KCET Reservation Criteria 2025: The Karnataka Common Entrance Test (KCET) is a significant pathway for students aspiring to pursue professional courses such as engineering, medical, architecture, and agriculture in Karnataka.
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To promote equitable access to education, the KCET Reservation Criteria 2025 provides specific seat allocations for various categories, including Scheduled Castes (SC), Scheduled Tribes (ST), Other Backward Classes (OBC), Economically Weaker Sections (EWS), women, and persons with disabilities (PwD). These provisions aim to ensure that underrepresented and marginalized groups have better opportunities for higher education. This article provides a detailed overview of the reservation criteria, eligibility, and documentation required for KCET 2025 .
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KCET Reservation Criteria 2025 Overview
The KCET Reservation Criteria 2025 allocates seats for SC, ST, OBC, EWS, women, PwD, and special categories, ensuring inclusive access to professional courses across Karnataka's educational institutions.
KCET Reservation Criteria 2025 Overview |
Category |
Reservation Percentage |
Additional Notes |
Scheduled Castes (SC) |
15% |
Reserved for candidates belonging to SC as per government guidelines. |
Scheduled Tribes (ST) |
7.5% |
Reserved for candidates belonging to ST as per government guidelines. |
Other Backward Classes (OBC) |
27% |
Includes various subcategories such as 2A, 2B, 3A, and 3B. |
Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) |
10% |
Applicable to General Merit (GM) candidates with family income below ₹8.00 lakhs annually. |
Kalyana-Karnataka (Article 371-J) |
Special Allocation |
Additional reservation for candidates from backward regions of Karnataka. |
Women Candidates |
30% (within all categories) |
Reserved within each category to encourage female participation in professional education. |
Persons with Disabilities (PwD) |
5% |
Applicable to candidates with 40% or more disability certified by a recognized medical board. |
Supernumerary Quota (SNQ) |
5% (over and above seat matrix) |
Tuition fee waived for economically weaker candidates with family income below ₹8.00 lakhs annually. |
Special Categories |
Varies by category |
Includes NCC, Sports, Defence/Ex-Defence personnel, and other eligible groups as per KEA guidelines. |
KCET Reservation Criteria 2025 for SC
The Scheduled Castes (SC) category has a dedicated reservation of 15% of the total seats in the KCET 2025. This reservation ensures that students from Scheduled Castes have access to professional courses in Karnataka, promoting social equality and educational advancement for underrepresented groups. To claim this reservation, candidates must:
- Be recognized as belonging to the SC category as per Karnataka state government regulations.
- Provide a valid Caste Certificate issued by a competent authority.
- Submit a Caste Income Certificate (if applicable) to avail of fee exemptions or benefits.
KCET Reservation Criteria 2025
KCET Reservation Criteria 2025 for ST
The Scheduled Tribes (ST) category is allocated 7.5% of the total seats under the KCET 2025 reservation policy. This initiative aims to enhance educational access and opportunities for candidates from Scheduled Tribes, ensuring their representation in professional courses. To claim this reservation, candidates must:
- Be recognized as belonging to the ST category as per Karnataka state government guidelines.
- Provide a valid Caste Certificate issued by the appropriate government authority.
- Submit a Caste Income Certificate (if applicable) for additional benefits, such as fee exemptions.
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KCET Reservation Criteria 2025 for OBC
The Other Backward Classes (OBC) category is allocated 27% of the total seats in KCET 2025. This reservation includes various subcategories such as 2A, 2B, 3A, and 3B, ensuring broad representation for socially and economically disadvantaged groups in professional courses. To claim this reservation, candidates must:
- Be recognized under the OBC category as defined by the Karnataka state government.
- Provide a valid Caste Certificate specifying the subcategory (2A, 2B, 3A, or 3B).
- Submit a Non-Creamy Layer Certificate (NCLC) with an RD number to verify eligibility. The family income should not exceed ₹8.00 lakhs annually for availing benefits.
