MHT CET 2026 OBC category expected closing percentile ranges from 67 to 99.90 depending on the college and branch, based on 2024 and 2025 CAP round trends.
State CET Cell, Maharashtra conducts CAP rounds for admission to B.E. programmes across the state. OBC students — covered under OBC Maharashtra (OBCM) and OBC Minority sub-categories — benefit from 19% reservation in state quota seats. This brings the OBC closing percentile 0.10 to 5 points below the Open category cutoff at the same college and branch. With counselling rounds expected from July 17, 2026, students can use previous year data to shortlist colleges and plan their choices. At premier colleges, the OBC-Open gap is very narrow; at mid-tier government colleges it can widen to 2 to 5 percentile for the same branch — a meaningful advantage for OBC students targeting these institutions.
- MHT CET 2026 is conducted by CET Cell, Maharashtra, with total marks of 200 (PCM stream).
- OBC includes OBC Maharashtra (OBCM) and OBC Minority sub-categories, each with a separate closing percentile.
- OBC reservation in Maharashtra state quota seats stands at 19%.
- Top government college (CS/IT) OBC cutoff expected: 99.50 to 99.90 percentile.
- Mid-tier government college (CS) OBC cutoff expected: 88 to 96 percentile.
- Minimum percentile for any government engineering seat (OBC): approximately 65 to 70 percentile.
| Direct Link to MHT CET 2026 CAP Counselling (ACTIVE) |
MHT CET OBC Cutoff 2026 Overview
MHT CET 2026 OBC cutoff is the closing percentile at which the last OBC student secures a seat in a given college and branch during a CAP round. CET Cell publishes official cutoffs after seat allotment for each round on its portal. The expected figures in this article are projections based on 2024 and 2025 closing percentiles and are not official data. OBC students should check OBC Maharashtra and OBC Minority cutoffs separately, as sub-category seats are counted independently in each CAP round.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Exam | MHT CET 2026 (PCM for Engineering) |
| Conducting Body | State Common Entrance Test Cell, Maharashtra |
| Total Marks (PCM) | 200 |
| OBC Sub-categories | OBC Maharashtra (OBCM), OBC Minority |
| OBC Reservation (State Quota) | 19% |
| Cutoff Metric | Percentile (closing percentile per round) |
| CAP Counselling Start | July 2026 (expected) |
| Official Portal | cetcell.mahacet.org |
Previous Year MHT CET OBC Cutoff Trends (2024)
OBC cutoffs in MHT CET have held steady over recent years, with minor shifts driven by exam difficulty and applicant count. The table below shows 2024 CAP Round 1 closing percentiles for both Open and OBC categories at popular government engineering colleges — these form the baseline for 2026 projections. At premier institutions, the OBC-Open gap is 0.10 to 0.25 percentile; at mid-tier state government colleges, the gap widens to 2 to 5 percentile for the same branch.
| College | Branch | Open Closing Percentile 2024 | OBC Closing Percentile 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|
| COEP Technological University, Pune | Computer Engineering | 99.87 | 99.73 |
| VJTI, Mumbai | Computer Engineering | 99.83 | 99.62 |
| ICT Mumbai | Chemical Engineering | 99.10 | 98.75 |
| Govt. College of Engineering, Pune | Computer Engineering | 98.30 | 97.10 |
| Govt. College of Engineering, Amravati | Computer Engineering | 97.40 | 94.30 |
| Govt. College of Engineering, Aurangabad | Computer Engineering | 95.50 | 93.20 |
| SGGS Institute of Engineering, Nanded | Computer Engineering | 93.00 | 90.50 |
| Govt. College of Engineering, Karad | Mechanical Engineering | 74.00 | 69.80 |
Data above is based on 2024 CAP Round 1 and is presented as reference for 2026 projections only.
MHT CET 2026 Expected OBC Percentile by College Tier
Students with 99+ percentile in MHT CET 2026 can target premier government colleges for CS or IT in the OBC category. Those between 88 and 96 percentile have strong options in Tier 2 government colleges. The table below maps expected OBC closing percentile ranges to college tiers for 2026, based on two-year trends.
| College Tier | Branch | Expected OBC Closing Percentile 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Tier 1 — Premier Govt Colleges (COEP, VJTI, ICT) | CS, IT, AI and Data Science | 99.50 – 99.90 |
| Tier 1 — Premier Govt Colleges | Mechanical, Civil, Electrical | 96.00 – 98.50 |
| Tier 2 — Other State Govt Colleges | CS, IT | 88.00 – 96.00 |
| Tier 2 — Other State Govt Colleges | Mechanical, Civil | 65.00 – 85.00 |
| Tier 3 — Govt-Aided Private Colleges | CS, IT | 50.00 – 75.00 |
| Tier 3 — Govt-Aided Private Colleges | Mechanical, Civil | 30.00 – 55.00 |
| Tier 4 — Unaided Private Colleges | CS, IT | 20.00 – 50.00 |
College-wise Expected MHT CET OBC Cutoff 2026
The table below lists expected OBC closing percentiles for prominent government engineering colleges in Maharashtra for CAP Round 1, 2026. CS and IT branches show consistently high OBC cutoffs across all tiers; core branches like Mechanical and Civil are more accessible in the 65 to 95 percentile range. All figures are expected projections based on 2024 CAP Round 1 trends.
