KCET 2027 Eligibility Criteria: Karnataka Domicile, Percentage and Age Limit

KCET 2027 eligibility requires Karnataka domicile, at least 45% marks in PCM or PCB in Class 12 for General category students, and a minimum age of 17 years as on December 31, 2027.

Karnataka Common Entrance Test (KCET) 2027 is conducted by the Karnataka Examinations Authority (KEA) for admission to undergraduate Engineering, Pharmacy, Agriculture, and other professional courses across the state. Before applying, you must confirm that you meet the domicile, academic, and age requirements set by KEA. The eligibility rules are strict — especially the Karnataka residency condition — and failing to meet any one criterion can lead to rejection of your application.

• Domicile requirement: You or your parents must have a Karnataka connection; students who studied in Karnataka for at least 7 years in Classes 1–12 are eligible.
• Percentage required: Minimum 45% aggregate in PCM or PCB in Class 12 for General category; 40% for SC/ST/OBC students.
• Age limit: You must be at least 17 years old as on December 31, 2027; there is no upper age limit for most courses.
• Subjects: Physics and Mathematics are compulsory for Engineering; Physics, Chemistry and Biology or Mathematics for Pharmacy courses.
• Nationality: Indian nationals only; Horanadu and Gadinadu Kannadigas have special domicile provisions.

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KCET 2027 Eligibility Overview

KCET 2027 eligibility is governed by KEA norms and Karnataka state reservation policies. The table below summarises the key criteria at a glance.

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Karnataka Domicile Rules for KCET 2027

The domicile condition is the most important — and often the most misunderstood — part of KCET eligibility. KEA has defined four main categories under which you can establish Karnataka domicile.

Category 1 — Study in Karnataka: You are eligible if you studied in Karnataka-recognised institutions for at least 7 years during Classes 1 to 12. This is the most common route for students who grew up in the state.

Category 2 — Parents are Karnataka Residents: If both your parents are domiciled in Karnataka, you are eligible even if you studied outside the state. Parents must provide proof of residence such as a ration card, voter ID, or a domicile certificate issued by a Karnataka authority.

Category 3 — Parent is a Government Servant: If one parent is a Government of Karnataka employee, or an employee of a Karnataka-based public sector undertaking posted outside Karnataka, you qualify under this provision.

Category 4 — Horanadu and Gadinadu Kannadigas: Students of Kannada origin from border districts of neighbouring states (Horanadu) or other parts of India (Gadinadu) may qualify under special provisions if they studied Kannada as a subject for the required number of years. KEA announces the exact seats reserved for this group each cycle.

Documents required to prove Karnataka domicile:

• Study certificates from Karnataka-recognised schools for all years studied in the state (Category 1)
• Parent’s domicile certificate or ration card issued by a Karnataka authority (Category 2)
• Parent’s service certificate from a Karnataka government department or PSU (Category 3)
• Kannada study certificate and relevant statutory declarations (Horanadu/Gadinadu Kannadigas)

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Academic Qualification and Subject Requirements

You must have passed — or be appearing — in 2nd PUC / Class 12 or equivalent from a recognised board. The required subjects differ by course, as shown below.

If you are appearing in your Class 12 examinations in 2027, you may apply provisionally. Admission will be confirmed only after you meet the minimum percentage requirement in the relevant subjects. Students from CBSE, ICSE, or any other recognised board are fully eligible — marks are assessed on an equivalent basis per KEA guidelines.

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KCET 2027 Percentage Requirements

General category students must score at least 45% aggregate marks in Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics (or Biology) in Class 12 to be eligible for KCET 2027. SC, ST, and OBC students have a lower threshold of 40%. This percentage is calculated only on the three science subjects — English and language papers are not counted in the aggregate.

If you are from a board where subjects are graded on a points scale, KEA converts marks to a percentage equivalent before checking this threshold. Always verify your eligibility using marks from your official Class 12 marksheet once results are declared.

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KCET 2027 Age Limit

You must be at least 17 years old as on December 31, 2027 to be eligible for KCET. Students born on or before December 31, 2010 meet this requirement for the 2027 cycle.

There is no upper age limit for Engineering and Pharmacy courses under KCET. For Agriculture and allied courses, check KEA’s official KCET 2027 notification, as age restrictions for some courses may be specified separately by the respective admitting authorities.

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Category-wise Eligibility for KCET 2027

Karnataka uses a multi-tier reservation system. Your category certificate must be issued by a Karnataka government authority — certificates from other states are not accepted for Karnataka reservation benefits under KCET.

Students from other states who qualify on domicile grounds (for example, parents are Karnataka residents) must compete in the General (GM) pool. They are not eligible for reserved category seats unless they hold a valid Karnataka-issued caste or category certificate.