MHT CET 2026 EWS category expected cutoff for CAP Round 1 ranges between 80 and 99.5 percentile depending on college, branch, and region, based on 2024–2025 CAP Round 1 closing percentile trends.
The Economically Weaker Section (EWS) category carries 10% horizontal reservation in MHT CET CAP admissions. In CAP Round 1, EWS seats at top government engineering colleges in Mumbai and Pune fill at very high percentiles, while colleges in other regions offer more accessible EWS cutoffs. Knowing the expected EWS percentile range helps you shortlist realistic options before document verification and choice filling.
- EWS reservation: 10% horizontal reservation for students with annual family income below ₹8 lakh who do not belong to SC, ST, or OBC categories.
- Top college EWS cutoff: VJTI Mumbai and COEP Pune Computer Engineering EWS seats are expected to close above 97 percentile in CAP Round 1 2026.
- Mid-tier EWS cutoff: Government colleges outside Mumbai–Pune are expected to close between 75 and 90 percentile for Computer Engineering in EWS.
- EWS certificate mandatory: A valid EWS certificate issued by a Tahsildar or competent authority for the current financial year is required at document verification.
- All figures below are expected estimates based on 2024–2025 CAP Round 1 trends and may vary in 2026.
| Direct Link — MHT CET 2026 CAP Portal: cetcell.mahacet.org (Official) |
What is EWS Category in MHT CET CAP?
EWS stands for Economically Weaker Section. The Government of India introduced 10% EWS reservation through the 103rd Constitutional Amendment in 2019. In MHT CET CAP admissions, this 10% operates as a horizontal reservation across all vertical categories — EWS seats are carved from within the Open, OBC, SC, and ST category pools in government and government-aided colleges across Maharashtra.
To qualify for EWS category seats in MHT CET CAP Round 1, you must meet all of the following conditions:
- Annual family income below ₹8 lakh per year
- You must not belong to SC, ST, or OBC categories
- Hold a valid EWS income and asset certificate issued by a Tahsildar or competent authority
- The certificate must be issued for the current financial year at the time of document verification
Because EWS seats are drawn from the Open category pool, EWS cutoffs are typically lower than Open category cutoffs but higher than SC/ST cutoffs for the same college-branch combination in most cases.
MHT CET EWS Cutoff CAP Round 1 — 2025 Reference Data
The table below shows 2025 MHT CET CAP Round 1 EWS closing percentiles for selected colleges and branches. These figures serve as the key baseline for predicting 2026 EWS cutoffs.
| College | Branch | EWS Closing Percentile (CAP Round 1, 2025) |
|---|---|---|
| VJTI, Mumbai | Computer Engineering | 98.50 – 99.20 |
| VJTI, Mumbai | Information Technology | 97.80 – 98.60 |
| COEP Technological University, Pune | Computer Engineering | 97.40 – 98.20 |
| COEP Technological University, Pune | Electronics and Telecom | 94.20 – 96.00 |
| K.J. Somaiya College of Engineering, Mumbai | Computer Engineering | 94.00 – 95.80 |
| PICT, Pune | Computer Engineering | 93.00 – 95.20 |
| Govt. College of Engineering, Pune | Computer Engineering | 91.50 – 93.80 |
| Walchand College of Engineering, Sangli | Computer Engineering | 86.00 – 89.50 |
| Govt. College of Engineering, Nagpur | Computer Engineering | 83.00 – 87.00 |
| Govt. College of Engineering, Aurangabad | Computer Engineering | 81.00 – 85.50 |
Figures are indicative and based on reported 2024–2025 CAP Round 1 EWS closing percentile trends. They serve as a reference baseline for 2026 expected cutoffs.
MHT CET 2026 Expected EWS Cutoff in CAP Round 1
MHT CET 2026 EWS category cutoff in CAP Round 1 is expected to remain close to 2025 levels, with a possible marginal rise of 0.5–1.5 percentile points at mid-range colleges if the pool of qualified applicants increases.
The branch-wise expected percentile range for EWS seats in CAP Round 1 2026 is shown below. These ranges span top government colleges, private aided colleges, and private unaided colleges across Maharashtra.
| Branch | Expected EWS Percentile — Top Colleges | Expected EWS Percentile — Mid-Tier Colleges |
|---|---|---|
| Computer Engineering / CSE | 97 – 99.5 | 75 – 90 |
| Information Technology | 95 – 98 | 72 – 88 |
| Electronics and Telecom | 90 – 96 | 65 – 83 |
| Mechanical Engineering | 78 – 90 | 50 – 72 |
| Civil Engineering | 65 – 82 | 40 – 63 |
| Chemical Engineering | 68 – 85 | 45 – 67 |
| Electrical Engineering | 72 – 87 | 48 – 68 |
These are expected ranges based on 2024–2025 CAP Round 1 EWS closing percentile data. Actual 2026 cutoffs will be published on the official MHT CET CAP portal after each round closes.
