PGCET frequently asked questions
Last checked against the official KEA site: August 2026
Straight answers to the questions we see most often about PGCET.
Questions and answers
Is PGCET conducted online or offline?
Offline. It is a pen-and-paper, OMR-based exam held at physical exam centres across roughly 30 districts in Karnataka.
Is there negative marking in PGCET?
No. Each question carries one mark, and there is no deduction for wrong or unattempted answers.
Do MBA, MCA and M.Tech candidates take the same exam?
No. Each stream has its own 100-question, 100-mark, 120-minute paper with different subject content, and separate rank lists are prepared per stream.
Can I apply for PGCET with work experience but no full-time study gap issue?
Yes — part-time/executive MBA has the same academic eligibility as full-time MBA, plus a minimum 3 years of relevant work experience.
Is there a GATE-based route into M.Tech alongside PGCET?
Yes. Some M.Tech/M.E./M.Arch seats are available to candidates with a valid GATE score through a separate admission route, alongside the PGCET rank-based route.
How many colleges accept PGCET?
Reported counts put this at roughly 289 colleges for MBA, 190 for MCA, and 129 for M.Tech/M.E./M.Arch, spanning more than 280 participating institutions and 57,000+ postgraduate seats combined.
Where do I check the current, official PGCET dates?
The official KEA PGCET portal is cetonline.karnataka.gov.in/kea/pgcet2026. This site links to the current portal throughout rather than restating notification content.
Should I prepare for PGCET or GATE for my M.Tech?
Depends on your goal. PGCET is the state-quota route into Karnataka colleges' regular M.Tech/M.E./M.Arch seats; GATE is the national route into IITs/NITs and also feeds a separate GATE-quota seat pool at some Karnataka colleges, with a possible postgraduate stipend attached. See the full comparison on the blog.
Does PGCET have the same reservation categories as KCET?
Yes, the same eight-category framework (GM, 2A, 2B, 3A, 3B, SC, ST, Category-1) applies, but because PGCET's applicant pool is far smaller than KCET's, the gap between categories' closing ranks is typically much narrower — often within 2x rather than KCET's 6–12x. See the cutoff page for a real side-by-side example.
What is the KEA helpline number for PGCET queries?
The same KEA helplines cover PGCET as every other KEA exam: 080 2346 0460 (5 lines), plus 080 2356 4583, 080 2346 1575/1576, 080 2356 8201/8202 and 080 2346 2599/2758, 10:00 AM–6:00 PM on working days. Email [email protected] if the lines are busy. Full details on the contact page.
Can I take PGCET for more than one stream (say MBA and MCA) in the same year?
Each stream (MBA, MCA, M.Tech/M.E./M.Arch) has its own separate application, exam paper and rank list, so yes, you can register for and sit more than one if your eligibility and exam-date schedule allow it. Check that year's exam dates for each stream carefully, since they don't always fall on different days.