Karnataka PGCET 2025 Eligibility Criteria, Clauses, and Reservation Criteria

The Karnataka Examinations Authority (KEA) releases the Karnataka PGCET eligibility criteria every year. To apply for PGCET, a student must have a Bachelor’s Degree (at least 3 years) from a recognized university. The latest eligibility details will be updated here once they are released on the official website. However, the eligibility criteria are likely to remain the same as last year.

The Karnataka PGCET exam for M.E./ M.Tech and M.Arch courses will be held on May 31, 2025, while the exam for MBA and MCA courses is scheduled for June 22, 2025. The registration process for the Karnataka PGCET 2025 exam will begin on April 25, 2025.

Karnataka PGCET is a state-level exam for admission to part-time or full-time MBA, MCA, M.E., M.Tech, and M.Arch courses. If a student does not meet the eligibility criteria, their Karnataka PGCET 2025 application Process may be rejected. More details about Karnataka PGCET eligibility, course-wise requirements, and the registration process can be found in the article.

Check: Karnataka PGCET 2025 Syllabus

Karnataka PGCET 2025 Eligibility Criteria 

The Karnataka Examinations Authority (KEA) has set specific eligibility criteria for students applying for the exam. These criteria are divided based on factors like domicile (whether the student is from Karnataka or not), academic qualifications, and other requirements. The details are listed below:

Karnataka PGCET 2025 Eligibility: MBA Program

MBA admissions are offered as full-time or part-time programs. The eligibility for each type is as follows:

Full-Time MBA course

• Candidates must complete a Bachelor’s Degree from a recognized college or university.
• The degree course should be for at least 3 years.
• Candidates must score at least 50% marks in total, including all subjects and languages, in all the years of their degree.
• For SC, ST, and Category-I students from Karnataka, 45% marks in total is required to be eligible.

Part Time MBA courses

• The rules for this type of admission are the same as mentioned earlier.
• Additionally, candidates must have at least 3 years of work experience after completing their degree, as of July 31, 2025.
• The organization where the candidate works must be within 40 km of the institution where they want to take admission.

Karnataka PGCET 2025 Eligibility: MCA Program

Aspirants can take admissions to full-time or part-time MCA Programs. Both Karnataka and Non-Karnataka candidates are also offered admissions to 2nd year lateral entry to MCA courses. 

Full time Course

• A Bachelor’s Degree from a recognized institution or a similar examination is required.
• Any one of these subjects must have been studied in the degree:
  • Mathematics
  • Statistics
  • Computer Science
  • Computer Applications
  • Computer Programming
  • Business Mathematics
  • Business Statistics
• Minimum marks required:
  • 50% marks overall in all years of the degree.
  • 45% marks for SC/ST and Category-I candidates from Karnataka.
• Candidates who studied one of the above subjects in their Pre-University Course (PUC) and scored 50% in that subject can also apply.

Lateral Entry to 2nd year MCA 

1. Bachelor’s Degree (3 years) in BCA, B.Sc. (IT / Computer Science) is required.
2. Mathematics must have been studied either in Class 12 (10+2) or during the degree course.
3. Minimum marks required:

• 50% marks overall in all years of the degree.
• 45% marks for SC/ ST and Category-I candidates from Karnataka.

1. Eligible for MCA course admission if the above conditions are met.

Note: There are no Part-time courses offered for the MCA degree.

Karnataka PGCET 2025 Eligibility: M.E./ M. Tech / M. Arch

Full-Time M.E./ M. Tech / M. Arch Courses

• Candidates with a valid GATE score are given first preference for admission.
• Candidates must have passed a qualifying degree examination or an equivalent exam as specified by the authorities.
• Minimum marks required:

1. 50% aggregate marks in all subjects across all years/semesters.
2. 45% marks for SC/ST and Category-I candidates.

• Eligible for admission if these requirements are fulfilled.

Part-Time M.E./ M. Tech/ M. Arch Courses

1. Candidates must have passed the qualifying degree examination or an equivalent exam as per the rules.
2. Minimum marks required:

• 50% aggregate marks in all subjects across all years/semesters.
• 45% marks for SC/ ST and Category-I candidates.

