Karnataka State Board Students Excel in KCET 2026, Surpassing CBSE Peers
Karnataka | State board students outdo CBSE candidates in CET
Deccan Herald
Image: Deccan Herald
In the 2026 Karnataka Common Entrance Test (KCET), students from state board colleges significantly outperformed their CBSE counterparts, dominating the top ranks across various streams. This year, 81 out of the top 100 engineering ranks were secured by state board students.
- 01In the KCET 2026, state board students claimed 9 out of the top 10 ranks in Engineering and Veterinary streams.
- 02The overall pass percentage for CBSE class 12 students dropped to 83.29%, affecting their performance in KCET.
- 03A total of 2,92,782 candidates registered for admissions, with 2,82,603 eligible for engineering courses, marking an increase from previous years.
- 04Tanisha Karthik from RV PU College topped the Engineering stream, while Nayana Gopi from BASE PU College excelled in multiple categories.
- 05Counseling for admissions will commence on June 10, independent of NEET results due to delays.
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In the 2026 Karnataka Common Entrance Test (KCET), students from colleges affiliated with the state's Department of Pre University Education outperformed those from the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE). A remarkable 81 out of the top 100 engineering ranks were secured by state board students, with 9 of the top 10 in Engineering and 8 in Veterinary coming from state colleges. This marks a significant shift from the previous year when CBSE students dominated the top ranks. The drop in the CBSE class 12 pass percentage to 83.29% from 88.39% is seen as a contributing factor to this year's results. Overall, 2,92,782 candidates registered for admissions, with an increase in eligible students for engineering courses compared to the last two years. Notable top performers include Tanisha Karthik from RV PU College in Engineering and Nayana Gopi from BASE PU College, who topped several streams including Veterinary and Nursing. The Minister for Medical Education announced that counseling will start on June 10, regardless of the NEET results.
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The improved performance of state board students in KCET may lead to increased enrollment in state colleges and shift perceptions regarding educational quality.
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