AP PGECET 2026 Counselling Process Begins: Registration and Key Dates Announced

The Commissionerate of Higher Education has officially commenced the web-counselling process for the Andhra Pradesh Post Graduate Engineering Common Entrance Test (AP PGECET) 2026. This phase marks the beginning of the admission cycle for students seeking entry into first-year postgraduate engineering, technology, pharmacy, and related programmes offered by state universities and their affiliated institutions across Andhra Pradesh.

Candidates who have qualified for the entrance exam are now invited to participate in the centralised counselling process. The registration window, which includes the mandatory fee payment, is open from September 16 and will conclude on September 21, 2026. All participants are required to complete their registration through the official counselling portal at cap.apcfss.in to be eligible for subsequent stages, including web-option entry and seat allocation.

Counselling Schedule and Important Deadlines

Following the registration period, the online verification of uploaded certificates at designated help line centres is scheduled to take place between September 17 and September 22, 2026. Once the verification process is complete, registered candidates will be able to exercise their web-options from September 18 to September 24, 2026. A specific window for changing these web-options has been set for September 25, 2026.

The seat allotment results are expected to be released on September 29, 2026. Successful candidates will then be required to complete the self-joining and reporting process at their allotted colleges between September 30 and October 3, 2026. Academic sessions for the new batch are scheduled to commence on September 30, 2026.

Eligibility Criteria and Reservation Guidelines

To participate in the counselling, candidates must be Indian nationals and hold a Bachelor's degree with a minimum of 50% marks, or 45% for those belonging to reserved categories. Admission preference is granted to candidates holding valid GATE or GPAT scorecards, with remaining seats filled based on the merit ranks achieved in the AP PGECET.

The state has implemented specific reservation policies for this admission cycle. Notably, 85% of the available seats are reserved for local candidates of Andhra Pradesh, while 15% are categorised as open seats accessible to both local and non-local candidates under defined conditions. Additionally, a 10% reservation is allocated for EWS candidates who possess a valid 2026-27 certificate. Age limits for fee reimbursement have also been established, set at 30 years for OC candidates and 34 years for SC, ST, and BC candidates, as of July 1, 2026. Prospective students are encouraged to monitor the official portal regularly for any further updates regarding the admission process.