Uncertainty over second round of PGCET counselling leaves aspirants anxious
Uncertainty over whether a second round of Postgraduate Common Entrance Test (PGCET) counselling will be held this year has triggered anxiety among thousands of MBA, MCA, ME, MTech and MArch aspirants in Karnataka, even as the first-round fee payment window has been extended for a third time.
First round stretched, no clarity on the next
The Karnataka Examinations Authority (KEA) has pushed the deadline for fee payment by candidates allotted seats in the first round to October 7, 2026. Candidates have also been given until October 8 to download their admission order or seat confirmation slip and complete admission formalities at their respective colleges after paying the prescribed fees.
While extending the timeline, KEA has not made any announcement on whether a second round of counselling will take place, nor has it opened the “choice entry” portal for candidates hoping to upgrade or secure a seat in subsequent rounds. The silence has prompted mounting frustration among aspirants who say they are unable to plan their next steps without clarity on the admission schedule.
Protests and allegations at KEA office
Tensions escalated on Monday, October 5, when a group of aspirants visited the KEA office in Bengaluru seeking information on the second round. According to candidates, a heated verbal altercation ensued after staff attempted to remove them from the premises. The students then staged a protest.
“Thousands of candidates are in a state of confusion due to the lack of information regarding the second round. Despite repeatedly requesting that the ‘choice entry’ for the second round be opened, there has been no response. When we visited the KEA office to seek information, the staff assaulted us and tried to drive us out,” the candidates alleged. KEA did not issue a statement on the confrontation at the time of publication.
Seat allotment status and pending vacancies
The first round of PGCET seat allotment results was announced on September 25, 2026. KEA reported that 23,164 seats were allotted in this phase. However, large numbers of seats remain unfilled across key disciplines, including 9,574 seats in MCA, 2,195 in MBA and 1,821 in MTech. KEA had earlier indicated that the schedule for the subsequent admission process would be announced after September 29, but no such timetable has been released; instead, the first-round deadlines were extended repeatedly.
Why the delay? Conflicting timelines and court orders
Officials and stakeholders point to multiple factors behind this year’s delays. The Department of Technical Education was late in submitting the seat matrix, which pushed back the counselling process. In parallel, the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) issued its national academic calendar for postgraduate technical programmes, directing that classes begin on October 15.
With admissions still underway in many States, several governments moved the Supreme Court seeking an extension of the enrolment deadline. The apex court, however, directed that the AICTE schedule be adhered to, creating pressure to complete admissions in time for the October 15 start date.
Students’ petition demands opening of second-round options
Amid the uncertainty, an online petition demanding immediate commencement of “choice entry” for the second round has garnered 6,508 signatures. The petition argues that the lack of a clear schedule is disrupting students’ ability to plan admissions, arrange finances and prepare for the academic term. It emphasizes that the ambiguity is particularly detrimental to candidates awaiting seat allotment and those who wish to modify their preferences in the second-round option entry.
KEA cites Supreme Court directive; State appeals for relief
KEA officials have maintained that they are bound by the Supreme Court’s directive to follow the AICTE timetable, under which classes are slated to begin on October 15. They added that Karnataka has filed an appeal before the Supreme Court seeking an extension of the enrolment deadline for PG technical courses. Any decision on subsequent rounds of counselling, officials indicated, would depend on the outcome of that appeal.
What happens next
As things stand, candidates allotted seats in the first round have until October 7 to pay fees and until October 8 to secure admission at their colleges. Unless there is an intervention from the Supreme Court granting an extension to the enrolment schedule, institutions are expected to commence classes on October 15 in line with AICTE’s calendar.
Meanwhile, thousands of aspirants remain in limbo, awaiting a formal decision from KEA on the conduct and timing of a second round of counselling, even as significant seat vacancies persist across multiple programmes.
Why it matters
The prolonged uncertainty risks leaving seats unfilled and students without clarity just days before the academic year is due to start. With substantial vacancies in MBA, MCA and MTech courses and the State’s appeal pending before the apex court, a timely, transparent decision on counselling schedules will be critical to ensuring admissions proceed smoothly and students are not disadvantaged.
