PGCET counselling decides where — and whether — you study your MBA or MCA. The Karnataka Examinations Authority (KEA) runs it entirely online, on a tight schedule, and missed slots are rarely reopened. This guide walks you through the full 2026 process so nothing catches you off guard.
KEA published the PGCET 2026 provisional result on 19 August 2026, and counselling began on 11 September 2026. The dates on this page come from official KEA notices; always confirm the latest notice on the KEA PGCET 2026 page.
Counselling dates at a glance
All dates below are from official KEA notices on the KEA PGCET 2026 page, checked on 22 October 2026.
| Round | Document verification | Option entry | Mock allotment | Real allotment | Fee payment | Reporting to college |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Round 1 | Not listed in the round 1 schedule | Opened 11.00 am, 11 September 2026 | Results published 19 September 2026 | Provisional 23 September 2026; final 25 September 2026 | 29 September to 3 October 2026, extended up to 12 October 2026 | Up to 6.00 pm, 12 October 2026 |
| Round 2 | Not listed | 2.00 pm, 13 October to 10.00 am, 15 October 2026 | Not listed | Allotment announced in KEA update of 16 October 2026 | On or before 19 October 2026 | By 23 October 2026 |
| Further rounds | Not announced yet. KEA has asked the Supreme Court for permission to conduct two more rounds. | |||||
When does PGCET 2026 counselling start?
PGCET 2026 counselling started on 11 September 2026, when KEA opened round 1 option entry. KEA had published the provisional PGCET 2026 result on 19 August 2026 and the round 1 schedule on 10 September 2026.
How many rounds of PGCET counselling are there?
So far KEA has run round 1 and a round 2 option entry window (13 to 15 October 2026). KEA’s note of 9 October 2026 says it has asked the Supreme Court for permission to conduct two more rounds; their dates are not announced.
How to apply for counselling after PGCET
- Download your claim slip from the KEA portal when the link opens (for round 1 it opened on 10 September 2026).
- Log in to the KEA option entry portal and enter the colleges and courses you want, in your order of preference. KEA advises preparing the list on paper first.
- Check the mock allotment result and change, reorder, add or delete options in the window KEA gives.
- Check the provisional and final seat allotment results.
- If you get a seat, exercise your choice on the portal within the dates KEA notifies.
- Pay the fees within the deadline and download your confirmation slip.
- Report to the allotted college with all original documents and the confirmation slip before the last date.
PGCET counselling fees
KEA’s PGCET 2026 page does not list a separate counselling fee; what you pay after allotment is the fee for your allotted college and course. The amounts are in KEA’s “PGCET 2026 [MBA, MCA, M.Tech] Fee Structure” notice of 11 September 2026.
KEA also hosts VTU’s revised notice (23 September 2026) on registration and other fees collected during counselling for MBA, MCA, M.Tech and M.Arch: ₹11,880 for candidates with a UG degree from Karnataka, ₹13,680 for UG from other states and ₹25,680 for UG from foreign nations. Check the latest notice on the KEA PGCET 2026 page before you pay.
Step by step through counselling
- 1. Download your rank card and cross-check every personal detail against your ID.
- 2. Upload documents online — scan at 300 dpi, no shadows, within the size limit KEA specifies.
- 3. Complete verification as instructed (online, or at a helpline centre with originals plus self-attested copies).
- 4. Receive your secret key for option entry, and guard it.
- 5. Enter options strategically — lead with dream colleges, then slot a safe choice every five or six entries so a mid-list allotment is never a bad one.
- 6. Use the mock allotment to stress-test your list; it locks nothing, so reshuffle freely.
- 7. At Round 1, pick one path — freeze (accept, pay, exit), float (accept, pay, stay eligible for an upgrade), or reject (skip and try the next round, at higher risk).
- 8. Pay the fee via the KEA gateway within the deadline; the receipt usually reflects within the hour.
- 9. Report to college with the admission order and originals.
- 10. Use extended or stray rounds only if you still want to move up.
