Good News for KCET 2026 Aspirants: You've Got Two More Days for Round 1

If you've been scrambling to finalize your KCET 2026 college choices, here's some breathing room: the Karnataka Examinations Authority (KEA) has pushed back the Round 1 choice entry deadline to July 28, 2026, on cetonline.karnataka.gov.in. That's two extra days beyond the original July 26 cutoff. The extension covers everyone appearing for engineering, agriculture, veterinary, pharmacy, and other allied streams under KCET. Fee payment for your allotted seat and reporting at the college will still close on July 29, 2026, so that part of the timeline hasn't moved.

For anyone new to the process, KCET is Karnataka's state-level entrance test for professional undergraduate admissions, and the whole counselling journey — from choice filling to final reporting — happens online across several rounds.

The Revised Dates, at a Glance

Filling Your Choices: Here's the Drill

1. Head to cetonline.karnataka.gov.in
2. Click on the UGCET 2026 choice entry link on the homepage
3. Log in with your CET number and password
4. List out colleges and courses in the order you actually want them
5. Double-check everything before you hit lock — there's no undoing it after
6. Download your confirmation slip and keep it somewhere safe

Once You've Got a Seat: Paying Up and Reporting

If your locked choices land you a seat, here's what comes next:

• Pay the fee online via net banking, debit/credit card, or UPI
• Download your admission order once the payment goes through
• Head to the allotted college in person with your original documents
• Get this all wrapped up before the July 29 deadline shuts the door

Why You Shouldn't Take This Lightly

Here's the thing about Round 1 — the order in which you rank your choices basically decides your fate for the round. Rank something too low, or too high without thinking it through, and you might end up settling for a college or course you didn't really want. This extension isn't just a formality; it's a genuine second chance to go back, rethink your ordering, and fix anything you rushed through the first time.

Your Quick Checklist

• Log back into the KEA portal and take a fresh look at your choice list
• Rearrange things based on where your rank actually stands and what you're genuinely interested in
• Lock it all in before 6 pm on July 28 — don't wait till the last minute
• Have your payment method ready to go for July 29
• Pack your original mark sheets, CET admit card, and Aadhaar before heading to the college

What to Watch For Next

Once Round 1 wraps up, keep checking the KEA portal for the final seat allotment result. Round 2's option entry window is expected to open in the first week of August, so this isn't the last chance — but it is your best shot at getting Round 1 right the first time.