KEAM Eligibility Criteria 2025: Detailed
The KEAM eligibility criteria have been divided according to the age limit to appear for the exam, nationality, domicile, attempts in the exam, and educational qualification. Check the KEAM Eligibility Criteria 2025 in detail below.
Nationality Rule for KEAM 2025
The applicant must be an Indian citizen. Overseas Citizens of India (OCI)/ Persons of Indian Origin (PIO) can also apply for KEAM 2025 but they will not be eligible for reserved seats.
KEAM 2025 Age Criteria
The minimum age limit should be 17 years at the time of admission. There will be no upper age limit to apply for Engineering, Architecture, B.Pharm, BAMS, BSMS, BHMS and BUMS courses. However, for MBBS and BDS courses, the upper age limit will be as per the information brochure of NEET (UG) 2025 and for other medical allied courses, the upper age limit as prescribed by the central councils will be applicable.
Number of Eligible Attempts for KEAM 2025
There is no restriction on the number of attempts for the KEAM 2025 examination.
Educational Qualification Required for KEAM 2025
The streamwise education qualification required for KEAM 2025 can be checked below:
For Engineering Stream:
Qualifying Exam: Applicants must have passed the Higher Secondary Examination, Kerala or its equivalent examination.
Minimum Marks: Applicants must have secured 45% marks in PCM (short for Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics) subjects together.
Relaxation: 5% relaxation in minimum marks for reserved category applicants.
Important Note:
- In case, the applicant has not studied Chemistry, the marks obtained in Computer Science will be considered.
- In case, the applicant has not studied Chemistry and Computer Science, the marks obtained in Biotechnology will be considered.
- In case the applicant has not studied Chemistry, Computer Science and Biotechnology, the marks obtained in Biology will be considered.
Nativity:
For admission, there is a distinction of three types of categories, i.e. Keralite, Non-Keralite Category I (NK I), and Non-Keralite Category II (NK II).
Keralite: Applicants of Kerala origin will be categorised as Keralite. Which, children of All India Service (AIS) officers (Non-Keralites) allotted to Kerala cadre are also considered as Keralites but it is to be noted that they will not be eligible for Communal/ Special/ Persons with Disabilities reservation or any fee concession.
Non-Keralite Category I (NK I): Applicants will be classified as Non-Keralite Category I (NK I) if they are not of Kerala origin but satisfy any of the following situations:
I: The applicants who have qualified courses in Kerala and their Non- Keralite parents are related to the Government of India/ Defence Service, are posted in Kerala.
II: Applicants who have qualified courses in Kerala and their Non-Keralite parents who are serving/ served the Government of Kerala for a minimum period of two years.
III: Applicants who are not of Kerala origin but have been a resident of Kerala for 5 years within 12 years of their study.
IV: Applicants who are not of Kerala origin but who have undergone their school studies in Kerala from standard VIII to XII.
Note: Those applicants will be considered against ‘State Merit’ seats for Engineering/Architecture/B.Pharm/Medical & Allied courses. But they will not be eligible for Communal/ Special/Persons with Disabilities reservations or any fee concession.
Non-Keralite Category II (NK II):
Applicants who do not come under ‘Keralite’ or Keralite Category I' will be classified as ‘Non-Keralite Category-II'. Such applicants are eligible for admission to Government seats and Management quota seats in Engineering courses in Government Controlled Cost Sharing Colleges.
Applicants will only be eligible for admission at Government Controlled Cost Sharing Engineering Colleges only when the Keralite and Non-Keralite I (NK I) applicants are not available for admission.
NK II category candidates are also eligible for admission to both the Government Quota and Management Quota seats at various private self financing colleges of engineering / unani / architecture / sidha courses. However, for side and Unani courses, NK II candidates will be eligible only when Keralite and NK I category candidates are not available for admission
The ‘Non-Keralite Category-II’ (NK II) applicants will not be eligible for Communal/ Special/ Persons with Disabilities reservation or any fee concession. They are also not eligible for admission to Medical and Allied Courses including MBBS/BDS and for admission to Government Colleges.
They are eligible to get admission of a maximum of 10% seats under Management Quota in Private Self Financed Pharmacy colleges subject to fulfilling the eligibility conditions.
Certificates to Prove Nativity: Applicants will have to produce any of the following documents to prove their eligibility
Keralites:
The original copy of the relevant page of the Secondary School Leaving Certificate of the candidate shows the birthplace in Kerala. Or
The original copy of the relevant page of the Secondary School Leaving Certificate of either of the parents of the candidate showing Place of Birth in Kerala with the corroborative certificate to establish the relationship between the parent and the applicant. Or
The original copy of the relevant page of the Passport of the candidate, issued by the Government of India, showing Place of Birth in Kerala or of either of the parents of the candidate showing the Place of Birth in Kerala with the corroborative certificate to establish the relationship between the parent and the candidate. Or
The original copy of the birth certificate from the authority competent to register birth (Panchayat/Municipality /Corporation) showing the candidates or either of the parents in which case a corroborative certificate to establish the relationship between the parent and the candidate is the necessary place of birth in Kerala, to be issued by a competent registering authority. Or
The original copy of the certificate from the Village Officer/ Tahsildar to show that the candidate or his/her father/mother was born in Kerala (This is to be obtained in the prescribed format along with the printout of the application). Or
The original copy of the certificate from the competent authority shows that the parent of the candidate is an All India Service officer allotted to the Kerala cadre.
Non-Keralites Category I [NK I]:
The original copy of the Certificate to be issued by the Employer is to be obtained in the prescribed format in the application from the Head of the organisation, where the candidate’s parent (employee) is serving/served, and the ‘Certificate showing School studies in Kerala for Standards XI & XII’ is to be obtained from the Head of the institution where the candidate underwent his/her qualifying course in Kerala to satisfy the nativity condition.
The original copy of the certificate of residence from the Village Officer/ Tahsildar to the effect that the candidate has been a resident of Kerala State for 5 years within 12 years of his/her study (to be obtained in the prescribed format along with the printout of the application).
The original copy of the Certificate showing School Studies in Kerala from Std. VIII to XII obtained from the Head(s) of the educational institution(s) in Kerala in the case of candidates who have undergone school studies in Kerala to prove that the candidate has undergone his/her studies in the schools in Kerala from Std. VIII to XII. This certificate is to be obtained in the prescribed format.
Non-Keralites Category II (NK II):
Such applicants will have to produce the Certificate of Completion of Qualifying Examination in the prescribed format in the application to prove their nativity or a copy of a Passport issued by the Government of India to prove Indian citizenship.