Karnataka Diploma Common Entrance Test
Karnataka Diploma Common Entrance Test

Karnataka DCET 2026: Registration, Exam Date, Syllabus, Pattern, Admit Card, Cut Off

Karnataka DCET 2026- DCET 2026 notification is likely to be release in April 2026. Candidates can apply through the official website - cetonline.karnataka.gov.in.

Karnataka Examination Authority (KEA) is likely to release the notification for DCET 2026 exam in April 2026. As per the previous year’s exam schedule, the Karnataka DCET exam is likely to be held in May 2026. Diploma Common Entrance Test (DCET) is conducted by KEA for admission into 2nd year B.Tech courses and 1st year B.Arch courses.Candidates who want to appear for the Karnataka DCET exam 2026 can apply at cetonline.karnataka.gov.in. The application process for DCET 2026 will comprise registration, filling form, uploading documents, and payment of fees.

 The tentative last date to fill the Karnataka DCET 2026 exam will be in May 2026.Candidates are advised to check the DCET eligibility criteria before applying for the examination. If any aspirant fails to meet the eligibility criteria, then they will be disqualified from the DCET exam 2026 at any stage. Only those candidates who successfully submit their application form can access the DCET admit card 2026 download from the official website. The Karnataka Examinations Authority (KEA) conducts the DCET entrance exam every year. 

The admit card for Karnataka DCET 2026 is likely to be out in May 2026 only based on previous year’s exam schedule. The exam is conducted in the offline mode for candidates with a Diploma degree in relevant courses. Upon the successful completion of the exam, KEA will release the Karnataka DCET results online. Candidates will be able to download their rank card by entering the DCET number in the result login window. After the announcement of the result, candidates who will qualify will be eligible for Karnataka DCET counselling.

The Karnataka DCET 2025 exam was held on May 31, 2025. The DCET 2025 admit card was available from May 20, 2025 onwards. 

Karnataka DCET 2026: Highlights

Candidates can check the key highlights of Karnataka DCET exam in the table provided below.

Particulars 

Details 

Name of the exam

Diploma Common Entrance Test  (DCET)

Exam Conducting Body

Karnataka Examinations Authority (KEA)

Exam Level

UG

Exam Frequency

Once a year

Exam Date 

May 2026 (Tentative)

Admit Card Date

May 2026 (Tentative)

Mode of Examination

Offline

Application mode 

Online

Official website 

cetonline.karnataka.gov.in

Karnataka DCET 2026 Exam Date

The official DCET 2026 exam dates have not been released by the Karnataka Examinations Authority. However, candidates can check the tentative dates in the table provided below based on last year's exam schedule: 

Events

Dates (Tntative)

DCET Registration 2026 Starts

April 2026 

Online Application Fee Last date

May 2026

DCET Exam Date 2026

May 2026

DCET Answer Key 2026

June 2026 

DCET Result 2026

June 2026 

Karnataka DCET 2026 Application Form

The Karnataka Examinations Authority is likely to release the DCET 2026 applications online in April 2026. The application forms will be released at the official website - cetonline.karnataka.gov.in/kea. Students can apply for the DCET exam 2026 in online mode. Candidates are required to pay the requisite fee to submit their application.

DCET 2026 Application Form: How to apply?

Candidates can follow the instructions mentioned below in order to apply for the DCET 2026 exam.

Step 1: Visit the official DCET website.

Step 2: Click on the 'DCET-2026 Online Application' link. 

Step 3: Register using required details. 

Step 4: Login into the application portal using the registration/application number generated. 

Step 5: Fill out the form by providing the necessary details.

Step 6: Upload the scanned documents in the specified format.

Step 7: Pay the fee through an online payment gateway and download the confirmation receipt.

Step 8: Submit the application.

Step 9: Download the submitted application for future reference.

DCET 2026 Application Fee

The fee details for Karnataka DCET application form are provided in the table below.

Candidates willing to apply for DCET 2026 must fulfil the eligibility criteria specified by the Karnataka Examinations Authority. The DCET eligibility criteria for various courses has been mentioned below.

For B.E. courses

  • For admission to B.E. courses through DCET, a candidate must have passed a diploma examination (or its equivalent).
  • Candidates who secure a minimum of 45% marks in aggregate of all the subjects in the final year of diploma course (5th and 6th semester) are eligible to apply.
  • The minimum percentage required in case of candidates belonging to SC/ST category and Backward Classes of Karnataka is 40%.

For B.Arch courses

  • Candidates must have passed 10+2 scheme of examination with at least 50% marks in Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics 
  • Candidates must also qualify the 10+3 Diploma Examination with Mathematics as a compulsory subject and a minimum of 50% marks in aggregate. 
  • Candidates must appear in the National Aptitude Test for Architecture (NATA) and obtain a minimum of 40% marks in order to apply.

Note: For SC/ST/PwD candidates, the minimum marks required in the qualifying examination is 45%.

The DCET 2026 exam pattern is provided in the table below.

