The Karnataka Examinations Authority (KEA) will release the provisional Round 2 seat allotment result for the Diploma Common Entrance Test (DCET) 2026 on September 5, 2026, after 6:00 PM. This round provides diploma holders their final opportunity for lateral entry into the 2nd year (3rd semester) of B.E./B.Tech courses or the 1st year of B.Arch programs in participating institutions. Seats allotted or confirmed in Round 2 are final. Candidates must accept admission in the allocated college as there are no choice rejection or cancellation options available after this stage.
DCET 2026 Overview
| Feature | Details |
| Exam Name | Diploma Common Entrance Test (DCET) 2026 |
| Conducting Authority | Karnataka Examinations Authority (KEA) |
| Admission Level | Lateral Entry (2nd Year B.E/B.Tech) & 1st Year B.Arch |
| Round 2 Provisional Allotment | September 5, 2026 (After 6:00 PM) |
| Official Portal Link | cetonline.karnataka.gov.in/kea |
Important Dates for Round 2 Counselling
| Event | Date & Time |
| Seat Matrix Publication | September 2, 2026 |
| Option Entry / Choice Filling Window | September 2 to September 5, 2026 |
| Provisional Seat Allotment Result | September 5, 2026 (After 6:00 PM) |
| Final Seat Allotment Result | September 6, 2026 (After 6:00 PM) |
| Fee Payment & Confirmation Slip Download | September 7 to September 9, 2026 |
| Last Date to Report at Allotted College | September 10, 2026 |
Eligibility Criteria
- For B.E. / B.Tech (Lateral Entry): Applicants must hold a 3-year Diploma in Engineering/Technology from an AICTE-recognized institute.
- Minimum Aggregate: General candidates must secure a minimum aggregate of 45% in their final year (5th and 6th semesters combined). SC/ST and Karnataka reserved category candidates require a minimum of 40%.
- For B.Arch (First Year): Requires a relevant diploma with a minimum 50% aggregate score and a valid NATA 2026 qualification score (minimum 40% marks).
- Domicile: Candidates must satisfy Karnataka domicile rules, generally involving a minimum 7-year study period in Karnataka, subject to KEA regulations.
Reservation Policy
- Vertical Quotas: Reserved seats for Scheduled Castes (SC), Scheduled Tribes (ST), and Other Backward Classes (Categories 1, 2A, 2B, 3A, 3B).
- Article 371(j): Specific seat reservations for candidates hailing from the Hyderabad-Karnataka (Kalyana-Karnataka) region.
- Horizontal Quotas: Provisions are made for Rural candidates, Kannada Medium candidates, children of Ex-Servicemen, and Physically Handicapped (PH) candidates possessing a minimum 40% certified disability.
Step-by-Step Counselling Process
The KEA DCET Counselling Process involves several stages, starting with document verification and registration and ending with seat allotment, fee payment, and college reporting. Candidates must carefully complete each stage within the prescribed schedule to secure admission.
Step 1: Document Verification
The first step in the counselling process is Document Verification. Candidates must attend the verification process at the designated KEA verification centre with their required original documents.
Candidates may be required to produce documents such as:
- DCET Rank Card
- DCET Application Form
- Diploma Marks Cards
- Study Certificates
- Transfer Certificate
- Aadhaar Card
- Caste Certificate, if applicable
- Income Certificate, if applicable
- Rural/Kannada Medium Certificate, if applicable
- Other documents specified by KEA
KEA officials verify the candidate’s educational qualification, category, eligibility, and other details. After successful verification, the candidate receives a Verification Slip and Secret Key.
The Secret Key is important because it is required to log in to the KEA counselling portal and participate in option entry.
Step 2: Registration for Counselling
After completing document verification, candidates need to register for the counselling process through the official KEA portal.
Candidates should:
- Visit the official KEA counselling portal.
- Select the DCET counselling link.
- Enter the required DCET application number/login details.
- Use the Secret Key provided after document verification.
- Verify the displayed personal and academic details.
- Complete the registration process.
Candidates should ensure that all the information displayed on the portal is correct before proceeding to college and course option entry.
Step 3: College and Course Option Entry
After registration, candidates can participate in Web Option Entry. This is one of the most important stages of counselling because the options entered by the candidate are considered during seat allotment.
Candidates can:
- Select their preferred engineering colleges
- Select eligible courses/branches
- Arrange colleges and courses according to their preference
- Add multiple choices
- Rearrange options based on priority
- Delete unwanted options
Candidates should enter options in the order in which they would prefer to receive a seat.
There is generally no need to restrict the number of choices unnecessarily. Candidates are advised to enter as many eligible and desirable options as possible to improve their chances of getting a seat.
Step 4: Mock Allotment
KEA may conduct a Mock Seat Allotment before the actual allotment.
The mock allotment is intended to give candidates an idea of the college and course they may receive based on their rank, category, available seats, and entered options.
