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KCET Reservation Policy 2026

Category-wise seat reservation rules under KEA — SC/ST/OBC/EWS, rural and Kannada medium quotas

Overview of KCET Reservation Categories

The Karnataka Examinations Authority (KEA) follows Karnataka's state reservation policy for KCET counselling, which covers both caste/community-based categories and special regional/linguistic considerations unique to the state. This differs from central-government reservation norms used in JoSAA, so candidates familiar with the JEE/JoSAA system should note the Karnataka-specific category names and rules.

Category Groups Under KCET

CategoryDescription
SCScheduled Caste — as per Karnataka state list
STScheduled Tribe — as per Karnataka state list
Category-1Specific backward communities notified by Karnataka
2A / 2BOther backward classes groupings under Karnataka's classification
3A / 3BFurther backward class groupings under Karnataka's classification
EWSEconomically Weaker Section (income/asset criteria based)
Rural / Kannada MediumSpecial consideration for rural and Kannada-medium schooling background
PwD / Ex-servicemenReservation for persons with disability and defence personnel dependents

* Category names and exact reservation percentages are set by the Karnataka state government and KEA — always confirm against the official 2026 KCET brochure before relying on specific numbers.

Related Resources

To estimate your realistic college options after factoring in your category, try our KCET College Predictor. For the overall rank list process, see KCET Merit List 2026. For BSc-specific counselling steps, check KCET BSc Counselling 2026.

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Frequently Asked Questions – KCET Reservation Policy 2026

Common questions about KCET category-wise reservation rules

1
What categories are covered under KCET reservation policy?
KCET/KEA reservation policy, following Karnataka state government rules, covers categories including SC (Scheduled Caste), ST (Scheduled Tribe), Category-1, 2A, 2B, 3A, 3B (various OBC groupings specific to Karnataka's classification), EWS (Economically Weaker Section), and special reservations for categories like Kannada medium candidates, rural candidates, persons with disability (PwD), and ex-servicemen dependents.
2
How much seat reservation is given to SC/ST candidates in KCET?
Karnataka follows its own state reservation matrix (distinct from the central government's), with specific percentages allocated to SC and ST categories as notified by the state government each year. These percentages are set by Karnataka's reservation policy framework and are periodically subject to legal and policy review — always verify the exact current percentages from the official KEA counselling brochure for 2026.
3
What is the Kannada medium / rural quota in KCET?
Karnataka provides special weightage/reservation for candidates who studied in Kannada medium schools and/or from rural areas of Karnataka, recognizing the state's language and regional development priorities. This is in addition to, and separate from, the caste/category-based reservation. Exact eligibility conditions (such as years of study in a rural/Kannada-medium school) are defined in the KEA brochure.
4
Does reservation apply to both KCET engineering and BSc/nursing counselling?
Yes, the same broad Karnataka state reservation framework applies across KCET-counselled courses including engineering, BSc, BSc Nursing, Pharmacy and Agriculture, though the exact number of reserved seats depends on the total seat matrix for each course/college in a given year.
5
How does EWS reservation work in KCET 2026?
EWS (Economically Weaker Section) reservation provides a defined percentage of seats to candidates from economically weaker general-category backgrounds who meet the income and asset criteria specified by the government, supported by a valid EWS certificate. This is separate from caste-based categories like SC/ST/OBC and applies to otherwise unreserved candidates.
6
Where can I find the official, up-to-date KCET reservation percentages?
The authoritative and most current reservation percentages are published in the official KCET/KEA information brochure released before counselling each year, available at kea.kar.nic.in. Since reservation rules can be amended by government order or court ruling, always cross-check the current year's brochure rather than relying solely on previous years' figures.

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Disclaimer

Reservation percentages and rules are subject to change by government order. Verify at kea.kar.nic.in before relying on specific figures.