KEAM

KEAM 2026: Exam Date, Syllabus, Eligibility, Registration, Pattern & Kerala Admission Guide

Engineering

Prabhu Raul

Updated on March 10, 2026

Latest Updates

24 July, 2026: Kerala Architecture Admission 2026: Provisional Eligibility List for Quota Seats Published

The Commissioner for Entrance Examinations (CEE) Kerala has published the provisional list of eligible candidates for Community, Registered Society, and Trust quota seats for Architecture courses on July 24, 2026.

24 July, 2026: KEAM 2026 Medical & Allied Courses: Fresh Applications and Course Addition Open

The Commissioner for Entrance Examinations Kerala announced on July 23, 2026, that candidates can now submit fresh applications for Medical and Medical Allied courses, and existing KEAM applicants can add courses and reservation claims.

24 July, 2026: Kerala MBBS 2026 Fee Structure Revised for Govt and Self-Financing Colleges

The CEE Kerala has announced a revised fee structure on July 24, 2026, for students currently pursuing or seeking admission to the MBBS course in Government and Self-Financing Medical Colleges within the state.

19 July, 2026: Engg. Colleges -- Revision of fee structure

A Government Order dated July 18, 2026, has been issued regarding the revision of the fee structure for Engineering Colleges.

19 July, 2026: സ്വാശ്രയ എൻജിനീയറിങ് കോളേജുകൾ - പലിശ രഹിത ഡിപ്പോസിറ്റ് - വ്യവസ്ഥ ഒഴിവാക്കി

The Government of Kerala issued an order on July 18, 2026, removing the interest-free deposit condition for self-financing engineering colleges.

20 July, 2026: KEAM 2026 Phase 2 Allotment Released. Check at cee.kerala.gov.in

The Commissioner for Entrance Examinations (CEE) Kerala released the KEAM 2026 Phase 2 seat allotment for BE and BTech admissions on July 19, 2026.

11 July, 2026: KERALA ARCHITECTURE COURSE 2026 - PROVISIONAL RANK LIST PUBLISHED

The provisional rank list for the Kerala Architecture Course 2026 was published on July 10, 2026.

11 July, 2026: ADMISSION TO ENGINEERING COURSES 2026 - PROVISIONAL LIST OF ELIGIBLE CANDIDATES FOR COMMUNITY/REGISTERED SCOCIETY/TRUST QUOTA AND CB SEATS PUBLISHED

The Commissioner for Entrance Examinations (CEE) Kerala has published the provisional list of eligible candidates for Engineering courses 2026 under Community, Registered Society, Trust Quota, and CB seats on July 10, 2026.

13 July, 2026: SECOND PHASE OPTION CONFIRMATION FOR ENGINEERING COURSES & FIRST PHASE OPTION REGISTRATION FOR ARCHITECTURE COURSE HAVE STARTED

CEE Kerala has started the second phase option confirmation for Engineering courses and the first phase option registration for Architecture courses as of July 13, 2026.

13 July, 2026: ADMISSION TO ENGINEERING COURSES - 2026 FINAL LIST

The final list of eligible candidates for Engineering course admissions 2026 under Community, Registered Society, Trust, and Co-operative Department/Societies quota seats was published on July 11, 2026.

13 July, 2026: ADMISSION TO ARCHITECTURE COURSE - 2026 RANK LIST PUBLISHED

The rank list for admission to the Architecture Course for the year 2026 was published on July 11, 2026, by the CEE Kerala.

16 July, 2026: Admission To Architecture Course (B.Arch) Final Category-Wise List Published

The CEE Kerala has published the final category-wise list for admission to the Architecture course (B.Arch) for the year 2026 on July 14, 2026.

What is KEAM?

The Kerala Engineering Architecture Medical Entrance Examination (KEAM) is a state-level entrance test conducted by the Commissioner for Entrance Examinations (CEE), Kerala, for admission to undergraduate programs in engineering, pharmacy, architecture, agriculture, medical, and allied sciences across government, aided, and private institutions in Kerala. Established under the Kerala Educational Institutions Act, KEAM serves as the primary gateway for over 1 lakh aspirants annually, offering seats in more than 150 engineering colleges, 20 pharmacy institutes, and various agricultural/medical programs. While engineering and pharmacy admissions are based on KEAM scores, architecture requires NATA, and medical courses use NEET. The exam ensures a merit-based, centralized allotment process with reservations for Kerala domiciles (85% seats) and open quotas for others.

KEAM 2026 Highlights

KEAM 2026 key details include a computer-based test for engineering/pharmacy, with admissions to other streams via separate exams but centralised counselling.

