The aspirants of the KCET / UGCET exam who wish to appear for the upcoming examination which is expected to be conducted in the 3rd Week of April must ensure that they satisfy the KCET eligibility criteria 2025. The exam conducting body i.e., KEA - Karnataka Examinations Authority has prescribed the exam eligibility criteria i.e., the candidates must have completed the qualifying examination with the respective subjects.
In this article, the students can get detailed information about KCET exam eligibility criteria 2025 including the required academic qualification, the minimum qualifying marks, age limit, nationality, and other related and important aspects.
KCET Eligibility Criteria 2025
The exam authorities will prescribe the KCET eligibility criteria 2025 on the official website i.e., “cetonline.karnataka.gov.in” and the students can check the website regularly for updates on the same. On the basis of previous years’ analysis, the KCET exam eligibility criteria in terms of age, qualification, marks, nationality required are stated below:
Particular
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Eligibility Criteria
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Educational Qualifications
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- Passed Qualifying Examination in concerned subjects.
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Age Limit
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- Completed 17 years of age for admission in B.Pharm, Pharm.D, and Naturopathy & Yoga courses
*For other courses, no minimum or maximum age limit is prescribed.
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Nationality
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- Must be Indian Nationals and the Domicile of Karnataka.
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*Students who fulfil the above-mentioned eligibility criteria of the exam must proceed for the KCET registration 2025.
*The exam authority has all the rights to withdraw the admission of candidates any time who do not fill the eligibility criteria as prescribed by KEA.
KCET Eligibility Criteria 2025: Clauses
Students who are applying for admission through the Government Seats in the Professional Colleges of Karnataka need to know that they have to fulfil one of the specified Eligibility Clauses. Refer to the below-given table for the same:
Clause
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Eligibility
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A
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- Students must have qualified in one or more Government or Government recognised Institutions within Karnataka for at least 7 academic years starting from Class 1st to 11th / 12th standard.
* If any students have taken more than 1 year to pass a Class, in such case, the academic year will be counted as one year only.
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B
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- Candidates must have passed the Class 11th or 12th in the Karnataka state from an Educational Institutions run / recognised by the State Government and any parent (either mother or father) must have studied in the Karnataka state for minimum 7 years.
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C
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- The mother tongue of students and either of the parents is required to be Kannada, Tulu, Kodava or Beary and any of the parents should be a domicile of Karnataka. These types of students should have studied the qualifying examination from any University / Board / Institution located outside the Karnataka state and should be residing outside the State of Karnataka. Students have to appear in the Kannada Language test conducted by KEA.
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D
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- Aspirants whose mother tongue is Kannada, Tulu, Kodava or Beary should have resided and studied for a period of 7 years between Class 1st and 12th in disputed Kannada speaking area of South Sholapur or Akkalkot or Jath or Gadhinglaj Taluks of Maharashtra State or Kasargod or Hosadurga or Manjeshwar Taluks of Kerala State. Such students have to undergo a Kannada Language test conducted by KEA.
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E
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- If a candidate is a child of defence personnel who has worked in the Karnataka state for at least 1 year at the time of 2 year duration of students’ study in Class 11th& 12th. The qualifying examination should have been completed from any Government or Government recognised educational institutions within Karnataka.
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F
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- Child / Ward of serving defence personnel from Karnataka who at the time of joining the Defence service had declared his / her hometown a place in the State of Karnataka. Proof of the domicile should have been obtained and uploaded by obtaining the extract from the AG’s branch (Army HQs) respective branch of integrated HQ of MoD for Officers and respective Record Offices for JCOs / OR. Moreover, students need to pass the qualifying examination (Q.E) from any University / Board / Institution situated in India.
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G
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- Child of a defence personnel who had served in the state of Karnataka for a minimum of one year and is posted to the disturbed areas of Jammu and Kashmir or North- East and whose family is permitted by Defence Authorities to continue to stay in Karnataka. Candidates belonging to such category have to pass the Q.E from Government or Government recognised educational Institutions within Karnataka.