Preparing for the next PGCET cycle?
Online-only live classes three evenings a week, every class recorded, with e-books, a full mock series and mentorship included. Admissions are rolling — you can join any week, with live online classes on Monday, Wednesday and Friday, 6:30–8 PM IST, every class recorded, plus e-books, mocks and mentorship. Contact us to join the current cycle.
A daily status tracker
During counselling week, checking the KEA dashboard once each evening is enough to stay ahead.
| What to watch | KEA tab | Tip |
|---|---|---|
| Seat matrix + fee PDFs | Seat Matrix | Usually appears before option entry opens |
| Verification slip | Doc Verification | Download and keep two copies |
| Allotment result | My Allotments | Often posted in the evening on result day |
| Fee confirmation | Payment Status | Recheck about an hour after paying |
| Admission order | Admission Order | Keep both soft and hard copies |
Document checklist (carry originals plus three sets)
- PGCET 2026 hall ticket and rank card
- SSLC and PUC / 10+2 marks cards
- All semester marks cards of your degree
- Degree or provisional certificate
- Study certificate (Class 1 to degree)
- Category, income, HK-region or PwD certificates, if applicable
- Government photo ID (Aadhaar / passport / voter ID)
- Two passport photographs
Common slip-ups and quick fixes
| Slip-up | What it costs | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Not saving after editing options | Server keeps your old order | Always save before closing the tab |
| Blurry certificate scans | Verification rejected | Rescan at 300 dpi within the size limit |
| Paying after the deadline | Seat auto-cancels | Use UPI if net-banking stalls |
| Reporting without originals | Admission can be revoked | Carry originals plus the KEA admission order |
PGCET counselling 2026: frequently asked questions
When is PGCET counselling 2026?
PGCET 2026 counselling began on 11 September 2026 with round 1 option entry. Round 1 results came out on 25 September 2026, and the round 2 option entry window ran from 13 to 15 October 2026.
When does PGCET 2nd round counselling start?
KEA opened the round 2 option entry link on 13 October 2026. Options could be rearranged from 2.00 pm on 13 October to 10.00 am on 15 October 2026. Allotted candidates pay fees by 19 October and report by 23 October 2026.
Is PGCET counselling started?
Yes. Counselling started on 11 September 2026. Round 1 and the round 2 option entry window are complete, and KEA has not yet announced a further round.
How many rounds of counselling are there in PGCET?
KEA has held round 1 and a round 2 option entry window in 2026. It has asked the Supreme Court for permission to conduct two more rounds, and those dates are not announced.
How to apply for counselling after PGCET?
Download your claim slip, enter your college and course options in order on the KEA portal, check the mock allotment and edit your list, then check the final allotment, pay the fees and report to the college.
What are the PGCET counselling fees?
KEA does not list a separate counselling fee on its PGCET 2026 page. You pay the fee of the allotted college and course, plus VTU registration and other fees of ₹11,880 for candidates with a Karnataka UG degree, as per the notice hosted by KEA.
After you lock your seat
- 1. Print the admission order in colour (two copies).
- 2. Settle any remaining tuition at the college finance desk.
- 3. Register for Semester 1 and collect the academic calendar.
- 4. Line up notes and mentorship early — a strong first semester sets the tone.
PGCET counselling is a marathon of dates, receipts and logins, but it stays calm if you keep to the checklist, watch the KEA dashboard once a day, and hold every PDF in one folder on your phone. Confirm every date and fee on the official KEA site (cetonline.karnataka.gov.in/kea) before you act on it.
Free tool: PGCET rank and college predictor
Enter your PGCET marks and see an estimated rank, plus the MBA, MCA and M.Tech colleges that closed near it in KEA’s 2025 first round — filtered by your category and seat type. No sign-up.
PGCET books, e-books and mock tests
The PGCET MBA set and the PGCET MCA set are printed A4 and couriered across India. E-books and the PGCET mock tests with one-year access are on the same store.