11,000 SC students may lose chance at CET counselling over delay in issuing caste certificates

Published 3 July 2026 · india

More than 11,000 Scheduled Caste (SC) students fear they may be deprived of reserved seats during CET 2026 counselling due to the non-submission of caste

More than 11,000 Scheduled Caste (SC) students fear they may be deprived of reserved seats during CET 2026 counselling due to the non-submission of caste certificates compliant with internal reservation. The problem stems from delays in tehsildar offices across the State in issuing the required certificates. Responding to complaints from SC students, the Karnataka Examinations Authority (KEA) has written to the Revenue Department, urging the speedy issuance of caste certificates under internal reservation. As per the current schedule, July 8, is the last date for “option entry” for admission to professional courses. However, the portal is preventing these 11,000 students from doing so as their documents do not include the Revenue Document (RD) number of a caste certificate compliant with internal reservation. Confusion Since the State government had not taken a decision on implementing internal reservation for CET when applications were submitted, SC students entered the RD number from their existing caste certificates in the online application.

However, after the government decided to implement internal reservation and allot seats in professional courses accordingly, the KEA directed all students seeking seats under the SC reservation to submit caste certificates under Categories A, B and C of the internal reservation system. Out of 43,353 SC students, 32,267 students — including 8,776 under Category A, 11,466 under Category B, and 12,025 under Category C — have entered the RD number of their caste certificates compliant with internal reservation. The remaining 11,086 students are yet to submit their certificates. “Initially, it was not mandatory to submit a caste certificate under internal reservation, so we submitted our old caste certificates. After the government implemented internal reservation, KEA asked us to obtain caste certificates under the internal reservation categories and register the RD number.

Even after applying for the certificate nearly a month ago, the tehsildar’s office has not issued it. Because of this delay, we are unable to complete option entry,” lamented Kavya (name changed), a student from Bengaluru South district. KEA executive director H. Prasanna said students who are yet to register their RD numbers under internal reservation have been urged to obtain the certificates and update their details at the earliest through SMS messages and newspaper. “A letter has also been written to the Revenue Department Secretary regarding students’ complaints over the delay in issuing certificates. We hope all eligible students receive their certificates in time,” he said. Completion of option entry pending for 80,000 students Sources in the Karnataka Examinations Authority (KEA) said that more than 80,000 students have not completed option entry for professional courses this year due to various reasons.