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H
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- If a student is a child of an ex-servicemen who at the time of joining the defence service had declared a place in Karnataka as his home town, proof of such domicile should be obtained and uploaded from the “Deputy Director, Department of Sainik Welfare and Resettlement” of that District and the same should countersigned by the Director Department of Sainik Welfare and Resettlement.
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I
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- Son or daughter of an employee of the Union Government or an employee of the Union or Karnataka State Government Undertaking or Joint Sector Undertaking, who is liable to be transferred anywhere in India as per the terms and conditions of his employment and has worked in Karnataka for a minimum period of one year in Karnataka during the Two year period of study of candidates in PUC / 11th and 12th Standard course. Such students must have passed the qualifying examination from any Government or Government recognised educational institution located in the State of Karnataka
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J
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- Son or daughter of a working or retired employee of the Union Government or employee of Union or Karnataka State Government undertaking or Joint Sector undertaking where such employee;
- Had declared to the employer at the time of joining service any place in Karnataka to be his hometown; and
- Had studied in any Government or Government recognised educational institution or institutions located in Karnataka for a minimum period of seven years; and
- Was or is liable to be transferred anywhere in India as per the terms and conditions of his employment.
- Students should have passed the qualifying examination (Q.E) from any University / Board / Institution located in India.
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K
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- Son or daughter of Members of Parliament elected from Karnataka. In addition to this, students should have passed the Q. E. from a University or Board or any other institution situated anywhere in India.
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L
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- Son or daughter of serving or retired employee: (a) Belonging to All India Service of Karnataka cadre; and (b) of the Karnataka State Government, who has served or is serving outside the State of Karnataka during the period corresponding to Candidate’s study outside the State from 1st standard to 2nd PUC or 12th standard examination can be added to make up the seven years study within Karnataka as required under clause (a) above.
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M
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- Child of Jammu & Kashmiri migrants, proof of such migration (IDENTITY CARD) should be obtained and uploaded from the jurisdictional “District Magistrate and Deputy Commissioner” of any state in India.
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N
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- Students who have qualified 10 full academic years in Kannada Medium from Class 1st to 10th in places outside Karnataka and should pass the qualifying examination from any Government or Government recognised educational Institution. Such candidates are not required to appear for the Kannada Language Test conducted by KEA.
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O
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- Son / Daughter of working or Retired employee in Central Armed Police Force service, who at the time of joining the CAPF service (Central Armed Police Force) had declared the hometown as a place in the State of Karnataka, proof of such domicile having been uploaded by obtaining the extract from the Record Office of the CAPF Unit where the Parent’s service record are maintained. In addition to this, aspirants should have studied the Q. E. from a University / Board / Institution located anywhere in India.
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KCET Eligibility Criteria 2025: Documents Required (Specific to Clauses)
Candidates need to have required documents for admission as specified under different above-mentioned clauses. The below-given are the documents that are common in each clause:
- Class 10th Marksheet
- Class 12th / PUC Marksheet
- In Clause A, B, E, F, H, J, K, L, and O: Caste / Caste Income Certificate with RD number issued by concerned Tahsildar- For SC / ST in Form-‘D’, Category-I in Form ‘E’ and 2A, 2B, 3A and 3B in Form ‘F’ (If claiming reservation benefits).
Other documents required specifically under different clauses are mentioned-below:
Clause
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Documents Required
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A
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- Study Certificate countersigned by the Block Educational Officer (BEO) / DDPU (7 years of study in Karnataka including 10th and 12th).
- Rural Study Certificate from Class 1st to 10th for 10 years and should be countersigned by BEO (If claiming rural quota).
- Non-Creamy Layer Certificate (NCLC) obtained from the concerned Tahasildar (For General Merit students)
- Kannada Medium Study Certificate from Class 1st to 10th for ten years (If claiming Kannada Medium quota).
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B
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- Study Certificate for Class 11th and 12th in Karnataka.
- Study Certificate of any parent (either mother or father) having studied for at least 7 years in Karnataka from the Head of the educational institution.
