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.