Top Colleges: EWS Cutoff in MHT CET CAP Round 1
The table below shows expected EWS closing percentile for Computer Engineering and IT at the most sought-after colleges in MHT CET 2026 CAP Round 1. Colleges are ordered broadly by their 2025 EWS closing percentile for Computer Engineering.
| College | City | Branch | Expected EWS Percentile 2026 (CAP R1) |
|---|---|---|---|
| VJTI Mumbai | Mumbai | Computer Engineering | 98.50 – 99.50 |
| VJTI Mumbai | Mumbai | Information Technology | 97.80 – 99.00 |
| COEP Technological University | Pune | Computer Engineering | 97.50 – 98.50 |
| COEP Technological University | Pune | Electronics and Telecom | 93.50 – 96.00 |
| K.J. Somaiya College of Engineering | Mumbai | Computer Engineering | 94.00 – 96.00 |
| PICT, Pune | Pune | Computer Engineering | 93.00 – 95.50 |
| Govt. College of Engineering, Pune | Pune | Computer Engineering | 91.50 – 94.00 |
| Sardar Patel College of Engineering | Mumbai | Computer Engineering | 90.00 – 93.00 |
| Walchand College of Engineering | Sangli | Computer Engineering | 86.00 – 90.00 |
| Govt. College of Engineering, Nagpur | Nagpur | Computer Engineering | 83.00 – 87.00 |
| Govt. College of Engineering, Aurangabad | Aurangabad | Computer Engineering | 80.00 – 84.00 |
| Govt. College of Engineering, Amravati | Amravati | Computer Engineering | 75.00 – 80.00 |
All percentile ranges above are expected estimates based on 2024–2025 CAP Round 1 trends. Final 2026 EWS cutoffs will be declared by CET Cell after each round closes.
Factors Affecting MHT CET 2026 EWS Cutoff
Several variables influence how the EWS cutoff shifts from one year to the next in CAP Round 1:
- Total EWS applicants: More students competing for the same number of seats pushes the closing percentile upward.
- MHT CET 2026 exam difficulty: An easier paper creates more high-scorers, raising competition at colleges across all percentile bands.
- EWS seat matrix: If CET Cell revises the EWS seat count in a college-branch combination, the closing percentile shifts accordingly.
- Branch popularity: Computer Engineering and Information Technology attract the most choices every year, keeping EWS cutoffs at top colleges consistently high.
- Home university quota: Students qualifying with a home university preference compete in a separate quota with its own cutoff, which differs from the general EWS quota.
- CAP Round sequence: Round 1 records the highest EWS cutoffs; Round 2 and Round 3 cutoffs fall as unfilled or surrendered seats get reallocated.
MHT CET 2026 EWS Cutoff FAQs
Ques. What is the expected EWS cutoff for VJTI Mumbai Computer Engineering in MHT CET 2026 CAP Round 1?
Ans. VJTI Mumbai Computer Engineering EWS closing percentile in CAP Round 1 2026 is expected to be between 98.50 and 99.50 percentile, based on 2024–2025 trends. Final figures will be published by CET Cell after Round 1 closes.
Ques. Is the EWS category cutoff lower than the Open category cutoff in MHT CET CAP?
Ans. Yes, EWS cutoffs are typically lower than Open category cutoffs for the same college and branch. EWS seats are carved from the Open category pool, so students who narrowly missed the Open cutoff may still secure a seat under EWS if they hold a valid EWS certificate.
Ques. Which documents are needed to claim EWS category seats in MHT CET CAP 2026?
Ans. You need a valid EWS income and asset certificate issued by a Tahsildar or competent authority for the current financial year. The certificate must confirm your family’s annual income is below ₹8 lakh and that you do not belong to SC, ST, or OBC categories.
Ques. Do EWS cutoffs differ across CAP Round 1, Round 2, and Round 3?
Ans. Yes. CAP Round 1 records the highest EWS cutoffs because the most students participate and top preferences fill first. Round 2 and Round 3 cutoffs generally fall as seats vacated by students who upgraded or did not report are reallocated.
Ques. Can students from outside Maharashtra claim EWS reservation in MHT CET CAP 2026?
Ans. EWS category reservation in MHT CET CAP is primarily for Maharashtra domicile students. Out-of-state students compete in separate quotas. Check the official CET Cell notification at cetcell.mahacet.org for the latest domicile and EWS eligibility criteria before applying.
Ques. Where will the official MHT CET 2026 EWS closing percentile for CAP Round 1 be published?
Ans. The official MHT CET 2026 CAP Round 1 EWS closing percentile list will be available at cetcell.mahacet.org after the round’s allotment is declared. CET Cell releases complete opening and closing percentile data for all categories, including EWS, after each round ends.
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