KCET Category Wise Cutoff 2026: Exam Dates, Branch Ranks & Counselling Process
At rank 949, the KCET Category Wise Cutoff for CSE General Merit at RV College of Engineering in 2025 reflected intense competition, a trend expected to continue. This KCET Category Wise Cutoff is the closing rank for admissions, which saw top branches like Computer Science and AI/ML closing within the top few thousand ranks across leading institutions. The 2026 cutoff will be updated post-release of official counselling data.
KCET 2026 Important Dates at a Glance
The Karnataka Examinations Authority (KEA) has announced the key dates for KCET 2026, including application and examination schedules.
| Event | Date (2026) |
|---|---|
| Notification Release | January 2 |
| Application Form Availability | January 16 |
| Last Date for Application Submission | February 27 |
| Admit Card Release | April 10 |
| Kannada Language Test | April 22 |
| KCET Exam Dates | April 23 & 24 |
| Final Answer Key Release | May 10 |
| Result Declaration | First week of June (Expected) |
How KCET Cutoffs Differ Across Categories 2025 (Latest — 2026 awaited)
The category-wise KCET cutoff ranks for 2025 demonstrate significant variations, with reserved categories typically having higher closing ranks compared to the General Merit category for popular branches like Computer Science Engineering.
| Category | RV College of Engineering (CSE) | M.S. Ramaiah Institute of Technology (CSE) | BMS College of Engineering (CSE) |
|---|---|---|---|
| General Merit (GM) | Below 500 | Below 3000 | Below 3870 |
| OBC | 2,000 – 3,000 | Around 30,000 (indicative) | Around 28,000 (indicative) |
| SC | Up to 9,000 | Up to 30,000 (indicative) | Up to 28,000 (indicative) |
| ST | Beyond 15,000 | Beyond 30,000 (indicative) | Beyond 28,000 (indicative) |
KCET Branch-wise Cutoff Trends 2025 (Latest — 2026 awaited)
Understanding the branch-wise cutoff trends for KCET 2025 provides insight into the demand and competitiveness of various engineering disciplines across participating colleges.
| Branch Category | Typical Closing Rank Range | Demand Level |
|---|---|---|
| CSE / AI / ML / Data Science | Under 10,000 | High |
| ECE / ISE | 10,000 – 50,000 | Medium |
| Mechanical / Civil / Core Branches | 50,000 – 2,00,000+ | Moderate to Lower |
KCET 2025 Counselling Timeline (Latest — 2026 awaited)
The KCET 2025 counselling process involved several stages, from document verification to seat allotment, with multiple rounds conducted by the KEA.
| Event | Date (2025) |
|---|---|
| Document Verification at KEA Centres | June 27 to July 15 |
| Option Entry (Choice Filling) Begins | July 8 |
| Round 1 Seat Allotment (Provisional) | First Week of September |
| Round 2 Payment for Choice-1 & 2 | By September 3 |
| Round 3 Option Entry Concluded | September 9 |
| Round 3 Seat Allotment (Provisional) | September 10 |
| Last Date to Report to Allotted College (Round 3) | September 13 |
FAQs
Q: What is considered a good KCET rank for top colleges?
A: A KCET rank below 3,000 is generally considered strong for securing admission to top-tier colleges, while ranks up to 20,000 can still lead to decent options in mid-tier institutions.
Q: How does the KCET cutoff vary across different reservation categories?
A: KCET cutoffs vary significantly across categories; for instance, General Merit candidates typically require much lower ranks than OBC, SC, or ST candidates for the same branch and college, reflecting reservation policies.
Q: Which engineering branches usually have the highest KCET cutoffs?
A: Computer Science Engineering (CSE), Artificial Intelligence (AI), Machine Learning (ML), and Data Science specializations consistently have the highest KCET cutoffs due to their high demand among students.
Q: What factors influence the KCET cutoff ranks each year?
A: Several factors influence KCET cutoffs, including the total number of candidates appearing, the difficulty level of the exam, the availability of seats in colleges and branches, reservation policies, and previous year admission trends.
Q: What are the minimum qualifying marks for KCET?
A: The minimum qualifying marks for KCET are typically 50% for the General category and 40% for reserved categories like SC, ST, and OBC, to be eligible for the counselling process.
Q: When is the KCET 2026 result expected to be declared?
A: The KCET 2026 results are expected to be declared in the first week of June 2026 by the Karnataka Examinations Authority (KEA).
