Revised Schedule Enables Karnataka PGCET 2026 Applicants to Begin Form Submission

KEA has started the Karnataka PGCET 2026 registration process from March 23. Eligible MBA, MCA, and MTech aspirants can apply online until April 8, 2026.

The Karnataka Examinations Authority (KEA) has officially opened the online registration portal for the Karnataka Post Graduate Common Entrance Test (PGCET) 2026. This follows a recently revised schedule that pushed the start of the application phase to March 23, 2026. Prospective students seeking admission into MBA, MCA, M.E., M.Tech, and M.Arch programs across the state can now access the submission link via the official KEA website. The authority has set the final deadline for online submissions as April 8, 2026, providing a 16-day window for candidates to complete their profiles.

The revision in the schedule also includes updated examination dates to avoid potential overlaps with other national-level entrance tests. Under the new timetable, the PGCET 2026 will be conducted over two days in late May. Candidates are advised that the registration process is entirely digital, requiring the creation of a unique user ID and password before the academic and personal details can be entered into the system.

Updated PGCET 2026 Calendar

The KEA has clarified that while the registration closes on April 8, a small grace period is provided for the completion of fee payments. It is essential for applicants to note that their candidature will only be considered valid if the payment is successfully processed by the secondary deadline. Any applications without a confirmed payment status after April 10 will be automatically rejected.

Registration Fee and Payment Modes

The application fee for Karnataka PGCET 2026 is determined by the candidate's category and residency status. For General and OBC candidates, the fee is set at ₹650. Candidates belonging to Scheduled Castes (SC), Scheduled Tribes (ST), and Category-I from Karnataka state are eligible for a concessional rate of ₹500.

The fee must be paid through the KEA's integrated payment gateway. The portal supports multiple payment methods, including:

• Online Payment: Credit Card, Debit Card, and Net Banking.
• UPI: Quick payment via scanning the QR code on the payment page.
• Bank Challan: An offline option where candidates can download a pre-filled challan and pay cash at any branch of specified banks.

Eligibility and Documentation

To apply for the PGCET 2026, candidates must have completed their undergraduate degree with a minimum of 50% aggregate marks (45% for reserved categories). For technical courses like M.Tech, candidates with a valid GATE score are exempted from the entrance test but must still register on the KEA portal to participate in the centralized counseling process.

Before beginning the application, candidates should have the following scanned documents ready in JPG format (maximum 50 KB each):

1. Recent Passport Size Photograph: Coloured with a plain background.
2. Candidate’s Signature: Signed on white paper with black/blue ink.
3. Left Thumb Impression: Clear and unblurred.
4. Academic Certificates: 10th and 12th marks cards for verifying date of birth and registration numbers.
5. Reservation Certificates: Necessary for claiming category-based fee concessions or seat quotas.

Conclusion

The commencement of the Karnataka PGCET 2026 registration marks a vital step for students aiming for postgraduate studies in the state's top institutions. With the revised schedule now active, applicants have until April 8 to finalize their submissions and until April 10 to clear their application fees. The move to a late May examination date provides aspirants with additional time to prepare for the 100-question OMR-based test. As the portal is currently handling high traffic, candidates are encouraged to complete their registrations well before the final week to avoid technical delays and ensure their placement for the May 23-24 exam weekend.