The Karnataka Diploma Common Entrance Test is an entrance exam conducted by the Karnataka Examination Authority and is held once a year. Every year, thousands of candidates from across the state participate in this entrance exam.
The Karnataka DCET is conducted for diploma holders who wish to get admission to engineering or technology programmes. Through this entrance exam, you can get direct admission to the second year, i.e., the third semester, of an engineering programme.
As in previous years, the Karnataka DCET will be conducted by the KEA in 2026. In this article, we have discussed this entrance exam in detail. By reading this article, you will get to know the important dates, eligibility criteria, application fee, and other details.
The Karnataka Examination Authority has announced the exam date for the Karnataka DCET 2026. It is all set to be administered on May 23, 2026, exam timing and venue are going to be available on the hall ticket.
Karnataka DCET 2026 Overview
The KEA is going to conduct the Karnataka DCET 2026 for those candidates who wish to get direct admission to the 3rd semester (2nd year) of BE/BTech programs in the academic year 2026-27. An overview of this entrance exam is provided in the table below.
| Exam Name | Karnataka DCET 2026 |
| Conducting Authority | Karnataka Examination Authority |
| Exam Level | State Level |
| Exam Frequency | Once a year |
| Courses Offered | BE / BTech (Lateral Entry – 2nd Year) |
| Admission Year | Academic Year 2026–27 |
| Mode of Examination | Offline |
| Exam Duration | 3 Hours |
| Total Questions | 100 Multiple Choice Questions |
| Official Website | https://cetonline.karnataka.gov.in/ |
Important Dates
The KEA will announce the important dates for the KCET 2026 with the release of the notification brochure. Go through the table below for the expected timeline.
| Event | Important Dates |
| Notification Release | April 2026 |
| Online Application Start | April 2026 |
| Last Date to Apply Online | May 2026 |
| Application Fee Payment Last Date | May 2026 |
| Application Correction Window | May 2026 |
| Admit Card Release | May 2026 |
| DCET 2026 Exam Date | May 23, 2026 |
| Provisional Answer Key | June 2026 |
| Objection Submission (Answer Key) | June 2026 |
| Result Declaration | June 2026 |
| Counselling Start | June / July 2026 |
Eligibility Criteria
In order to apply for the Karnataka DCET 2026, it is mandatory that you meet the eligibility criteria. Refer to listed points to find out if you are eligible.
- You are an Indian citizen and you live in Karnataka as a domicile.
- You have pursued a three-year Diploma in Engineering or Technology from an AICTE-recognised institution.
Notes:
- There is no age limit to apply for the Karnataka DCET 2026.
- It is mandatory that you get a 45% score in the qualifying exam; for the reserved category, you have at least 40% score.
Application Fee
In order to apply for the Karnataka DCET 2026, the payment of the application fee is mandatory. Go through the table below to check what you need to pay.
| Category | Amount |
| UR / OBC | ₹650 |
| SC / ST / Category-1 | ₹500 |
Ensure that you pay the application fee by the due date; you can deposit it using the debit card, credit card, or any other provided payment gateway.
Exam Pattern
The KEA will conduct the Karnataka DCET in offline mode with the OMR sheets. It will be held with an exam time duration of 3 hours, in which there will be 100 MCQs from different subjects, they are:
| Section | Subject | No. of Questions | Marks |
| Part A | Engineering Mathematics | 20 | 20 |
| Part B | Statistics & Analytics | 20 | 20 |
| Part C | IT Skills | 20 | 20 |
| Part D | Fundamentals of Electrical & Electronics Engineering | 20 | 20 |
| Part E | Project Management Skills | 20 | 20 |
| Total | — | 100 | 100 |
Each question carries a weightage of 1 mark and no mark will be deducted for incorrect response. The medium of this entrance exam is English and Kannada.
How to Apply?
In order to apply online for the Karnataka DCET 2026, follow the step-by-step instructions available below.
- Visit the official website of the Karnataka Examination Authority.
- Click on Examinations, and then tap on DCET (Diploma Common Entrance Test) 2026.
- Click on Registration, and register yourself with your Mobile Number, Email Address and other details.
- Login with your registered email address and password to access the application fee.
- Enter personal and academic details, make sure you provide all the after crossing.
- Upload the required documents in required size and format.
- Pay the application fee as per your category.
- Click on Submit and download the confirmation page.