1. Work experience requirement:

• At least 3 years of work experience in a recognized organization after completing the degree, as of July 31, 2025.

1. Location requirement:

• The organization must be within 40 km from the institution where admission is sought.

1. Employer's NOC:

• The employer must fill and sign a No Objection Certificate (NOC) for the candidate.

Note: Rounding off aggregate percent is not permitted under any circumstances.

Admission to the Part-Time M. Tech Quality Improvement Program (QIP)

• Candidates must have passed B.E./ B.Tech degree in the relevant field from VTU or any other recognized university/institution.
• Minimum marks required: 50% aggregate marks in all subjects (No relaxation for any category).
• Work experience requirement: At least one academic year of work experience is needed.
• Location requirement: The workplace must be within a 100 km radius of the institution where admission is sought.
• Final year students: Candidates appearing for their final qualifying exam in 2025 and waiting for results can also apply for Karnataka PGCET 2025.

Karnataka PGCET 2025 Eligibility Clauses

Students must meet one of the following conditions to be considered as Karnataka candidates. Each condition has a code and requires specific documents to be shown during the seat allotment process. Students who do not meet any of these conditions will be treated as non-Karnataka candidates and can only apply for seats given up by the management, if available.

Eligibility Guidelines for MBA and MCA

• The student must have studied in one or more schools recognized by the Government of Karnataka for at least 7 years, starting from 1st standard to their last qualifying exam (continuously or with gaps) before July 1st of the year of the entrance test.
• The student must have passed either the SSLC/ CBSE Class 10 2025 Exam or 2nd PUC / 12th standard exam from a school recognized by the Government of Karnataka.
• The student must have completed their qualifying exam in Karnataka from a school or college run or approved by the State Government.
• If either the student's father or mother studied in Karnataka for at least 7 years in a government-recognized school, the student is also eligible.
• Children of ex-servicemen can apply if their father/mother declared Karnataka as their home when joining the defense service.
• They need to show a certificate from the Deputy Director, Department of Sainik Welfare and Resettlement as proof.
• These students can pass their final qualifying exam from any school or college in India.

Check Karnataka PGCET 2025 Result

Eligibility Guidelines for M.E./ M.Tech

• The student must have studied and passed in a school or college recognized by the Karnataka Government for at least 7 years, starting from 1st standard to their last exam, either continuously or with gaps, before July 1st of the year of the entrance exam.
• The student must have passed either the 10th standard (SSLC) or 12th standard (2nd PUC) exam from a government-recognized school in Karnataka.
• The student must have passed their final qualifying exam in Karnataka from a school or college approved by the State Government.
• If either the student's mother or father studied in Karnataka for at least 7 years in a government-recognized school, the student can apply.
• If the student or their parents lived in Karnataka for at least 7 years, the student is also eligible.

Karnataka PGCET: Reservation for Karnataka Candidates

Some seats in Karnataka PGCET 2025 are set aside for students who belong to certain special groups. These groups include Scheduled Caste (SC), Scheduled Tribe (ST), and Other Backward Classes (OBC). The OBC group is further divided into Category 1, 2A, 2B, 3A, and 3B. This reservation is given according to government rules made on January 31, 1995. These reserved seats are only for students who are from Karnataka.

• Candidates must show a Caste Certificate or Caste Income Certificate from the local Tahsildar as proof of their caste and income.
• This rule is based on a government order made on March 30, 2002, and updated from time to time.
• SC, ST, and Category-1 students do not have to pay tuition fees if their family's yearly income is less than ₹2.5 lakhs.
• Candidates should read government rules to know more details.
• OBC students need to pay their fees first when they get a seat through CET.
• After getting admission, OBC students can ask for money back (reimbursement) from the Backward Class Department.
• SC, ST, and Category-1 students must show an Income Certificate from the Tahsildar in a specific format.
• The Income Certificate is needed to get a scholarship from the Government of India.

Karnataka PGCET 2025 Eligibility FAQs