Delay in final seat matrix pushes CET counselling dates

Karnataka's aspiring engineers face fresh uncertainty as the Karnataka Examinations Authority (KEA) has postponed the Common Entrance Test (CET) counselling, initially slated to begin today, June 10, for the 2026-27 academic year. The critical delay stems from the Higher Education Department failure to furnish the final seat matrix and fee structure, a bottleneck exacerbated by the absence of a Higher Education Minister, necessitating the Chief Minister's direct approval. This deferral compounds an already complex admissions landscape. Just weeks ago, Karnataka boldly decoupled its CET counselling from the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET) schedule, aiming to circumvent delays caused by the national medical exam's NEET paper leak controversy and June 21 re-examination. The KEA had released a draft seat matrix on June 4, detailing over 1.59 lakh seats across 227 engineering colleges, inviting objections until June 9, and had previously cautioned departments against late submissions. This year's matrix also introduces new regulatory caps on Computer Science and IT-related seats in private institutions, a move based on the Sadagopan Committee recommendations to rebalance engineering streams. KEA officials now anticipate a minimum three-day postponement, with counselling potentially commencing around June 13, pending the Chief Minister's expedited approval of the final seat matrix. However, with the academic calendar already under pressure and students' futures hanging in the balance, any further procedural delays could ripple through the entire higher education system, potentially impacting class commencement and necessitating a swift resolution from state authorities. The state's ability to streamline this crucial process will be under intense scrutiny.