DCET exam 2026 will be conducted in offline mode. The paper will consist of Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs). Candidates appearing for the exam will have to mark their responses in the OMR sheet. 

DCET Syllabus will be available on the official website. Meanwhile, candidates can download the previous year's syllabus from the link provided below.

DCET Syllabus PDF - Download here

The DCET Admit Card will be issued on the official website - kea.kar.nic.in a few days before the commencement of the exam. The DCET admission ticket consists of important information including candidate’s name, application number, date of birth, name of the course date and time of exam and details of the exam centre. Candidates must carefully read the exam-day guidelines published on the official website.

Students must carry the DCET admit card along with a valid Photo ID proof on the day of examination for entry and verification purposes. Candidates must preserve the admission ticket as it is an essential document which will be required during the admission process. 

Karnataka DCET 2026 Admit Card: How to download?

Students can download the DCET admission ticket from the official website by following the steps mentioned below:

Step 1: Visit the official website - cetonline.karnataka.gov.in

Step 2: Click on the ‘DCET 2026 Admit card’ link available on the homepage

Step 3: Enter required credentials such as registration number, date of birth, etc. in the designated fields.

Step 4: Your DCET 2026 admit card will appear on the screen.

Step 5: Download the admit card and take a printout for future reference.

 Candidates are advised to review all the details mentioned in the admit card. In case of any discrepancy, the candidates must contact the official authorities.

The Karnataka Examinations Authority releases the provisional DCET answer key after the successful completion of the exam. The provisional answer key can be challenged by the candidates within the specified time frame. To access the answer key, candidates can follow the steps listed below:

  • Go to the official DCET website 
  • Locate the link for “DCET answer key 2026” and click on it 
  • The answer keys will be available for various programs in the PDF format
  • Candidates can download their respective answer key for future reference

The Karnataka DCET result will be published on the official website. To access the DCET Result 2026, candidates can follow the instructions given below.

  • Visit the official website - cetonline.karnataka.gov.in
  • On the homepage, navigate to the ‘Admissions’ section and click on ‘Diploma CET 2026’.
  • Now, click on the ‘DCET 2026 Result’ link.
  • Login using necessary credentials such as application number, date of birth and other details.
  • Click on ‘Submit’.
  • DCET 2026 results will be displayed on the screen.
  • Download the result for future reference.

Candidates qualifying in the exam will be called for Karnataka DCET counselling. The counselling process will likely commence in July 2026 after the completion of the exam. Eligible candidates will be able to register for the counselling process online by opting for their preferred courses and colleges. 

Top Institutes Accepting Applications
Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham - Coimbatore
Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham - CoimbatoreB. TechCoimbatore, Tamil Nadu
Goa Institute of Management
Goa Institute of ManagementMBA/PGDM, Uttar Pradesh
Alliance University - Bangalore
Alliance University - BangaloreMBA/PGDM, Uttar Pradesh
Institute of Management Studies-Ghaziabad
Institute of Management Studies-GhaziabadMBA/PGDMGhaziabad, Uttar Pradesh
ITM Business School
ITM Business SchoolMBA, Uttar Pradesh
Narayana Business School (NBS)
Narayana Business School (NBS)MBA/PGDM, Uttar Pradesh

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the use of DCET exam 2026?

Karnataka DCET (Diploma Common Entrance Exam) is a state level entrance exam for candidates who holds a diploma degree and are willing to take admission in 2nd year of engineering courses or 1st year of architecture course offered by government colleges of Karnataka.

Who conducts the DCET exam 2026?

The DCET exam 2026 is conducted by Karnataka Examinations Authority (KEA).

How can I check my DCET 2026 rank?

Students can check their DCET rank 2026 by visiting the official website and logging in through their credentials in the result portal.

Who is eligible for DCET 2026?

For admission to B.E./B.Tech courses through DCET, candidates who possess a diploma (or equivalent) degree with a minimum of 45% marks (40% for SC/ ST candidates) are eligible to apply.

How do I apply for DCET 2026?

To apply for DCET 2025, candidates can visit the official website and click on the link provided for online application. Fill out the application form using accurate details, upload scanned documents and pay the application fee to submit your application.

How is DCET rank calculated?

For admission to engineering courses, the merit list will be prepared by giving 50% weightage to the marks obtained in DCET exam and 50% weightage to marks obtained in the final year examination of diploma program. 

For architecture course, the marks obtained in NATA exam and marks obtained in final year examination of the diploma course are considered. 

Can give DCET twice?

Yes, there is no restriction on number of attempts for the DCET exam.

What is lateral entry?

In the context of the Diploma Common Entrance Test (DCET), lateral admission means that students who hold a diploma in a relevant engineering branch can gain direct admission into the second year of a B.Tech program 

What is Karnataka DCET 2026 date?

The Karnataka DCET exam date 2025 has not been released by the official authorities as of now. However, the exam is expected to take place in May 2026 (tentative date). 

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