KEA DCET 2026
[Karnataka Diploma Common Entrance Test 2026]
conducted by Karnataka Examination Authority (KEA)
Admission to 2nd year (3d Semester) Engineering and 1st Year Architecture Courses under the lateral entry scheme, 2026

DIPLOMA COMMON ENTRANCE TEST - 2026 TO DIPLOMA HOLDERS
FOR ADMISSION TO 2ND YEAR / 3RD SEMESTER ENGINEERING COURSES UNDER LATERAL ENTRY SCHEME
(INCLUDING DIPLOMA WORKING PROFESSIONALS)

• Government in its order No. ED 88 DTE 2022 Bangalore dated 14-07-2022, has allowed eligible Diploma holders to select any Engineering branch for Admission to 2nd Year / 3rd Semester under lateral entry scheme.
• Further, the Government in its order ED 137 DTE 2023 dated 12-12-2023, has given permission to Diploma Working Professionals for admission to 2nd Year / 3rd Semester under lateral entry scheme. (Subject to issue of seat matrix).
• Pursuant to the Government directions, KEA is inviting online applications from eligible Diploma Holders and Diploma Working Professionals for admission to 2nd Year / 3rd Semester Engineering Courses under Lateral Entry Scheme in "Engineering Colleges" for the year 2026-27.
• Candidates including working professionals have to appear for the Diploma Common Entrance Test-2026 conducted by the Karnataka Examinations Authority to become eligible for admission to Engineering courses under lateral entry scheme.
• For admission to Architecture Course, candidates should have appeared and qualified in NATA-2026 (National Aptitude Test in Architecture) conducted by the Council of Architecture. (Further the candidates must compulsorily register for DCET-2026, fill the application through online and pay the application fees).
• Admission to Engineering Colleges to Diploma Working Professionals is subject to the seat matrix to be issued by the Government.
• Academic Eligibility: The details of academic eligibility for all the above courses are available on the KEA Website: https://cetonline.karnataka.gov.in/kea The candidates are advised to verify the eligibility criteria before applying for any of the courses.
• Syllabus: DCET syllabus issued by Department of Collegiate and Technical Education (No. 39/2024 - 28-01-2026) is hosted on the KEA Website for the information of the candidates. (Common to all Engineering Diploma Programmes).
• As per the Government Notification No. ED 155 TEC 2022 Dated: 19-04-2025 the Karnataka selection of candidate for Admission to Government Seats in Professional Educational Institutions (Amendment) rules, 2022 read the following Diploma courses under "Schedule-I"
  1. Dip NTTF (Tool and Dye Making) &
  2. Dip NTTF (Electronics) as deleted.

  i	Commencement of Registration and filling of Application-cum-verification module	From 12:00 Noon on 17/03/2026
  ii	Last date to fill the application online	03/04/2026 upto 11:59 P.M.
  iii	Last date to pay the application fees - (online)	04/04/2026 upto 06:00 P.M.
  iv	Downloading of Admission Tickets for DCET-2026 from KEA website	07/05/2026 Onwards

CONTACT:
080 2346 0460
keauthority-ka@nic.in

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