| College | Branch | Expected OBC Closing Percentile 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| COEP Technological University, Pune | Computer Engineering | 99.70 – 99.90 |
| COEP Technological University, Pune | Electronics and Telecommunication | 98.50 – 99.20 |
| VJTI, Mumbai | Computer Engineering | 99.60 – 99.85 |
| VJTI, Mumbai | Mechanical Engineering | 96.00 – 97.80 |
| ICT Mumbai | Chemical Engineering | 98.50 – 99.00 |
| Govt. College of Engineering, Pune | Computer Engineering | 97.00 – 98.20 |
| Govt. College of Engineering, Amravati | Computer Engineering | 93.00 – 96.00 |
| Govt. College of Engineering, Aurangabad | Computer Engineering | 91.00 – 94.00 |
| SGGS Institute of Engineering, Nanded | Computer Engineering | 88.00 – 92.00 |
| Govt. College of Engineering, Karad | Mechanical Engineering | 67.00 – 72.00 |
All 2026 values are expected figures based on 2024 CAP Round 1 data. Official cutoffs will be published by CET Cell after each CAP round.
Factors Affecting MHT CET 2026 OBC Cutoff
Several variables shape where the OBC closing percentile lands each year. Understanding these helps you estimate whether 2026 will tighten or ease relative to the 2024 data shown above.
- Number of OBC applicants: A rise in registered OBC students directly pushes cutoffs upward at every college.
- Exam difficulty: A tougher paper compresses scores, which can lower closing percentiles for the same seat — especially in the 85 to 95 range.
- OBC seat matrix: CET Cell announces the seat matrix before counselling. An increase in OBC-reserved seats lowers cutoffs; a reduction raises them.
- Branch popularity: CS, IT, AI and Data Science consistently see higher OBC cutoffs than core branches like Mechanical or Civil due to sustained demand.
- JEE overlap: OBC students who secure NIT or IIT seats often withdraw from MHT CET counselling, freeing up seats and slightly easing cutoffs in affected branches.
- Round-wise variation: CAP Round 1 cutoffs are the highest. Round 2 and institutional rounds can offer the same college at 1 to 3 percentile lower in several branches.
MHT CET 2026 OBC Cutoff FAQs
Ques. What is the minimum OBC percentile to get a government engineering college in MHT CET 2026?
Ans. Based on 2024 trends, an OBC student needs approximately 65 to 70 percentile to secure a seat in a lower-tier government or government-aided engineering college in Maharashtra. For top-tier colleges like COEP or VJTI, the expected OBC cutoff is 99.50 percentile or above for CS and IT branches.
Ques. How much lower is the OBC cutoff compared to Open category in MHT CET?
Ans. At premier colleges like COEP and VJTI, the OBC-Open gap is 0.10 to 0.25 percentile for the same branch. At mid-tier government colleges, the gap widens to 2 to 5 percentile. The narrow gap at top colleges exists because demand is very high across all categories for those seats.
Ques. What OBC sub-categories are recognised in MHT CET 2026 CAP?
Ans. MHT CET CAP recognises two OBC sub-categories: OBC Maharashtra (OBCM) and OBC Minority. Each has its own separate closing percentile per college and branch. OBCM cutoffs are generally higher due to greater applicant numbers in that sub-category.
Ques. When will the official MHT CET 2026 OBC cutoffs be released?
Ans. CET Cell releases official CAP cutoffs after seat allotment for each round. CAP Round 1 cutoffs are typically published within a few days of the allotment result, expected in July to August 2026. You can access them via the Cutoff Explorer at cetcell.mahacet.org.
Ques. Can OBC students in MHT CET 2026 also apply for Open category seats?
Ans. Yes. OBC students can compete for Open category seats if their percentile meets the Open closing cutoff. Filling choices under both Open and OBC categories during CAP rounds increases your college options and overall admission probability.
Ques. Which government college can an OBC student target with 90 percentile in MHT CET 2026?
Ans. With 90 percentile in MHT CET 2026, an OBC student can realistically target Computer Engineering seats at SGGS Institute of Engineering Nanded or Government College of Engineering Aurangabad. Based on 2024 trends, 90 percentile aligns with the expected OBC cutoff for CS branches at these Tier 2 government colleges.
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