Particular	Details
Exam Name	Kerala Engineering Architecture Medical Entrance Examination (KEAM)
Conducting Body	Commissioner for Entrance Examinations (CEE), Kerala
Exam Level	State Level
Exam Frequency	Once a year
Mode of Exam	Computer-Based Test (CBT) for Engineering/Pharmacy
Total Seats (Approx.)	20,000+ across UG courses
Duration	180 minutes (Engineering), 90 minutes (Pharmacy)
Total Questions	150 (Engineering), 75 (Pharmacy)
Total Marks	600 (Engineering), 300 (Pharmacy)
Marking Scheme	+4 for correct, –1 for incorrect, 0 for unattempted
Language	English only
Official Website	cee.kerala.gov.in

KEAM 2026 Important Dates

CEE Kerala announced the tentative KEAM 2026 schedule. The official brochure will confirm exact dates in February 2026.

Event	Tentative Date
Notification Release	February 2026
Online Registration Starts	February 20, 2026
Last Date to Submit Application	March 10, 2026
Application Correction Window	March 2026
Admit Card Download	April 10, 2026
KEAM 2026 Exam Date	April 15–21, 2026 (Buffer: April 13, 14, 22, 23)
Answer Key Release	May 2026
Result Declaration	June 2026
Counselling Registration	July 2026

KEAM 2026 Eligibility Criteria

Candidates must meet CEE's criteria, including nativity for state quota seats. Non-Keralites can apply for open quotas.

Nationality: Indian citizens; PIO/OCI eligible; foreign nationals via DASA.
Nativity: Keralites (born/parent domiciled in Kerala); Non-Keralite Category I (studied in Kerala for 4+ years); Non-Keralite Category II (10+2 in Kerala).
Age Limit: Minimum 17 years as of December 31, 2026; no upper limit.
Educational Qualification (Engineering): 10+2 with Physics, Mathematics, and Chemistry/Biology/Computer Science/Biotechnology (45% aggregate; 40% for reserved).
Educational Qualification (Pharmacy): 10+2 with Physics, Chemistry, Biology/Mathematics (50% aggregate).
Educational Qualification (Architecture): 10+2 with Mathematics; valid NATA score.
Appearing Candidates: Eligible if completing 10+2 in 2026.
Attempts: No limit.

KEAM 2026 Application Form: Step-by-Step Guide

The entire KEAM 2026 registration process is online only on cee.kerala.gov.in. Candidates must complete all steps in one session, including uploading documents and fee payment.

Visit cee.kerala.gov.in → Click “KEAM 2026 – Candidate Portal”
Click “New Registration” → Enter name, DOB, mobile, email → Generate Application Number & Password
Log in → Fill personal, nativity, academic (10th & 12th details), course preferences
Upload recent passport-size photograph, signature, and required certificates (nativity, caste, income, etc.)
Pay application fee online (Debit/Credit/Net Banking/UPI/e-Challan)
Submit and download confirmation page + fee receipt

KEAM 2026 Application Fees

Fees are non-refundable and vary by course and category (2025 fees; expected same for 2026):

Course	General	SC	ST
Engineering/Pharmacy/Both	₹ 875	₹ 375	Nil
Architecture/Medical & Allied/Both	₹ 625	₹ 250	Nil
All courses (Engg + Arch + Medical)	₹ 1,125	₹ 500	Nil

Document Specifications for Upload

All images and PDFs must strictly follow CEE guidelines:

Document	Size	Format	Specific Requirements
Passport-size Photograph	15 KB – 100 KB	JPG/JPEG	Recent colour, white background, 200 × 250 pixels
Signature	10 KB – 100 KB	JPG/JPEG	Black ink on white paper, 150 × 100 pixels
Left Thumb Impression	10 KB – 100 KB	JPG/JPEG	Blue ink, clear print
Certificates (Nativity/Caste/Income)	50 KB – 300 KB	PDF	Scanned original, clear and legible

Application Correction Window & Exam Centres

CEE provides a limited correction facility after registration closes.

Correction Window: Usually 5–7 days in March 2026. Editable fields include photo, signature, certificates, and academic details. Name, DOB, mobile, email, and course opted cannot be changed.
Exam Centres: Conducted in all districts of Kerala + Dubai, New Delhi, Mumbai, and select cities in the UAE. Candidates choose their preferred district during registration; the final centre allotted by CEE.
Special Note: Candidates opting for the Dubai centre pay extra ₹5,000 (non-refundable).

KEAM 2026 Exam Pattern

KEAM 2026 is a computer-based test with separate papers for the Engineering and Pharmacy streams. There is no negative marking for unattempted questions.

