Media Release
Mangaluru, Jun 6: Students of the Centre for Advanced Learning (CFAL), Mangaluru, have delivered an outstanding performance in the Karnataka Common Entrance Test (KCET) 2026, with six students placing among the top 17 ranks in the engineering stream — the most competitive of all KCET streams — including three in the top 8. The results, declared on Saturday by the Karnataka Examinations Authority (KEA), reaffirm Mangaluru's standing as one of Karnataka's leading hubs for science and engineering aspirants.
KEA publishes separate rank lists for each professional stream — engineering, pharmacy, agriculture and allied farm sciences, veterinary, nursing and naturopathy. Of these, the engineering stream draws by far the largest field, with roughly 2.83 lac candidates eligible this year out of about 2.93 lakh overall. A top rank in engineering is therefore measured against the deepest and most competitive pool of students in the state, which makes CFAL’s six top-17 placements an exceptional achievement.
Top Ranks — Engineering Stream
Ira Jain secured Rank 4 in the engineering stream, among the highest ranks in Karnataka this year. She is joined in the state's top 8 by Rishon Fernandes at Rank 5 and Abhhi Sannayya at Rank 8. Rishon Fernandes has also secured Rank 10 in the BPharm and PharmD streams.
They are closely followed by A Aditya Rao at Rank 12, Mrinal D Bhat at Rank 13, and Princilla Cardoza at Rank 17 — placing six CFAL students within the state's top 17 of the engineering stream.
All six are students of CFAL's JEE Advanced track and also secured equally exceptional ranks in JEE Main and JEE Advanced 2026 — a reflection of how a foundation built for the country's toughest engineering examination translates into elite performance at both the national and state levels.
A Word from the CFAL Academic Team
“These results reflect the discipline, curiosity and quiet hard work of our students. The engineering stream is the most competitive arena in KCET, and to place six students — Ira, Rishon, Abhhi, Aditya and Mrinal, with Princilla close behind — within the state's top 17 is a moment of real pride for the whole academic team. We do not prepare students for ranks alone; we work to build clear, capable young minds. When students learn to think deeply and practise honestly, results like these follow naturally. We congratulate every one of them, and every student from Mangaluru who has done so well this year.” — The Academic Team, CFAL
Rank Holder Reflects
“I was at CFAL for PUC and primarily preparing for JEE Advanced. During the first year, we were advised to practice KCET questions to improve speed and accuracy. CFAL helped me strengthen my concepts which helped me in all exams including JEE, BITSAT, Boards and KCET. The faculty is excellent and the peer group kept me motivated to do my best.” — Ira Jain, KCET Engineering Rank 4
A Proud Year for Mangaluru
CFAL's achievement adds to a strong overall performance by Mangaluru's students in KCET 2026. The coastal city has long been recognised for its culture of academic seriousness, and this year's results continue that tradition. KCET remains one of the most important admission pathways for Karnataka students, opening doors to government-quota seats in the state's top professional colleges at regulated, accessible fee structures.
CFAL has congratulated all students from Mangaluru and across Karnataka on their results, and wished them clarity and confidence as they enter the counselling and college-selection process.
About CFAL
Founded in 2004, the Centre for Advanced Learning (CFAL) is a STEM institute under The Learning Centre Trust, Mangaluru, preparing students for JEE, NEET, KCET and Olympiad-level examinations. CFAL is part of a wider educational ecosystem that includes early learning, Cambridge IGCSE schooling, and a research centre, with a mission to develop students who are rigorous, curious, and rich in every dimension of life.