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KCET Reservation Criteria 2025 for Economically Weaker Sections (EWS)
The Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) category is allocated 10% of the total seats in KCET 2025. This reservation is intended to support candidates from the General Merit (GM) category who are financially disadvantaged but do not fall under other reserved categories like SC, ST, or OBC. To claim this reservation, candidates must:
- Belong to the General Merit (GM) category as per Karnataka state guidelines.
- Have an annual family income of ₹8.00 lakhs or less.
- Submit a valid EWS Certificate issued by a competent authority such as the Tahsildar.
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KCET Reservation Criteria 2025 for Kalyana-Karnataka Region (Article 371-J)
Candidates from the Kalyana-Karnataka region, recognized under Article 371-J, receive special reservations in KCET 2025. This provision is aimed at promoting educational opportunities for students from backward regions of Karnataka. To claim this reservation, candidates must:
- Be a resident of the Kalyana-Karnataka region, which includes districts such as Bidar, Kalaburagi, Yadgir, Raichur, Koppal, and Ballari.
- Provide a valid Article 371-J Certificate, issued by the Assistant Commissioner of their district.
- Fulfil the eligibility criteria for the chosen course and category.
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KCET Reservation Criteria 2025 for Women Candidates
In KCET 2025, 30% of seats are reserved for women candidates across all categories. This reservation aims to encourage female participation in higher education and professional fields, ensuring gender equality in educational opportunities. To claim this reservation, candidates must:
- Be female and meet the eligibility criteria for the category they belong to (SC, ST, OBC, GM, etc.).
- Submit the necessary category-specific certificates, such as Caste Certificates or Income Certificates, if applicable.
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KCET Reservation Criteria 2025 for Persons with Disabilities (PwD)
The Persons with Disabilities (PwD) category is allocated 5% of the total seats in KCET 2025. This reservation ensures inclusive education and equal opportunities for candidates with physical, intellectual, or sensory disabilities.
To claim this reservation, candidates must:
- Have a disability of 40% or more as certified by a recognized government medical board.
- Provide a valid Disability Certificate issued by an authorized medical authority.
- Submit additional documents such as caste or income certificates if they belong to SC/ST/OBC categories.
The reservation for PwD candidates covers various disabilities, including:
- Locomotor disability.
- Visual impairment (blindness or low vision).
- Hearing impairment (deaf or hard of hearing).
- Intellectual disabilities (autism, learning disabilities, etc.).
- Multiple disabilities as recognized under the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016.
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KCET Reservation Criteria 2025 for Supernumerary Quota (SNQ)
The Supernumerary Quota (SNQ) reserves 5% of seats in each course over and above the regular seat matrix. This quota is specifically for economically weaker candidates, ensuring that financial constraints do not become a barrier to pursuing higher education. To claim this reservation, candidates must:
- Belong to any category (General Merit, SC, ST, or OBC).
- Have a family income of ₹8.00 lakhs or less annually.
- Submit a valid Income Certificate issued by the concerned Tahsildar with an RD number.
KCET Reservation Criteria 2025 for Special Categories
KCET 2025 also provides reservations for various special categories to support candidates with unique circumstances or achievements. These categories include:
1. NCC (National Cadet Corps) Quota
- Reserved seats for candidates with NCC certifications.
- Applicants must present valid NCC participation or achievement certificates issued by recognized authorities.
2. Sports Quota
- Reserved seats for candidates with significant achievements in sports at state, national, or international levels.
- Candidates must submit certificates verifying their participation or awards in recognized sporting events.
3. Defence/Ex-Defence Quota
- Reserved seats for children of serving or retired defence personnel.
- Eligible candidates must provide a service certificate issued by the respective defence authority.
4. Scouts and Guides Quota
- Seats are reserved for candidates who have been active in Scouts and Guides programs.
- Certificates issued by the appropriate authority are required.