Particular	Engineering	Pharmacy
Papers	Paper I: Physics & Chemistry Paper II: Mathematics	Paper I: Physics & Chemistry only
Total Questions	150 (75+75)	75
Total Marks	600	300
Duration	180 minutes (90 min each paper)	90 minutes
Marking Scheme	+4 for correct, –1 for incorrect	+4 for correct, –1 for incorrect

KEAM 2026 Detailed Syllabus

The syllabus is exactly the Kerala Higher Secondary (Plus Two) curriculum:

Physics: Electrostatics, Current Electricity, Magnetism, EMI, Optics, Modern Physics, Mechanics
Chemistry: p-block, d-block, Coordination Compounds, Organic Reactions, Thermodynamics, Chemical Kinetics
Mathematics: Calculus, Vectors & 3D Geometry, Probability, Matrices, Coordinate Geometry

Best Books for KEAM 2026 Preparation

Subject	Book	Author / Publisher
Physics	SCERT Kerala Physics Textbook (Plus One & Two)	SCERT
Physics	Objective Physics	DC Pandey (Arihant)
Chemistry	SCERT Kerala Chemistry Textbook	SCERT
Chemistry	Physical & Organic Chemistry	O.P. Tandon
Mathematics	SCERT Kerala Mathematics Textbook	SCERT
Mathematics	Mathematics for KEAM	Arihant / Pearson
Full Package	15 Years KEAM Solved Papers	Arihant

KEAM Cutoff Trends (Last Rank Admitted – General Category, Round 1)

College & Branch	2025	2024	2023
GEC Thrissur – CSE	850	920	780
RIT Kottayam – CSE	1,200	1,350	1,100
TKM College Kollam – CSE	1,500	1,680	1,420
MACE Kothamangalam – CSE	2,100	2,300	1,950
Rajagiri School of Engg – CSE	3,800	4,100	3,500
Muthoot Institute – CSE	8,500	9,200	7,800
SCMS School of Engg – CSE	12,000	13,500	11,200

Top Engineering Colleges Accepting KEAM 2026 (Approx. Annual Tuition Fee)

College	Location	Annual Fee (Govt. Quota)
Government Engineering College, Thrissur	Thrissur	₹ 8,000–₹ 15,000
Rajagiri Institute of Technology, Kothamangalam	Kochi	₹ 75,000–₹ 1 lakh
TKM College of Engineering, Kollam	Kollam	₹ 8,000–₹ 15,000
Model Engineering College, Thrikkakara	Kochi	₹ 40,000–₹ 60,000
Muthoot Institute of Technology & Science	Varikoli	₹ 75,000–₹ 1 lakh
SCMS School of Engineering & Technology	Ernakulam	₹ 1–1.5 lakh
Mar Athanasius College of Engineering	Kothamangalam	₹ 8,000–₹ 15,000
Federal Institute of Science & Technology	Angamaly	₹ 75,000–₹ 1 lakh

KEAM vs JEE Main vs TNEA vs AP EAMCET vs MHT CET: Quick Comparison

All are state-level engineering entrances, but differ in difficulty, syllabus, and admission scope.

Parameter	KEAM	JEE Main	TNEA	AP EAMCET	MHT CET
State	Kerala	National	Tamil Nadu	Andhra Pradesh	Maharashtra
Syllabus	Kerala +2 only	CBSE 11–12	TN +2 only	AP/Telangana +2	Maharashtra +2
Difficulty	Moderate	High	No exam (12th marks)	Moderate–High	Moderate
Questions / Marks	150 / 600	75 / 300	—	160 / 160	150 / 200
Negative Marking	Yes (–1)	Yes (–1)	—	No	Yes (PCM: –1, Bio: 0)
Top Colleges	GEC Thrissur, RIT Kottayam, TKM Kollam	NITs/IIITs	Anna Univ, PSG, CEG	JNTU, AU, SVU	COEP, VJTI, ICT
Competition Ratio	1:25	1:50+	1:15 (12th marks)	1:30	1:40

How to Download KEAM 2026 Admit Card

Admit cards are released approximately 10–15 days before the exam only on the official CEE portal.

Visit cee.kerala.gov.in → Click “KEAM 2026 Candidate Portal”
Log in using Application Number & Password
Download and print the admit card in colour on an A4 sheet
Affix a recent passport-size photograph (same as uploaded)
Carry admit card + original photo ID (Aadhaar/Voter ID/Passport) to the exam centre

KEAM 2026 Exam Day Instructions

Strict guidelines are enforced by CEE Kerala. Violation leads to disqualification.

