If you are in PGCET 2026 counselling for MBA, MCA or M.E./M.Tech, two deadlines from the Karnataka Examinations Authority (KEA) fall this week. Both come from KEA's note No. ED/KEA/REC/01/2026, dated 9 October 2026.
| What | Opens | Last date and time |
|---|---|---|
| Exercise your choice (one of the four choices) | Open now | 10:00 am, Tuesday 13 October 2026 |
| Rearrange your options | 2:00 pm, Tuesday 13 October 2026 | 10:00 am, Thursday 15 October 2026 |
KEA has said the 13 October time will not be extended again. If you have not yet exercised your choice, do it before 10 am today.
Why these dates exist
KEA has asked the Supreme Court for permission to hold two more counselling rounds for PGCET 2026. Until the court decides, KEA is treating these windows as a continuation of Round 1. Our earlier article explains the petition: KEA asks the Supreme Court for two more rounds.
This means the option list you leave on KEA's portal at 10 am on 15 October is the list KEA would use if further rounds go ahead.
Before 10 am today: the choice
- Happy with your seat? You do not need to change anything.
- Want a better seat but keeping this one as a fallback? Look at the choice that holds your current seat while keeping you in later rounds.
- Thinking of giving up your seat? Be careful. If the court does not allow more rounds, there may be no next round.
- Already reported to a college? KEA's note says you can still log in and exercise a choice.
Read the exact wording of each choice on KEA's portal before you submit. That wording is what counts.
2 pm today to 10 am Thursday: rearranging your options
This is the window to get your option list right. A few things to check:
- Put your real first preference first. Seats are allotted in the order of your list. Put the college you most want at the top, even if last year's ranks make it look out of reach. You lose nothing by listing it higher.
- Remove anything you would not join. Every option on your list is one you could be allotted. If a college you would refuse is on it, take it off, so a seat you do want is not passed over.
- Compare government-quota fees. The same college can be much cheaper on a KEA seat. Check the fee for each option before you rank it.
- Think about travel and specialisation. For MBA, check which specialisations the college offers. For all courses, think about the daily commute or hostel cost.
- Do not wait for the last hour. KEA's portal is usually busiest close to the deadline. Finish by Wednesday evening and save a copy of your final list.
On Shreyapatha you can look up a college's NIRF ranking, its year of establishment and, where the college has confirmed them, its fees and courses. Browse MBA colleges in Karnataka while you build your list.
What happens after 15 October
KEA's next notice will follow the Supreme Court's order. If the court allows two more rounds, KEA will announce the schedule. If it does not, Round 1 allotments will likely stand as final. We will update this page when KEA publishes its next notice.
If you want a second pair of eyes on your option list before Thursday, our counsellors can go through your rank, category and options with you at no cost.