The TG ICET (Telangana Integrated Common Entrance Test) is an entrance examination that allows state applicants to get admission into MBA and MCA programs in Telangana state. You need to appear for this exam and score above the cutoff range to enter universities and colleges under this program. The Telangana State Council of Higher Education (TGCHE) will administer this entrance examination only in Telangana.
The TG ICET 2026 provides an excellent opportunity for you if your goal is to pursue a master's degree in India. MBA and MCA institutions are currently growing in Telangana. The candidates from different states share one main question about their application eligibility. You must first understand the eligibility requirements and Telangana universities’ admission policies before you start your preparation. This article will help you clarify whether non-Telangana students can apply for TG ICET 2026 and how the admission process works.
Also Check - Is TS ICET 2026 Mandatory for MBA in Telangana?
Eligibility Requirements to Apply for TG ICET 2026
These are some of the basic eligibility criteria that every candidate has to satisfy to fill out the TG ICET’s 2026 examination form:
Nationality & Local Status
The applicant for TG ICET must be a citizen of India. Also, you must satisfy Telangana local/non-local status rules as per state government regulations.
Educational Qualification for MBA Program
You must have a minimum 3-year Bachelor’s degree (BA, BCom, BSc, BBA, BBM, BCA, BE, BTech, BPharmacy, or equivalent). Degrees in oriental languages alone are not eligible.
Educational Qualification for MCA Program
You need to have a Bachelor’s degree with Mathematics as a subject studied at 10+2 level or during graduation (e.g., BCA, BSc, BA with additional Mathematics subject or BCom).
TG ICET Exam Minimum Marks Requirement
The general category candidates must have scored 50% in their Bachelor’s degree, while the other reserved candidates need an aggregate of 45% aggregate marks.
Distance/Online Degrees
These degrees will be accepted only if they are recognised by UGC/AICTE and the relevant authorities of the participating university.
Final-Year Students
If you are a final year student in your bachelor’s program, you can also fill out the TG ICET examination form. But you need to complete the degree requirements before the final admission.
After going through the basic criteria, one thing is easy to understand: there’s no restriction for applicants from different states. Hence, students from outside Telangana are eligible to apply for the TG ICET 2026 exam itself.
What “Local/Non-Local” Status Means in TG ICET
Although non-Telangana students can apply for TG ICET, there will be a difference in the counselling and seat allocation process related to the concept of local and non-local status:
Local Status Rules
The counselling process will follow the rules from the Telangana State Education Department’s “Regulations of Admission.” These guidelines define local vs non-local status based on residency or study history. To be a local, you must have studied in a Telangana educational institution for 4 to 7 consecutive years ending with the qualifying exam.
Some key non-local categories for TG ICET 2026 are as follows:
Category | Eligibility for 15% State Quota |
|---|---|
Andhra Pradesh Candidates | Considered non-local in 2026. The candidates will no longer hold the preferential status like in previous years. |
Other State Candidates | You may apply for the exam but you need to qualify for all the basic requirements. |
Residential Criteria | If you or your parents have stayed in Telangana or Andhra Pradesh for more than 10 years, then you will qualify for the 15 percent pool. |
Impact on Seat Allotment
When TG ICET counselling takes place, seats will be distributed based on local and non-local categories. Local candidates will be the ones with Telangana domicile, and they could have a proportion of seats reserved within certain categories. Non-Telangana candidates will be placed under the non-locals category. The admission chances in Telangana universities in some quota pools might differ.
So, if you belong to any other state, you need to understand that counselling quotas may vary depending on the institution. In my opinion, even if you are eligible to apply for TG ICET 2025, you must not forget that you will only be competing for the 15% Unreserved Quota. For an easy understanding, take this for an example: For every 100 seats in a college under TG ICET, only 15 seats are open for non-Telangana candidates.
Also Check - Documents Required for TS ICET 2026 Application Form: Photo Specifications & Instructions
Comparison Between Convener Quota vs Management Quota in TG ICET 2026
If you are planning to give TG ICET 2026, you must know the difference between Category A and Category B seats. Make an informed decision by first going through this detailed comparison table between both the categories.
