CBSE Students and State CET Eligibility: Domicile, Boards & Quotas
A common source of anxiety for CBSE and ICSE students is whether they can write a state CET — and if they can, whether they compete on equal terms with state-board students. The short answer is: most major state CETs accept CBSE and ICSE students, but domicile conditions often determine which category or quota you compete under, which in turn affects your practical chances of getting a seat.
For example, in KCET, CBSE/ICSE students can appear and compete for seats under the "other than Karnataka" category, but Karnataka-domicile seats are reserved for students who studied in Karnataka. In MHT-CET, all eligible candidates compete in the same pool, but domicile conditions apply to Maharashtra government-aided college seats. The details vary by state and exam — always read the current notification carefully.
CBSE and ICSE eligibility across major state CETs
| Exam | CBSE/ICSE accepted? | Key domicile note |
|---|---|---|
| MHT-CET | Yes | All boards accepted; domicile conditions apply for government-aided college seats — confirm on cetcell.mahacet.org |
| KCET | Yes | Accepted; CBSE/ICSE marks auto-fetched in 2026 via KEA portal; domicile conditions determine which category you compete under — confirm on KEA portal |
| WBJEE | Yes | Accepted along with state board and other recognised boards; domicile conditions apply — confirm on wbjeeb.nic.in |
| KEAM | Yes | Accepted; Kerala domicile conditions apply; confirm on cee.kerala.gov.in |
| TG EAPCET | Yes (broadly) | Domicile conditions apply; confirm on eapcet.tgche.ac.in |
| AP EAPCET | Yes (broadly) | Domicile conditions apply; confirm on cets.apsche.ap.gov.in |
| GUJCET | Confirm on gseb.org | Gujarat state board primary; CBSE acceptance — confirm on gseb.org |
| COMEDK UGET | Yes — no restriction | No domicile restriction; open to all India students — confirm on comedk.org |
Domicile and board rules change each cycle. Always confirm your specific situation on the official portal before applying.
COMEDK is your domicile-free Karnataka option: If you are not from Karnataka but want to study engineering in Karnataka's private colleges, COMEDK UGET is the most accessible option — it has no domicile restriction. KCET, on the other hand, reserves the majority of its seats for Karnataka-domicile students. Confirm current eligibility for both on their respective official portals.