KCET 2026 Registration Extended; Applications Accepted Till Feb 22

As of February 18, 2026, the Karnataka Examinations Authority (KEA) has extended the registration deadline for KCET 2026.Eligible engineering and pharmacy aspirants now have until February 22 to complete their online applications. The extension follows numerous requests from the student community to accommodate those facing technical issues. Fee payments for the common entrance test will be accepted until February 24, with exams scheduled for April 23 and 24.

The Karnataka Examinations Authority (KEA) has officially extended the registration deadline for the Karnataka Common Entrance Test (KCET) 2026. As of today, February 18, 2026, the portal remains open for students seeking admission to undergraduate professional courses, including Engineering, Pharmacy, and Agriculture. Originally scheduled to conclude on February 17, the deadline was pushed back following a surge in web traffic and numerous representations from the student community. According to official KEA notifications, the authority aims to ensure that no deserving candidate is left behind due to the mandatory Aadhaar-linked e-KYC process or payment bottlenecks.

1. Revised Application Timeline and Fee Details

Under the new timeline, the KEA has provided a five-day grace period for fresh registrations. This window is critical for the thousands of aspirants who are yet to finalize their SATS (Student Achievement Tracking System) data integration.

• Final Registration Date: The portal will accept new applications until February 22, 2026 (11:59 PM). No further extensions are currently planned as the exam schedule remains fixed.
• Payment Deadline: While the registration closes on Sunday, the window for online fee payment will remain active until February 24, 2026 (5:30 PM).
• Aadhaar Mandatory: Every candidate must complete the e-KYC verification using their 12-digit Aadhaar number to proceed with the application.
• Correction Facility: The KEA has confirmed that an online correction window will open shortly after February 22 for registered users to rectify errors in their profile.

2. Eligibility Benchmarks and Document Requirements

The KEA maintains strict academic and domicile criteria for admission into state institutes. Candidates are encouraged to verify their Eligibility Clause codes before submitting the final form.

• Academic Standards: Candidates must have passed or be appearing for the 2nd PUC/Class 12 examination with Physics and Mathematics as compulsory subjects for Engineering.
• SATS Verification: Nearly 1.8 lakh aspirants have already had their records verified online through the SATS platform, a key requirement for Karnataka-based students.
• Required Documents: Applicants must upload scanned copies of their photograph, signature, and left-hand thumb impression, each under 50 KB in JPG format.
• Reservation Proof: Specific RD (Revenue Department) numbers for Caste and Income certificates must be entered correctly to claim admission benefits under various quotas.

3. Examination Structure and Hall Ticket Logistics

With over 2.9 lakh students already registered as of February 18, 2026, the KEA is ramping up the logistical preparations for the April entrance test. The deadline extension is not expected to delay the release of hall tickets.

• Exam Dates: The KCET 2026 will be held on April 23 and April 24, with the Kannada Language Test for Horanadu and Gadinadu aspirants scheduled for April 22.
• Session Timings: The tests will be conducted in two shifts daily: Morning (10:30 AM to 11:50 AM) and Afternoon (2:30 PM to 3:50 PM).
• Admit Card Release: Successful applicants can expect to download their hall tickets from the KEA portal starting April 10, 2026.
• Rank Assignment: Final ranks will be calculated by giving equal weightage to the entrance test scores and the 2nd PUC marks in core subjects.

Conclusion

The extension of the KCET deadline to February 22, 2026, provides a vital lifeline for medical and engineering aspirants across Karnataka. As the KEA expects the total number of applicants to cross the 3-lakh mark this week, the administrative focus remains on a seamless verification process. Every candidate is urged to avoid the last-hour rush to prevent server timeouts during the final submission. This admission cycle serves as the primary gateway for thousands of students to enter the state's professional education sector, and the current revised timeline ensures a fair opportunity for all. Following the completion of this phase, the next major milestone will be the release of admit cards in early April.

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