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C
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- Domicile Certificate issued by the concerned Revenue or Municipal Authorities certifying that the candidate and his either of parent have resided outside the state of Karnataka. The place of the Issuing authority should correspond to the place of domicile of the candidate / father / mother. The place of the issuing authority should correspond to the place of domicile of the candidate/father/mother.
- Domicile certificate issued by concerned Revenue Authorities of the state of Karnataka regarding the previous domicile of the father/mother of the candidate as a place in the state of Karnataka. The place of issuing authority should correspond to the place of domicile of the father/mother.
- Study and Transfer Certificate.
- Candidate / Father / Mother Class 10th Marks Card / Cumulative record in original in support of mother tongue as Kannada / Tulu / Kodava / Beary.
- A duly sworn declaration regarding the mother tongue of the candidates.
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D
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- Residential Certificate from the concerned Tahsildar of the respective disputed Taluk.
- Study Certificate
- Candidate / Father / Mother Class 10th marks card / cumulative record in original in support of mother tongue as Kannada / Tulu / Kodava / Beary.
- A duly sworn declaration regarding the mother tongue of the candidate.
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E
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- Study Certificate for having studied Class 12th / equivalent examination in Karnataka issued by the head of the educational institution.
- Employment Certificate of the parent issued by the Controlling Office where the parent is working indicating the period during which he has worked in the State of Karnataka i.e., from the reporting date to till date.
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F
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- Parent’s home town declaration certificate while joining the service issued by respective branch of integrated HQ of MoD for Officers and respective Record Offices for JCOs / OR.
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G
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- Study Certificate for having studied Class 12th / equivalent examination in Karnataka issued by the head of the educational institution.
- Service certificate of the parent issued by the Controlling Office indicating the period during which the parent has worked in Karnataka and a certificate showing the present place of posting, indicating that his family is permitted to stay in Karnataka. The present working place of the parent should be indicated in NAME and not by CODE NUMBERS.
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H
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- Caste Certificate or Caste Income Certificate or Income Certificate should be in the name of the candidate only. Income certificate to be uploaded by SC / ST / Cat-1 to claim fee exemption
- Parent’s home town declaration certificate while joining the service issued by the Joint Director / Deputy Director of the concerned district and countersigned by the Director, Department of Sainik Welfare and Resettlement, Bangalore.
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I
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- Study Certificate for having studied Class 12th / equivalent examination in Karnataka issued by the head of the educational institution.
- A Certificate from the employer indicating the parent’s period of employment in the State of Karnataka and also showing that he is transferable anywhere in India
- A Certificate from employer indicating parent as an employee of Union Government or an employee of the Union or Karnataka State Government Undertaking or Joint Sector Undertaking.
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J
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- A Study Certificate of the parent employee for having studied for at least 7 years in the State of Karnataka from the Head of the educational institution where they had studied.
- Hometown Declaration Certificate of the parent employee while joining the service and showing that he is transferable anywhere in India issued by the employer.
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K
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- Certificate showing that the parent is / was a Member of Parliament elected from Karnataka issued by the Parliament Secretaria.
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L
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- Certificate from the Principal Secretary/Deputy Secretary / Under Secretary, DPAR, Government of Karnataka, Bangalore where the parent belongs to All India Service of Karnataka cadre stating that the parent is a member of such All India cadre.
- Certificate to state the period for which they have served or are serving outside Karnataka and if they are a state government employee, a certificate certifying the same from the concerned head of the office / department.
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M
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- As the proof of migration, an original certificate issued by the Jurisdictional District Magistrate and Deputy Commissioner of any state in India. Under the clause, candidates can claim eligibility for the seats earmarked by the government.
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N
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- A domicile certificate issued by the concerned Revenue or Municipal Authorities certifying that the candidates and their parent have resided outside the state of Karnataka as on May 1, 2014. The place of issuing authority should correspond to the place of domicile of the candidate / father / mother.
- Study Certificate issued by the head of the institution for having studied in Kannada medium from Class 1st to 10th.
