How to apply for DCET
Last checked against the official KEA site: September 2026
DCET registration is entirely online, through the official KEA portal at cetonline.karnataka.gov.in/kea. The 2026 application typically ran in two phases: an initial data-entry phase (personal information, communication address, education details) followed by document upload and fee payment.
- Register with a valid mobile number and email address.
- Fill in personal, academic and category details, including your diploma stream, semester-wise marks, and candidature category.
- Upload documents: photograph, signature, diploma marks cards, and category/income certificates where applicable.
- Pay the application fee online.
- Review and submit, then download/print the confirmation.
Application fee (2026 cycle)
| Candidate category | Fee |
|---|---|
| General / OBC | ₹650 |
| SC / ST | ₹500 |
The 2026 application window (March 17 onward) was extended past its original close date to April 10; watch for a similar extension notice rather than assuming the first deadline is final.
Documents commonly required
- Recent passport-size photograph and signature
- Diploma marks cards for all semesters, particularly 5th and 6th
- Diploma provisional/final certificate
- Caste/category certificate, for reserved-category candidates
- Income certificate, where required for category or fee concessions
- Domicile or study certificates establishing Karnataka candidature
Made a mistake after submitting? The correction window
KEA opens a correction window after registration closes, accessed via your existing login — and importantly, DCET's rules are the opposite of KCET's here: name, father's name, date of birth and email ID cannot be changed during correction. Get these exactly right the first time; other details have more flexibility. There's no fee for using the correction facility itself.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Miscalculating your own 5th/6th-semester aggregate before checking the minimum-marks requirement.
- Mismatched name/date-of-birth spelling between the application and your diploma marks card — this is especially costly for DCET specifically, since the correction window doesn't allow fixing name or DOB at all.
- Missing the fee-payment step after filling the form.
- Assuming residency outside Karnataka qualifies — DCET is restricted to Karnataka candidates only.