Criteria | Convener Quota (Category A) | Management Quota (Category B) |
|---|---|---|
Seat Share | 70% of total seats | 30% of total seats |
Governing Authority | TGCHE | Individual Colleges (as per Telangana State Council of Higher Education norms) |
Admission Process | TG ICET 2026 Rank with Centralised Counseling | Direct Admission / TG ICET / CAT / MAT |
Merit Requirement | Strictly merit-based | Merit requirements can be flexible. Rank is not always mandatory |
Private College Fee Range | INR 30k – INR 1.5 lacs per year | INR 1.5 lacs – INR 5 lacs plus per year |
Fee in Govt. Colleges | INR 20k – INR 40k per year | NA |
Local Status Rule | 85% Local, 15% Unreserved | Here, there is no restriction for non-local candidates |
Competition Level | Very High (especially for non-locals) | Moderate |
Fee Reimbursement | Eligible (only for Telangana local students) | Not Eligible |
Best For | High rank holders seeking low fees | Best for non-local candidates who are seeking admission in Telangana. Also, local students with comparatively lower ranks can use this opportunity. |
Quick Links:
| TG ICET 2026 Exam Date | TG ICET 2026 Eligibility Criteria | TG ICET 2026 Registration |
|---|
Final Tips for Non-Telangana Students Applying For TG ICET 2026
To increase your chance to get admission in a master’s program as a non-Telangana candidate via TG ICET 2026, you need to;
If you are a non-local candidate, then to realistically secure a seat in premium institutions like Osmania University (OU) or JNTU-H, you should aim for a rank within the top 500. Based on a non-local university student, you must score 140+ out of 200 in TG ICET.
You should remember that non-local candidates cannot reimburse fees from the TG Government. So, we advise you to calculate your ROI based on the full convener fee (often ranging from INR 30,000 to INR 1,50,000 per year in private colleges). You will have to pay the full amount without state subsidies.
According to the Reorganisation Act in 2014, the certificate verification is stricter for non-locals. We suggest you to keep your Migration Certificate and 10-year Residence Certificate (if applicable) ready before the August 2026 counseling starts.
Non-Telangana students can definitely apply for TG ICET 2026 as long as they meet the basic eligibility requirements. However, the real difference comes during the counselling and seat allotment phase process. The exam requires non-Telangana applicants to learn about counseling procedures because it determines their entry to the exam. The non-local applicants must understand the TG ICET’s counselling process and then decide their study and enrollment methods accordingly.
Rules for local/non-local status will definitely influence seat distribution after the TG ICET exam. If you want help with TG ICET 2026 strategy and counselling planning, CollegeDekho expert mentors can support you throughout the admission journey in Telangana universities.
For any query, head to our QnA Zone or fill out our Common Application Form . Stay tuned for more such updates.
FAQs
There is no separate "official" qualifying cutoff (which remains 25% or 50 marks for all General/OBC), but there is a significant difference in admission cutoffs. Because Non-Locals only compete for 15% of the seats, the closing ranks for top colleges like Osmania University are much lower (stricter) for Non-Local candidates compared to Local ones.
No. TG ICET is a state-level exam, and centers are strictly limited to Telangana and selected cities in Andhra Pradesh (such as Vijayawada, Visakhapatnam, Kurnool, and Tirupati). If you are applying from North or South India, you will need to travel to one of these regional zones to take the computer-based test.
Usually, no. In Telangana, study history takes precedence over residence. If you have lived in the state for 10 years but attended school or college in a different state, you are still legally a Non-Local. The 10-year residency rule primarily helps those who did not have formal, institutionalised schooling.
Generally, No. The Telangana State Fee Reimbursement (RTF) and Post-Matric Scholarship schemes (provided via the ePASS portal) are strictly reserved for students who satisfy the Telangana Domicile requirements. As a Non-Local student (including those from Andhra Pradesh in 2026), you are expected to pay the full tuition fee as prescribed by the university or college for the "Unreserved" seat.
In 2026, the short answer is No. Following the conclusion of the 10-year transition period under the AP Reorganization Act, students from Andhra Pradesh are now classified as Non-Local for TG ICET. To be considered "Local," you must have studied in Telangana for at least four to seven consecutive years ending with your degree.
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