Entrance exams & counselling

Every exam that opens a door in South India.

Short, honest write-ups of the nine exams that decide most Engineering and Nursing seats in Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Kerala — with eligibility, timelines and official links.

TNEA

Tamil Nadu Engineering Admissions

Directorate of Technical Education, TN

B.E./B.Tech in Tamil Nadu (no written test; merit from 12th PCM)

Window: Notification May · Registration June · Counselling July–Aug
Eligibility: 12th PCM, min 45% (40% reserved), TN board or eligible category
Official: www.tneaonline.org

KCET

Karnataka Common Entrance Test

Karnataka Examination Authority (KEA)

Engineering / Pharmacy admission in Karnataka govt-quota seats

Window: Registration Jan–Feb · Exam mid-April · Counselling Jun–Jul
Eligibility: 12th PCM, min 45% (40% reserved). Karnataka domicile for govt quota.
Official: cetonline.karnataka.gov.in

COMEDK UGET

COMEDK Undergraduate Entrance Test

Consortium of Private Colleges, Karnataka

~190 private engineering colleges in Karnataka. Open to all India.

Window: Application Feb–Mar · Exam early May · Counselling Jun–Jul
Eligibility: 12th PCM, min 45%. No domicile bar. No age limit.
Official: www.comedk.org

KEAM

Kerala Engineering Architecture Medical

Commissioner for Entrance Examinations, Kerala

Engineering, Pharmacy & Architecture admission in Kerala

Window: Registration Feb · Exam late April · Counselling June onwards
Eligibility: 12th PCM, min 45%. Min age 17. Non-Keralites via NK-1/NK-2.
Official: cee.kerala.gov.in

JEE Main

Joint Entrance Examination (Main)

National Testing Agency (NTA)

NITs, IIITs, CFTIs across India; accepted by many deemed universities

Window: Session 1 Jan–Feb · Session 2 April
Eligibility: 12th PCM. 75% in 12th for NIT/IIIT via JoSAA (65% reserved).
Official: jeemain.nta.nic.in

NEET UG

National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (UG)

National Testing Agency (NTA)

Mandatory for B.Sc Nursing (govt-quota) since 2023, plus MBBS/BDS

Window: Application Feb–Mar · Exam early May
Eligibility: 12th PCB, min 45% (40% reserved). Min age 17.
Official: neet.nta.nic.in

LBS Nursing

Kerala BSc Nursing & Paramedical Admission

LBS Centre for Science & Technology

Centralised BSc Nursing & allied health admissions in Kerala

Window: Registration Jul–Aug · Allotments Sep–Nov
Eligibility: 12th PCB, min 50% (45% reserved). Age 17–46. English in 12th.
Official: lbscentre.in

KEA Nursing

Karnataka BSc Nursing Counselling

Karnataka Examination Authority (KEA)

BSc Nursing seat allotment (20% govt + 60% private quota via KEA)

Window: Counselling July–September after NEET UG results
Eligibility: 12th PCB + qualified NEET UG. Fees ₹10K govt · up to ₹1.4L management.
Official: kea.kar.nic.in

TN DME Nursing

Tamil Nadu BSc Nursing Selection

Selection Committee, DME Tamil Nadu

Govt & govt-quota BSc Nursing seats in Tamil Nadu

Window: Applications published after NEET UG · Counselling Jul–Sep
Eligibility: 12th PCB + English, min 45% (40% reserved). Min age 17.
Official: tnmedicalselection.net

Full admission calendar · 2025–26

Month by month.

January

JEE Main Session 1 · KCET registration opens

February

KEAM registration · COMEDK registration · JEE Main Session 2 forms

March

KEAM / COMEDK application deadlines · Document upload

April

KCET exam · JEE Main Session 2 · KEAM exam

May

NEET UG · COMEDK exam · TNEA notification

June

NEET/KCET results · TNEA registration opens · JoSAA begins

July

TNEA rank list · State nursing counselling begins (NEET-based)

August

TNEA rounds continue · LBS Kerala Nursing registration closes

September

LBS Round 1 · KCET mop-up · Management-quota filling

Oct – Nov

Final allotments · Classes commence at most colleges

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