KCET Reservation Criteria 2026: Category Wise Seats and Rules

KCET Reservation Criteria 2026 play a crucial role for students seeking admission into professional courses like engineering, pharmacy, and agriculture in Karnataka. These criteria define how seats are distributed among different social and special categories, ensuring fair opportunities for all. 

Understanding the reservation system, including both vertical quotas for SC, ST, and OBC candidates and horizontal quotas for women, PwD, rural, and Kannada medium students, helps aspirants plan their applications and assess their chances of securing a seat in their preferred college and course.

KCET Reservation Criteria 2026 Overview

KCET reservation policy is divided into two main types: Vertical Reservation (for social categories like SC, ST, and OBC) and Horizontal Reservation (for special groups like Women, Rural, and Kannada Medium candidates). These criteria apply to government seats in government, aided, and unaided private professional colleges.

KCET Reservation Criteria 2026 for SC

Candidates belonging to the Scheduled Castes (SC) are provided with a significant percentage of seat reservations under the state policy.

• Reservation Percentage: Approximately 15% of the total government seats are reserved for SC candidates.

• Documentation: Candidates must produce a valid Caste Certificate issued by the competent Tehsildar in Karnataka to claim this benefit.

• Eligibility: Only those who satisfy the Karnataka residency criteria are generally eligible for this reservation.

KCET Reservation Criteria 2026 for ST

Scheduled Tribe (ST) candidates also receive dedicated seat allocations to promote higher education within the community.

• Reservation Percentage: Around 3% of seats are reserved for ST candidates.

• Requirement: A valid ST Caste Certificate is mandatory during the document verification process.

• Scope: This applies across all engineering, pharmacy, and agriculture courses covered under KCET.

KCET Reservation Criteria 2026 for OBC

The Other Backward Classes (OBC) in Karnataka are categorized into several sub-groups, each with a specific reservation percentage.

• Categories: Category-I, 2A, 2B, 3A, and 3B.

• Income Limit: Candidates (except Category-I) must typically fall below the specified annual income limit to qualify for the 'Creamy Layer' exclusion.

• Certificates: Caste and Income certificates must be updated and issued by the Karnataka state authorities.

KCET Reservation Criteria 2026 for EWS

Following the central government mandates, Karnataka has integrated the Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) quota into the KCET admission process.

• Reservation: 10% of seats are reserved for EWS candidates who do not fall under SC, ST, or OBC categories.

• Eligibility Criteria: Families with an annual gross income below ₹8 lakh are generally eligible.

• Certificate: A valid EWS certificate issued by the Revenue Department of Karnataka is essential.

KCET Reservation Criteria 2026 for Women Candidates

To encourage female participation in technical and professional education, KCET offers a specific horizontal reservation for women.

• Percentage: 30% of the seats in each category (SC, ST, OBC, and General) are reserved for women candidates.

• Benefit: This ensures that women have a dedicated quota within their respective social categories, enhancing their selection probability.

KCET Reservation Criteria 2026 for PwD

Persons with Disabilities (PwD) are provided with reservations to ensure inclusive education environments.

• Reservation: 5% of the total seats are reserved for candidates with benchmark disabilities.

• Medical Examination: Candidates must appear before a medical board as specified by KEA to validate their disability percentage (minimum 40% required).

• Facility: Reserved seats are available in both government and private colleges for eligible candidates.

KCET Reservation Criteria 2026 for Special Categories

Beyond social and economic categories, KCET recognises various special achievements and backgrounds through horizontal reservation.

• Rural Reservation: 15% of seats are reserved for candidates who have studied from 1st to 10th standard in educational institutions situated in rural areas of Karnataka.

• Kannada Medium: 5% of seats are for students who studied in Kannada medium from 1st to 10th standard.

• Defense & Ex-Servicemen: Specific seats are earmarked for children of defense personnel and ex-servicemen.

• NCC & Sports: Candidates with significant achievements in NCC or State/National/International level sports are eligible for dedicated seat quotas.