KCET 2026 Counselling: How to Register on CEK Portal and Fill College Choices

KCET 2026 counselling registration requires students to log in to the official CEK portal at cetonline.karnataka.gov.in/kea/, pay the processing fee and complete document verification at a KEA centre before filling college choices online.

The Karnataka Examinations Authority (KEA) conducts KCET 2026 counselling in multiple allotment rounds. Students who qualified in KCET 2026 must register on the CEK portal, get documents verified at a KEA centre and then fill college and course preferences through the online option entry window. The option entry for Round 1 was open from June 20 to June 30, 2026 and the mock allotment is scheduled for July 6, 2026.

• Option entry for Round 1 was open from June 20 to June 30, 2026.
• Mock allotment results will be published on July 6, 2026 after 11:00 AM.
• Choice modification window: July 6, 2:00 PM to July 9, 10:00 AM, 2026.
• Round 1 final seat allotment: July 15, 2026 after 11:00 AM.
• Registration fee: Rs 650 (General/OBC); Rs 500 (SC/ST).
• There is no upper limit on the number of college choices students can fill.

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KCET 2026 Counselling Schedule

KEA publishes the counselling schedule for all rounds on the official CEK portal. The key dates for Round 1 are listed below.

KEA will conduct two main allotment rounds along with a special round and an extended round. Students must check the official CEK portal for updated dates for subsequent rounds.

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Who Can Register for KCET 2026 Counselling

Students who appeared in KCET 2026 and received a valid rank are eligible to participate in counselling. The following conditions apply:

• You must have qualified KCET 2026 and received a valid rank card from KEA.
• You must be a Karnataka domicile student or belong to the Horanadu or Gadinadu Kannadiga category.
• You must have passed Class 12 (2nd PUC or equivalent) with Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics.
• Students who appeared under the COMED-K stream are not eligible for KCET seat allotment.

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How to Register on CEK Portal (Step-by-Step)

Registration for KCET 2026 counselling has two parts: paying the processing fee online and completing physical document verification at a KEA centre. Both steps are mandatory before option entry.

Part 1 — Pay the Registration Fee Online

1. Visit the official CEK portal at cetonline.karnataka.gov.in/kea/.
2. Click on the KCET 2026 Counselling Registration link on the homepage.
3. Log in using your KCET Application Number and Date of Birth.
4. Enter the OTP sent to your registered mobile number to complete login.
5. Select the payment option and pay the non-refundable processing fee: Rs 650 for General/OBC and Rs 500 for SC/ST.
6. Download and save the payment confirmation receipt.

Part 2 — Document Verification at KEA Centre

1. Visit your nearest KEA document verification centre with all original documents and self-attested copies.
2. KEA officials will verify your eligibility and scan your documents.
3. Collect the verification acknowledgement slip — this is required before you can access option entry on the portal.

Only students who complete document verification can proceed to fill college choices on the CEK portal.

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Documents Required for KCET 2026 Counselling

Carry all original documents and one set of self-attested photocopies to the KEA document verification centre.

Karnataka domicile students who studied outside the state must also carry a Horanadu or Gadinadu Kannadiga certificate issued by the competent authority.

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How to Fill College Choices on CEK Portal

Option entry is the choice-filling step where you enter preferred colleges and courses in order of preference. Follow these steps on the CEK portal:

1. Visit cetonline.karnataka.gov.in/kea/ and click the Option Entry link on the counselling dashboard.
2. Log in with your KCET Application Number and Date of Birth.
3. Enter the OTP sent to your registered mobile number.
4. Browse the list of available colleges and courses displayed on screen.
5. Add preferred college-course combinations one by one. There is no upper limit on the number of options you can enter.
6. Arrange choices in order of preference — your most preferred combination must be at rank 1.
7. Review all entered choices carefully before final submission.
8. Click Submit to lock your choices and download the confirmation slip.

Tips for filling college choices:

• Fill as many choices as possible — more options improve your chances of getting a preferred seat.
• The KEA algorithm allots the best available seat based on your rank and the order of your choices.
• You can edit your choices any time before the option entry window closes.
• Choices are locked after the window closes and can only be revised during the post-mock-allotment modification window.

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After Option Entry: Mock Allotment and Seat Confirmation

After the option entry window closes, KEA releases a mock seat allotment to help students assess their likely seat based on current choices. The post-option-entry process works as follows:

Students who choose to upgrade after Round 1 remain eligible for a better seat in Round 2 while retaining their Round 1 allotment as a fallback. Those who freeze keep their allotted seat and exit all subsequent rounds.