanguagesEnglish, Kannada
Test Takers330787
Duration80
Total Marks180
Marking Scheme1 for correct, 0 for incorrect
Application Fee500
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