This counselling guide is currently available in English only. Translations are coming soon.
The Karnataka Examinations Authority runs centralised B.Arch counselling for Karnataka government and aided institutes. KEA explicitly does not conduct any state CET for B.Arch. Admission is via NATA or JEE Main Paper 2 only, with best-of-both used when both are submitted. COMEDK is a separate counselling for private colleges and also does not run a B.Arch entrance, it uses NATA or JEE Paper 2.
Important dates
- Upcoming: NATA Phase 1 resultExpected dateMay 2026
- Upcoming: KEA B.Arch notificationJune 2026 (TBD)
- Upcoming: Document verificationJune or July 2026 (TBD)
- Upcoming: Round 1 allotmentJuly 2026 (TBD)
- Upcoming: Round 2 allotmentAugust 2026 (TBD)
- Upcoming: Round 3 / mop-upAugust or September 2026 (TBD)
At a glance
- Entrance
- NATA or JEE Paper 2 (best of both)
- KEA-conducted CET for B.Arch?
- No
- COMEDK B.Arch entrance?
- No, uses NATA or JEE P2
- Article 371(J) Hyd-Karnataka quota
- 70% local + 8% statewide outside region
- Government quota fee
- Subsidised
- Management quota
- Direct payment, separate process
Eligibility
- Academic qualification10+2 with Physics and Mathematics compulsory plus one more, 50% PCM aggregate (45% for reserved categories from Karnataka).
- Entrance acceptedNATA score, JEE Main Paper 2 score, or both. Best-of-both is used in merit calculation.
- Karnataka domicile and Class 12For state quota, you need Karnataka domicile or have completed Class 11 and Class 12 from a Karnataka institution. Verify nativity rules in the official 2026 brochure.
Reservation matrix
| Category | Quota | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| GM (General Merit) | Open | |
| SC | 15% | Karnataka domicile, may be revised per pending GO |
| ST | 3% | Karnataka domicile, may be revised per pending GO |
| Cat I (Most backward) | 4% | |
| 2A (Backward) | 15% | |
| 2B (Backward minorities) | 4% | |
| 3A (Other backward) | 4% | |
| 3B (Other backward) | 5% | |
| Article 371(J) Local (HK region) | 70% | Within Hyderabad-Karnataka colleges only |
| Article 371(J) Statewide outside HK | 8% | For HK candidates outside their home region |
| PwD (horizontal) | 5% |
Fee structure
- KEA application fee, GeneralConfirmed in annual brochure
- ₹650 to ₹800
- Government college tuition
- Significantly subsidised
- Private aided college tuition
- Variable, set by college
- Management quota feesOutside KEA centralised counselling
- High, set by institute
Top participating colleges
- BMS College of ArchitectureBangalore · 80 seats
- RV College of ArchitectureBangalore · 80 seats
- University Visvesvaraya College of Engineering, Department of ArchitectureBangalore · 40 seats
- Manipal School of Architecture and PlanningManipalManipal admits via Manipal entrance, not always through KEA
- Dayananda Sagar Academy of ArchitectureBangalore
- KLE Technological University, School of ArchitectureHubli
Common mistakes to avoid
KEA does not conduct an entrance test for B.Arch
Some students assume KCET covers B.Arch. It does not. Submit NATA or JEE Main Paper 2 score directly to KEA counselling.
COMEDK also has no B.Arch entrance
COMEDK runs only counselling for private colleges using NATA or JEE Paper 2 scores, not its own entrance. Plan only the entrance you need (NATA or JEE P2), not a third state-level test.
Article 371(J) Kalyana Karnataka rule is unique
Bidar, Kalaburagi, Yadgir, Raichur, Koppal, Ballari, and Vijayanagar candidates get 70% local seats within HK colleges and 8% statewide outside the region. Carry the appropriate certificate.
Management quota is outside KEA
Management seats at private colleges are filled directly by the institute, not through KEA. Apply separately for those.
NIT Karnataka (Surathkal) is JoSAA
NITK does not offer B.Arch and is in JoSAA only for B.Tech. There is no Karnataka NIT B.Arch route through KEA.
Frequently asked questions
Information curated from official sources. Always verify against cetonline.karnataka.gov.in before applying.