DCET exam pattern and syllabus
Last checked against the official KEA site: September 2026
DCET is a 100-mark, 3-hour, offline pen-and-paper objective examination with no negative marking. The syllabus is uniform across all polytechnic diploma branches rather than stream-specific.
Paper structure & subject marks breakdown
| Subject Section | Questions | Marks | Weightage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engineering Mathematics | 40 MCQs | 40 Marks | 40% |
| Basic Sciences (Applied Physics & Chemistry) | 40 MCQs | 40 Marks | 40% |
| Basic Electronics, Electrical, IT & Project Management | 20 MCQs | 20 Marks | 20% |
| Total | 100 MCQs | 100 Marks | 100% (3 Hours) |
Marking scheme & exam timing
- Duration: 3 hours (180 minutes), typically conducted in the morning session (10:00 AM to 1:00 PM).
- Marking Scheme: Each correct MCQ awards +1 mark. There is no negative marking for incorrect or unattempted questions.
- Equal Syllabus for All Branches: Because this common syllabus applies universally regardless of diploma specialisation, mechanical, civil, computer science, and electrical diploma holders write the exact same paper.
Download the exact, current-year syllabus PDF and previous years' question papers directly from the official KEA portal. Karnataka government content is copyrighted, so this site links to the source rather than hosting copies. See also the previous year papers hub.