DCET 2026: Registration Ongoing, Exam Date (OUT), Pattern, Syllabus

Candidates can check the exam highlights of DCET 2026 from the table given below.

What is DCET exam?

DCET or Diploma Common Entrance Test, conducted by the Karnataka Examination Authority (KEA). The entrance test is held for admissions to 2nd-year undergraduate engineering programmes and 1st-year undergraduate architecture programmes offered under the lateral entry scheme.

The authorities released DCET application form 2026 on official website. During application process, candidates will have to fill in their personal, academic and contact details.  The required documents have to be scanned and uploaded, and the preferred exam centres have to be selected. Candidates will have to pay the application fee through e-challan.

DCET 2026 Eligibility Criteria

Candidates appearing for DCET 2026 entrance test will have to fulfil certain eligibility criteria as mentioned by the exam conducting authorities. Check the detailed criteria to apply for the exam below.

Eligibility for BE Courses (Day Engineering Institutions)

• Candidates must have passed a diploma or equivalent exam 
•  Candidates with a minimum of 45% marks in the 5th and 6th semesters combined are eligible to fill out the applications respectively
•  The minimum percentage mark for SC/ST candidates is 40%

Eligibility for BE Courses (Evening Engineering Institutions)

•  Candidates must have passed a diploma or equivalent exam
•  Candidates with a minimum of 45% marks in the 5th and 6th semesters combined are eligible to fill out the applications respectively
•   The minimum percentage mark for SC/ST candidates is 40%

Note: In addition to the above criteria, a candidate after qualifying for the diploma, must also possess a minimum of Two Years of Full-Time Work experience as of the due date, of the year of admission, is a registered firm / Company / Industry / Educational and / Government Autonomous Organizations in the branch of Engineering / Technology, in which the candidates possess a diploma and in which admission is sought by the candidates. 

Eligibility for BArch First Year (Only in Day Engineering College)

• Candidates must have passed a diploma or equivalent exam from a recognized institute
• Candidates with a 50% aggregate score in all the subjects of the final year along with 40% marks in NATA 2026.

Reservation Quota

•  Admissions under the reserved category will be made in favour of the candidates belonging to the Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and Other Backward Classes of citizens under categories 1, 2A, 2B, 3A and 3B in accordance with the Government Order No.

Other Reserved Category

• (I) Candidates who have participated in Republic Day Camp conducted by the Director-General of NCC, New Delhi from Karnataka and who possess ‘B’ Certificate obtained during the five-year period of study in Karnataka between 8th and 12th standards;

         or

• (ii) The candidates who have participated in the following camps conducted by the Director-General of NCC, New Delhi from Karnataka and who possess ‘B’ Certificate obtained during the five-year period of study in Karnataka between 8th and 12th standards namely;
• (a)  All India Thal Sainik Camp (Boys) - TSC(B)
• (b)All India Thal Sainik Camp (Girls) - TSC (G)
• (c)  All India Nau Sainik Camp – NSC
• (d)All India Vayu Sainik Camp – VSC
• (e)  Cadets who have been finally selected as a part of DG NCC team to participate in All India Movalankar Shooting Championship at the National Level AND Youth Exchange Programmes and Foreign Naval Cruise organized by DG, NCC.

The DCET 2026 exam pattern will be released in the information brochure. Information related to exam mode, duration, type of questions, marking scheme, and more are available in the DCET exam pattern. Through the pattern, candidates can understand how the exam will be held and how to prepare for it accordingly. Candidates can check the detailed paper pattern below.

The authorities will release the syllabus of DCET 2026 subject-wise online on the KEA website. Candidates can check the list of subjects, topics and units to study from the DCET syllabus. By knowing the syllabus, candidates will have a better chance of scoring well in the exam by preparing exactly what will be asked in the test.

Here, we have given the most important tips to prepare for the DCET exam that will help students score high in the test. The DCET preparation tips are based on the previous year's toppers and subject experts' advice.

• Know Exam Pattern and Syllabus - Start by the DCET exam pattern and syllabus. The syllabus will provide a list of what to study for the exam. The DCET exam pattern mentions details on the format of the exam.
• Revision - If candidates do not revise what they study, then chances are they will forget it soon. Regular revision will help candidates brush up on their concepts.
• Mock Tests - Next is to practice mock exams. By taking the mocks, students can understand their weak and strong areas.

The Karnataka Examinations Authority (KEA) will release DCET 2026 admit card on May 7 on its official website. Candidates who have registered for the exam can download their KEA DCET admit card 2026. Candidates can download their admit card using their credentials- application number and password. Students appearing for DCET exam must carry their hall ticket to test centre.

The admit card of KEA DCET will contain details such as name, contact details, exam paper name, date and time of exam, etc. Candidates appearing for the exam must carry a valid ID proof, such as Aadhar card, Voter ID, etc. Students are advised to keep their hall ticket safe till the completion of the counselling process.

The Karnataka Examinations Authority (KEA) will release the provisional answer key for DCET 2026 soon after the exam. Candidates can check and download the answer key on the website- cetonline.karnataka.gov.in. Candidates do not require any details to download the DCET answer key PDF. At first, the authorities will release the provisional answer key, followed by the final key.