Report 60 minutes before exam time
Entry closes 30 minutes before start
Prohibited items: Mobile, calculator, smart watch, notes, bags, and electronic devices
Dress code: Light clothes, no jackets or large buttons
Biometric verification (photo + fingerprint) mandatory
Only a black ballpoint pen is allowed for rough work

KEAM 2026 Result & Rank List

Results are declared in June 2026. Separate rank lists are prepared for Engineering, Pharmacy, Architecture, and Medical streams.

Engineering rank = KEAM score (50%) + Class 12 PCM normalised score (50%)
Pharmacy rank based only on KEAM Paper I (Physics & Chemistry)
Rank list PDF available on cee.kerala.gov.in
The individual scorecard is downloadable using login credentials

KEAM 2026 Counselling & Seat Allotment

Counselling is fully online and centralised through cee.kerala.gov.in.

Registration & Option Entry: July 2026
Trial Allotment → Round 1 → Round 2 → Mop-up/Spot Round
Seat acceptance fee: ₹10,000–₹30,000 (adjusted in college fee)
Documents required: KEAM rank card, admit card, 10th & 12th marksheets, nativity certificate, caste/income certificate (if applicable), transfer & conduct certificate
Reservation: SC 8%, ST 2%, SEBC 27%, EWS 10%, 3% PwD, special quotas (sports, NCC, etc.)

Is KEAM only for Kerala students?

No. Anyone can appear, but 85% seats are reserved for Kerala-domiciled candidates. Non-Keralites can get the remaining 15% open/all-India seats in government and private colleges.

Can I get engineering admission in Kerala through JEE Main?

Yes. Around 30–40% seats in private/self-financing colleges are filled through JEE Main rank under management/all-India quota. Top government colleges (GEC Thrissur, TKM Kollam, etc.) admit only through KEAM.

Is there negative marking in KEAM?

Yes, –1 mark for every wrong answer. +4 for correct, 0 for unattempted.

How is KEAM engineering rank calculated?

Final rank = 50% KEAM score + 50% normalised Class 12 PCM aggregate (Physics + Chemistry + Mathematics/Best of Maths/Biology). Class 12 marks matter a lot.

What is a good rank to get CSE in GEC Thrissur or TKM Kollam?

General category rank under 1,500 is safe for CSE in top government colleges. Rank under 3,000 guarantees CSE in top 10 government/aided colleges.

Is KEAM easier than JEE Main?

Yes, significantly. KEAM is based only on Kerala +2 syllabus, has fewer questions, and is shorter. Toppers usually score 550–580/600.

Can I apply for both Engineering and Pharmacy in one form?

Yes. One application covers all courses. You just choose the papers (Engineering: Physics+Chem+Maths; Pharmacy: Physics+Chem only).

Is nativity certificate compulsory?

Yes, for claiming Kerala state merit seats. Non-Keralites need only 10+2 passing certificate from Kerala for limited quota.

When does KEAM counselling start?

Counselling registration and option entry usually begin in the last week of July 2026 after rank list publication.

Is NATA required for B.Arch through KEAM?

Yes. B.Arch admission is based 50% on KEAM rank + 50% on NATA score.

Is calculator allowed in KEAM?

No electronic devices, calculators, or log tables are permitted.

Can I get fee concession in private colleges through KEAM?

Yes. SC/ST candidates with income below ₹2.5 lakh get full fee waiver. SEBC/EWS candidates get partial concession based on income.

How many rounds are there in KEAM counselling?

Trial allotment → Round 1 → Round 2 → Mop-up/Spot round (if seats remain). You can upgrade in every round.

Is there management quota in KEAM colleges?

No direct management quota in government colleges. Private/self-financing colleges fill 35–50% seats through management/NRI quota with higher fees.

Which are the top government engineering colleges under KEAM?

GEC Thrissur, TKM College Kollam, Rajagiri Institute Kottayam, MAC Kothamangalam, Model Engineering College Kochi, and College of Engineering Trivandrum (CET) are the best.

How much is the seat acceptance fee?

₹10,000–₹30,000 depending on category and college type. This is adjusted in the first-year tuition fee.

Is hostel compulsory in government colleges?

No, but most students opt for hostel due to limited PG availability. Hostel fee is ₹20,000–₹40,000 per year.

Can I change my college after Round 1?

Yes. You can participate in Round 2 for upgradation. Choose “Yes” for upgradation while paying fee after Round 1.

Is Class 12 marks important for KEAM rank?

Extremely important. 50% weightage is given to normalised PCM marks. Even with high KEAM score, low 12th marks can push your rank down.

Which private colleges are good under KEAM?

Rajagiri School of Engineering (Kochi), Muthoot Institute (Varikoli), SCMS (Ernakulam), Federal Institute (Angamaly), and Amal Jyothi (Kanjirappally) are highly reputed.