Bengaluru: What is in vogue with the engineering aspirants of the state this year? While computer science and allied programmes continue to be the favourite, there is a drastic rise in cutoffs in the other courses like electronics and civil engineering.The provisional cutoff ranks of the first round of counselling in the Common Entrance Test (CET) were released recently. As per the cutoff ranks, the course most in demand is computer science in RV College of Engineering, which had a cutoff of 144. While the trend was the same last year, the cutoff drastically jumped from 234 to 144 this time.Following CS, the same college had a cutoff of 243 in artificial intelligence, 266 in data science and 288 in cyber security. While the cutoffs have gone up in these courses, the head-turner is the jump in courses like civil and aerospace engineering.For instance, the cutoff in civil engineering after the first round of counselling in the same college jumped from 9,539 in 2025-26 to 5,266 this time. Electronics and communication had a cutoff of 375 this time, as against 573 last year. The cutoff for electrical engineering was 721 as against 1,126 in 2025-26. Even chemical engineering saw a rise in cutoffs.The computer science cutoff in PES was 628. In MS Ramaiah, it was 959. In BMS College of Engineering, the cutoff was 1,920.5. Electronics and communication cut-off was 2,204.“This time, we saw a combination of preference for computer science, even while students are open to other programmes. Computer science and allied programmes were the most sought-after. But we also see courses like civil, mechanical, electronics and aerospace engineering picking up. This is because of the landscape of business changing, with the semiconductor industry and the like coming up. The distribution among streams is thus better,” said RVCE principal KM Subramanya.Agreed Ajoi Kumar, chief operating officer, PES University: “While CS remained the favourite, we saw an increase in interest in electronics. This could be because of the change in market, with the growth of chips, robotics, smart devices, the global push for semiconductor manufacturing, and the rise of automation.”1.2 lakh seats allotted in first roundThe Karnataka Examinations Authority (KEA) announced the final results of the first round of seat allotment for various professional degree courses. Out of 1.4 lakh seats available across different courses, 1.2 lakh seats have been allotted in the first round. Of the 91,724 engineering seats, 90,748 have been allotted, leaving only 976 seats vacant. In the veterinary science course, all 361 seats have been filled.Seat allotment has been done for all professional courses except medical, dental, Ayush, and pharmacy, which will be conducted after the NEET process. Candidates who have been allotted seats must complete their choice selection, fee payment, and report to their allotted colleges by July 24.Guidance on choice optionsChoice-1: Accept the allotted seat, pay the fee, download the admission confirmation letter, and report to the collegeChoice-2: Retain the allotted seat while waiting for a better option in the next round. KEA has especially advised medical aspirants to choose this option if they are waiting for MBBS, BDS, or AYUSH admissionsChoice-3: Reject the allotted seat and participate in the next roundChoice-4: Exit the counselling process completelyNew flexibility this year: KEA has introduced a change by allowing candidates to modify their choice options within the specified deadline.Sports quota: Seat allotment under the sports quota has not been carried out in the first round due to a delay in receiving the eligible candidates’ list from the sports department. These seats will be allotted in the second round.BOX: First round seat allotmentCourse– Total seats —Seats allottedEngineering– 91,724– 90,748Agricultural sciences– 3,915– 3,897BSc nursing –35,862— 18,025Veterinary science– 361— 361Allied health Sciences (AHS)– 7,457– 6,962BPT –2,062– 2,037Yoga & naturopathy –496 –482Total 1,41,872– 1,22,512
