The Karnataka Examinations Authority (KEA) has developed a new mobile app called ‘KEA Connect’ to provide students with proper guidance on Common Entrance Test (CET-2026) counselling and to prevent the use of paid online mentors.

Steps have been taken to appoint students who participated in CET counselling in the last two years and secured seats, as well as faculty members from engineering colleges, as mentors. Each mentor can guide two students.

Students can sign in to the KEA Connect app, select their preferred mentors and receive guidance at every stage of CET counselling until admission.

About 3.18 lakh students across the State have written the CET 2026 this year, and the results will be declared in a few days. Meanwhile, the KEA has begun preparations for CET counselling and seat allocation for various professional courses, including engineering. KEA has also flagged private individuals and YouTubers for luring students online with claims of providing accurate CET counselling guidance, including help with option entry and seat allotment in preferred colleges.

How it works

“So far, more than 5,000 students and faculty have been onboarded as mentors. Students seeking guidance can log in to the app, select their preferred course — engineering, medicine or others — and will be matched with five mentors. Complete information of each mentor will be displayed, i.e., whether they are students or faculty, their course and college details, and institution and subject details for faculty, enabling users to choose the most suitable mentor.

More than 5,000 students and faculty have been onboarded as mentors. Students seeking guidance can log in to the app, select their preferred course — engineering, medicine or others — and will be matched with five mentors. Complete information of each mentor will be available, including course and college details if they are students, and institution and subject details if they are faculty, enabling users to choose the most suitable mentor,” said Prasanna.H., executive director of KEA.

No cross mentoring

KEA has taken steps to assign only female mentors for female students and male mentors for male students. “Once selected, mentors and students can connect through the app and access CET counselling information via chat, with calls permitted only when necessary,” Mr. Prasanna said.

Declaration of mentors

KEA has obtained declarations from mentors that they will not charge any fee or promote any college. Any changes in the counselling schedule, policies or rules will be communicated to mentors through notifications and videos on the app for dissemination to students.

Option to switch

Students can also change mentors if they do not receive an appropriate response. “If the mentors do not respond properly, students should immediately quit them and send a new request. Five fresh mentor options will then be provided to the student. A mentor is allowed to guide guide up to two students and will assist them until the counselling process is completed,” he said.

This initiative will benefit rural students, Mr. Prasanna added.