MHT CET 2026 NT (Nomadic Tribes) category cutoff is expected to range between 70 and 98.5 percentile depending on the college and branch, based on 2025 CAP round trends.
The MHT CET 2026 NT category cutoff will be released by the State Common Entrance Test Cell, Maharashtra, as part of the CAP (Centralized Admission Process) 2026–27. The NT category covers four sub-categories — NT-A, NT-B, NT-C, and NT-D — each with a distinct closing percentile for every college and branch combination. Students who qualify MHT CET and hold a valid NT caste certificate can use the expected figures below to shortlist colleges before the official allotment is published.
- MHT CET 2026 is conducted for 200 marks; raw scores are converted to a percentile for CAP seat allotment.
- NT category is split into NT-A, NT-B, NT-C, and NT-D, each with a separate closing percentile per college and branch.
- NT category cutoffs are typically 2–8 percentile points lower than the Open category at the same college and branch.
- Based on 2025 data, NT category closing percentile for CSE at top colleges ranged from 95 to 98.5 percentile.
- The official MHT CET 2026 NT category cutoff will be published after CAP Round 1 seat allotment, expected around July 20, 2026.
NT Category in MHT CET 2026
The NT category in Maharashtra engineering admissions refers to Nomadic Tribes, a constitutionally recognised group under the state’s reservation policy. It is divided into four sub-categories, each with its own seat pool:
| Sub-Category | Description | Reservation (%) |
|---|---|---|
| NT-A | Vimukta Jati / Denotified Tribes A | 1% |
| NT-B | Nomadic Tribes B | 2.5% |
| NT-C | Nomadic Tribes C | 3.5% |
| NT-D | Nomadic Tribes D | 2% |
A valid caste certificate and caste validity certificate issued by a competent authority are mandatory for claiming NT category benefits during MHT CET 2026 CAP rounds. Without the caste validity certificate, your NT category seat allotment can be cancelled even after provisional admission is granted.
MHT CET 2026 NT Category Expected Cutoff Percentile
Based on 2025 CAP round trends, the MHT CET 2026 NT category closing percentile for CSE at premier colleges is expected between 93 and 98.5 percentile. Less competitive branches and newer aided colleges may see NT cutoffs as low as 50–70 percentile. The branch-wise expected range is as follows:
| Branch | Expected NT Category Closing Percentile (2026) |
|---|---|
| Computer Science and Engineering (CSE) | 92 – 98.5 |
| Information Technology (IT) | 90 – 97.5 |
| Electronics and Telecommunication (E&TC) | 80 – 95 |
| Mechanical Engineering | 60 – 85 |
| Civil Engineering | 50 – 78 |
| Chemical Engineering | 65 – 88 |
| Electrical Engineering | 65 – 88 |
These are expected figures based on 2025 CAP data. Actual 2026 cutoffs will depend on total applicants, seat matrix changes, and MHT CET exam difficulty.
MHT CET NT Category Cutoff — Previous Year Trends
Reviewing previous year NT category closing percentiles is the most reliable way to set a realistic college target. NT category cutoffs for CSE and IT have shown a marginal upward trend from 2023 to 2025 across most government engineering colleges in Maharashtra.
| College | Branch | NT Cutoff 2024 (Approx. Percentile) | NT Cutoff 2025 (Approx. Percentile) |
|---|---|---|---|
| COEP Technological University, Pune | CSE | 97.2 | 97.8 |
| VJTI, Mumbai | CSE | 96.8 | 97.2 |
| VJTI, Mumbai | IT | 95.6 | 96.0 |
| GCE Aurangabad | CSE | 90.5 | 91.3 |
| GCE Nagpur | CSE | 88.7 | 89.4 |
| COEP Technological University, Pune | Mechanical | 82.4 | 83.1 |
| GCE Pune | E&TC | 86.2 | 87.0 |
All figures above are approximate and based on publicly reported CAP round allotment trends. Official previous year allotment data is available on the CET Cell Maharashtra portal at cetcell.mahacet.org for verified reference.
