KCET 2026: What’s new this year? Internal reservation, Aadhaar verification

The Karnataka Examination Authority (KEA) has issued the Karnataka Common Entrance Test (KCET 2026) information brochure. This year, KEA has introduced mandatory internal reservation for scheduled caste (SC) candidates and verification through the Aadhaar card.

According to the official KCET 2026 information brochure, the candidate's name printed on the SSLC marks card must match the name on the Aadhaar card.

Likewise, the name appearing on the caste or caste-income certificates should be the same as the name on the SSLC score card. If there is any discrepancy, the candidate must rectify the details on the Aadhaar card.

For UGCET 2026 registration, SC candidates' caste certificates must include internal reservation details from the concerned Tahsildar in the prescribed format and mention the RD number in the application form.

The state government has provided the internal reservation to Scheduled Caste candidates as Category-A, Category-B, and Category-C.

Candidates can apply for the KCET 2026 entrance exam on the official website, cetonline.karnataka.gov.in. The last date for UGCET 2026 registration without late fee charges is February 17.

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Recently, KEA has revised the KCET 2026 exam dates. The UGCET 2026 exam was scheduled to be held on May 25 and 26. Initially, the exam was scheduled for April 23 and 24. However, the revised schedule has now been removed from the official website.

Currently, the KCET 2026 information brochure has listed that the UGCET 2026 exams will be held on April 23 and 24 only, and the language paper will be conducted on April 22.