KCET 2027 Eligibility: Age Limit, Qualification and Attempts

KCET 2027 eligibility requires you to have passed or be appearing in 2nd PUC or Class 12 with Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics or Biology, with a minimum of 45% marks in those subjects (40% for SC/ST/OBC students).

The Karnataka Examinations Authority (KEA) conducts KCET every year for admissions to undergraduate engineering, pharmacy, agriculture, and allied professional courses in Karnataka. Before you fill out the application form, verify your age, academic qualification, domicile status, and subject combination. There is no upper age limit for KCET 2027, and students appearing in their 2nd PUC or Class 12 exams can also apply. Based on norms established in previous years, the KCET 2027 eligibility criteria are expected to remain the same.

• Minimum age: 17 years as on December 31, 2027.
• Upper age limit: None for engineering and pharmacy.
• Academic qualification: 2nd PUC / Class 12 passed or appearing.
• Minimum marks (General): 45% aggregate in qualifying subjects.
• Minimum marks (SC/ST/OBC): 40% aggregate in qualifying subjects.
• Domicile: Karnataka domicile mandatory for CET quota seats.
• Number of attempts: No restriction.

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KCET 2027 Eligibility Criteria Overview

The table below summarises all key eligibility parameters for KCET 2027, based on norms from previous years. KEA is expected to release the official KCET 2027 notification with confirmed criteria in early 2027.

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Academic Qualification for KCET 2027

To apply for KCET 2027, you must have passed or be appearing in 2nd PUC (Karnataka) or 10+2 / Class 12 or an equivalent examination from any recognised board including CBSE, ICSE, or a state board recognised by the Association of Indian Universities (AIU).

• Students appearing in their 2nd PUC / Class 12 examinations in 2027 can apply provisionally. Admission is confirmed only after you submit your marksheet showing the required minimum percentage.
• Students who completed Class 12 in a previous year are also eligible — there is no year-gap restriction for KCET.
• Diploma holders seeking lateral entry to engineering are not eligible through KCET; they apply through KEA’s separate PGCET lateral entry process.

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KCET 2027 Age Limit

There is no upper age limit for KCET 2027 for engineering and pharmacy courses. You only need to be at least 17 years of age as on December 31 of the year of admission.

• You must have been born on or before December 31, 2010 to meet the minimum age requirement for KCET 2027 admissions.
• There is no maximum age cap — students who passed Class 12 in an earlier year and are attempting KCET again are equally eligible.
• Architecture and certain other professional courses may have additional age requirements set by their respective regulatory councils — verify with KEA’s official 2027 notification.

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Domicile and Nativity Criteria for KCET 2027

Karnataka domicile is mandatory to claim CET quota seats in government and government-aided colleges. You qualify as a Karnataka domicile student if you meet any one of the following conditions:

• You have studied in Karnataka for at least 7 years (consecutive or non-consecutive) from Class 1 onwards in a recognised institution.
• Your parent(s) are domiciled in Karnataka and you have studied 2nd PUC from a Karnataka-recognised institution.
• You are the child of a central government or state government employee currently posted in Karnataka, even if you studied outside the state.
• Horanadu Kannadiga (Kannadigas from border areas of other states) and Gadinadu Kannadiga (Kannadigas settled abroad) students may be eligible under special provisions.

Students who do not meet domicile requirements can still apply for NRI quota or management quota seats, which are open to all Indian nationals.

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KCET 2027 Subject Requirements by Course

The subjects you must have studied in Class 12 / 2nd PUC depend on the course you are applying to. The table below outlines the required combinations and minimum aggregate marks:

Note: The aggregate percentage is calculated only on marks in qualifying subjects — for example, Physics + Chemistry + Mathematics for engineering. Marks in English or other languages are not counted.

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Number of Attempts Allowed in KCET 2027

KCET does not restrict the number of attempts. You can appear for KCET as many times as needed, provided you meet all other eligibility conditions each year.

• If you appeared for KCET 2026 and want to improve your score, you can re-appear in KCET 2027 without any penalty.
• Each attempt is treated independently — your KCET 2027 score is used exclusively for KCET 2027 counselling.
• KEA does not maintain a cumulative attempt count or impose any year-gap penalty.
• Students with a gap year between Class 12 and their KCET attempt are fully eligible — no gap-year restriction exists.

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Category-wise Eligibility Relaxation in KCET 2027

KEA provides relaxation in minimum qualifying marks and reserves seats for students from reserved categories. The table below is based on norms from previous years and is expected to continue in KCET 2027:

You must produce valid caste and income certificates issued by the competent Karnataka government authority at the time of document verification during KCET 2027 counselling. Certificates must be in the format prescribed by the Government of Karnataka.