MHT CET 2026 NT Category Cutoff for Top Engineering Colleges
The table below lists expected NT category closing percentiles for 2026 at Maharashtra’s top government and aided engineering colleges, based on 2025 CAP round trends. Each college publishes separate cutoffs for NT-A, NT-B, NT-C, and NT-D; the figures below represent the combined NT range:
| College | Location | CSE NT Expected Percentile (2026) | IT NT Expected Percentile (2026) |
|---|---|---|---|
| COEP Technological University | Pune | 97.5 – 98.5 | 96.0 – 97.5 |
| VJTI | Mumbai | 97.0 – 98.0 | 95.5 – 97.0 |
| ICT Mumbai | Mumbai | 95.0 – 97.0 | N/A |
| PICT | Pune | 93.0 – 96.0 | 92.0 – 95.0 |
| GCE Aurangabad | Aurangabad | 90.0 – 92.5 | 88.0 – 91.0 |
| GCE Nagpur | Nagpur | 88.0 – 91.0 | 86.0 – 90.0 |
| SGGS Nanded | Nanded | 85.0 – 89.0 | 83.0 – 87.0 |
Among NT sub-categories, NT-A typically closes at a higher percentile due to its smaller 1% seat pool, while NT-C (3.5% reservation) may close slightly lower at the same college and branch. The official 2026 cutoff will be published post-allotment on the CET Cell portal.
Factors Affecting MHT CET 2026 NT Category Cutoff
Several variables influence where the NT category closing percentile settles each year. Knowing them helps you assess whether the 2026 cutoff will shift higher or lower than 2025:
- Total NT category applicants: More NT students competing for seats at top colleges pushes the closing percentile upward.
- MHT CET 2026 paper difficulty: A harder paper lowers raw scores across the board, which can soften the closing percentile for all categories including NT.
- Seat matrix changes: An increase in NT-reserved seats at a college brings the closing percentile down; a reduction does the opposite.
- Number of CAP rounds: Final-round cutoffs are lower than Round 1 closing percentiles. Students who miss the Round 1 cutoff may still secure seats in later rounds.
- Caste validity certificate compliance: Students without a valid caste validity certificate lose their NT seat, triggering reallocation and minor shifts in the closing percentile.
- Branch preference trends: A surge in NT students preferring CSE pushes that branch’s cutoff higher while other branches see comparatively little change.
MHT CET 2026 NT Category Cutoff FAQs
Ques. What is the expected MHT CET 2026 NT category closing percentile for CSE?
Ans. Based on 2025 CAP trends, the expected NT category closing percentile for CSE at top colleges like COEP and VJTI is between 97 and 98.5 percentile for MHT CET 2026. For mid-tier government colleges, the expected range is 88–92 percentile.
Ques. Is the NT category cutoff different for NT-A, NT-B, NT-C, and NT-D?
Ans. Yes. Each NT sub-category has its own reserved seats and a separate closing percentile. NT-A (1% reservation) typically closes at a higher percentile due to fewer available seats, while NT-C (3.5% reservation) may close slightly lower at the same college and branch.
Ques. When will the official MHT CET 2026 NT category cutoff be released?
Ans. The official NT category cutoff for MHT CET 2026 will be released by CET Cell Maharashtra after CAP Round 1 seat allotment, expected around July 20, 2026. You can check it at cetcell.mahacet.org.
Ques. Is a caste validity certificate mandatory for MHT CET 2026 NT category admission?
Ans. Yes. A caste validity certificate issued by a competent authority is mandatory for claiming NT category reservation in MHT CET 2026 CAP rounds. Without it, your NT category seat allotment will be cancelled even if you are provisionally admitted.
Ques. How much lower is the NT category cutoff compared to the Open category?
Ans. Based on 2025 CAP trends, the NT category closing percentile is typically 2–8 percentile points lower than the Open category for the same college and branch. The gap is larger for less competitive branches like Civil and Mechanical Engineering.
Ques. What is MHT CET total marks and how is the percentile calculated?
Ans. MHT CET is conducted for 200 marks. The raw score is not used directly for admission; it is converted to a percentile based on the relative performance of all students in the same session. This percentile is then used across all CAP rounds for seat allotment.
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