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O
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- Parent’s hometown declaration certificate while joining the service issued by Record Office of the CAPF unit, where the parents' service records are maintained.
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KCET Eligibility Criteria 2025: Course-Wise Details
The exam authorities have prescribed the specific course-wise eligibility criteria for taking admission in specified Undergraduate programs through KCET test. The eligibility criteria of some courses are specified in the below-given table:
Course
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Eligibility Criteria
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Bachelor of Science (B.Sc) (Nursing)
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- Qualified Class 11th & 12th with PCB & English and secured minimum 45% marks in aggregate (5% relaxation to SC / ST / OBC caste students of Karnataka state).
*Candidates from outside Karnataka state are not eligible for admission on Government seats through the exam authorities.
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Bachelor of Engineering / Technology (B.E / B.Tech)
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- Obtained at least 45% marks in Class 12th or its equivalent exam with English, Physics, Mathematics, and Chemistry / Biotechnology / Biology / Electronics / Computer Science.
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Naturopathy & Yoga
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- Secured minimum 50% marks in qualifying examination with PCB and English.
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Bachelor of Pharmacy (B.Pharm)
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Obtained at least 45% aggregate marks in any one of the following examination:
- 10 + 2 / equivalent with PCM / PCB.
- Diploma in Pharmacy (D.Pharma).
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* For B.E / B.Tech, B.Pharm, and Naturopathy & Yoga courses, SC, ST, Cat-1, 2A, 2B, 3A, and 3B category candidates need to score a minimum 40% marks in qualifying examinations.
*To know detailed eligibility criteria of other courses, students are advised to refer to the exam’s official website.
KCET Eligibility Criteria 2025: Reservation Criteria
Supernumerary Quota
The Supernumerary Quota is above the seat matrix prescribed by the Government. Through this quota, the tuition fee specified by the government in the respective college will be waived off.
The reservation criteria under this quota can be understood with the below-mentioned points:
- 5% seats will be reserved under this quota which is applicable to all courses in Engineering colleges (for which the exam is conducted) and participating Engineering Colleges of Karnataka.
- All poor and meritorious students including the General Merit category are eligible.
- To become eligible for Supernumerary Quota, the candidate’s family annual income should be less than Rs.8.00 Lakhs and they must have an Income Certificate from the respective Tahsildar & RD number of the same certificate.
* Students interested to get admission under Architecture course through KCET exam are not eligible for supernumerary quota.
*For more information on seat allotment under the Supernumerary Quota, please refer to the Information Bulletin available on the official website.
Apart from the above-mentioned reservation criteria, KEA (the exam conducting body) also provides admission to the eligible students on the category-wise reserved seats. The reservation seats are available for the following category candidates:
- Reserved Category
- Rural Category candidates (15% of government reserved seats)
- Kannada Medium candidates (5% seats of government are reserved)
- Ward Of Jammu & Kashmiri Migrants
- For Article 371(J) Kalyana Karnataka (Hyderabad Karnataka)
- NCC and Sports Category candidates
Note: Eligible students are suggested to start the preparation for KCET exam as per the KCET Syllabus 2025 and KCET Exam Pattern 2025.
KCET Eligibility Criteria 2025: Special Points to Consider
Following are the special points related to KCET eligibility criteria which should be considered by the candidates:
- It is mandatory for the students to be an Indian citizen for admission to Government seats.
- Those students who have completed their qualifying examination (Q.E) from any University which is not listed in the notification at VTU Website can not apply for the exam. Furthermore, aspirants who have qualified the Q.E from Karnataka State Open University (KSOU) are also not considered as eligible for the test.
- Students who are awaiting the results of the qualifying examination can appear in the KCET examination. However, if the candidates do not pass the Q.E with the minimum percentage marks required for KCET, then they will not be able to get admission in any of the mentioned courses.
- Eligibility / admissions / allotments made to and by the Colleges will be subject to approval by NMC / DCI / AICTE / COA / CCIM / Government / concerned University / Apex Bodies / etc.