Candidates should carefully review the mock allotment result and analyse whether their current choices are appropriate.
A mock allotment does not constitute the final seat allotment. It is mainly provided to help candidates understand their probable allotment and modify their preferences if required.
Step 5: Modify or Reorder Options
After the mock allotment, KEA generally provides an opportunity for candidates to modify their Web Options.
Candidates can:
- Add new colleges or courses
- Remove unwanted choices
- Change the priority of options
- Rearrange existing choices
- Review their final preference list
Candidates should use this opportunity carefully. If a preferred college or course is missing from the list, they can add it if permitted under the counselling rules.
After making the necessary changes, candidates should save and confirm their final options before the deadline.
Step 6: Final Seat Allotment
After the option-editing period closes, KEA conducts the actual seat allotment.
The allotment is generally determined by factors such as:
- DCET Merit/Rank
- Reservation Category
- Eligibility
- College and Course Preferences
- Availability of Seats
- Applicable KEA counselling rules
Candidates can check the seat allotment result online by logging into the counselling portal.
The allotment result will indicate the college, course/branch, and other admission details allotted to the candidate.
Step 7: Seat Acceptance / Decision on Allotted Seat
After the seat allotment result is announced, candidates need to follow the instructions applicable to their allotted seat and counselling round.
Depending on the counselling rules, candidates may have options such as:
- Accept the allotted seat
- Continue for an upgrade
- Participate in a subsequent counselling round
- Reject or surrender the allotted seat, where permitted
Candidates should carefully understand the consequences of each option before confirming their decision.
Step 8: Fee Payment
Candidates who accept the allotted seat must pay the prescribed tuition/admission fee within the specified deadline.
Payment may be made through the online payment facility or other payment method specified by KEA.
After successful payment, candidates should:
- Download the fee payment receipt
- Keep a copy for future reference
- Verify that the payment status is updated on the portal
Candidates should not miss the fee-payment deadline, as failure to pay within the prescribed period may result in cancellation of the allotted seat.
Step 9: Download the Admission Order
After completing the required fee payment and seat acceptance formalities, candidates can download the KEA Admission Order if it is made available through the portal.
The Admission Order is an important document confirming the candidate’s allotted seat and admission status.
Candidates should download and print:
- KEA Admission Order
- Fee Payment Receipt
- Seat allotment details
- Other documents generated through the portal
These documents should be carried while reporting to the allotted college.
Step 10: Report to the Allotted College
The final stage is College Reporting.
Candidates must report to the allotted engineering college within the prescribed reporting period.
At the time of reporting, candidates may need to submit or produce:
- KEA Admission Order
- Fee Payment Receipt
- DCET Rank Card
- DCET Hall Ticket
- Diploma Marks Cards
- Transfer Certificate
- Study Certificate
- Aadhaar Card
- Caste/Income Certificates, if applicable
- Other original documents and photocopies required by the college
The college verifies the candidate’s documents and confirms the admission through the prescribed process.
Step 11: Confirmation of Admission
Once the candidate reports to the allotted college, completes document submission, and fulfils all required admission formalities, the college confirms the candidate’s admission.
Candidates should obtain an acknowledgement/admission confirmation from the college and keep all payment receipts and admission documents safely for future reference.
Important Points to Remember
- Complete document verification before option entry.
- Keep the Secret Key safe after verification.
- Enter college and course options carefully in priority order.
- Use the Mock Allotment to review and improve your choices.
- Make any required changes before the Web Options editing deadline.
- Check the final seat allotment result through the official KEA portal.
- Complete fee payment and seat acceptance within the deadline.
- Download and preserve the Admission Order and fee receipt.
- Report to the allotted college within the specified reporting dates.
- Carry original certificates and required photocopies during college reporting.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Can I change or reject my allotted seat in Round 2? No. According to KEA guidelines, seats allotted or confirmed in Round 2 are final. There are no choice rejection options available, and candidates must secure admission at the assigned college.
2. Where will the DCET 2026 Round 2 seat allotment result be published? The provisional and final seat allotment results will be published exclusively on the official KEA portal at cetonline.karnataka.gov.in/kea.
3. What is the deadline for fee payment in Round 2? Candidates allotted a seat in Round 2 must download their challan and complete the fee payment between September 7 and September 9, 2026.
4. What happens if I miss the reporting date (September 10)? If you fail to physically report to the allotted college with your documents and Admission Order by the designated deadline, your seat will be automatically cancelled, regardless of fee payment.
Conclusion
The DCET 2026 Round 2 counselling represents a crucial crossroad for diploma graduates looking to advance their engineering careers in Karnataka. Given the definitive nature of this round, candidates must be vigilant regarding the publication dates on September 5 and 6, 2026. Ensuring timely fee payments and organizing all vital documents before the September 10 reporting deadline is essential for a seamless and successful college transition.