MHT CET 2026: CAP Registration Open, Merit List Expected July, Cutoff and Marks vs Percentile

MHT CET 2026 Eligibility Criteria

The eligibility conditions for MHT CET 2026 differ slightly for PCM and PCB groups. You should check all conditions carefully before applying in a future cycle.

For PCM Group (Engineering — B.Tech / B.E.)

• You must have passed or be appearing in Class 12 (HSC) or an equivalent examination.
• Physics and Mathematics are compulsory subjects. You must also have one of: Chemistry, Biotechnology, Biology, Technical Vocational Subject, or Computer Science.
• You need at least 45% aggregate marks in Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics combined. The minimum is 40% for SC, ST, OBC-NCL, SBC, and PwD candidates from Maharashtra.

For PCB Group (Pharmacy / Health Sciences — B.Pharm, Pharm.D)

• You must have passed or be appearing in Class 12 (HSC) or an equivalent examination.
• Physics and Chemistry are compulsory subjects. Biology must be the third subject.
• You need at least 45% aggregate marks in Physics, Chemistry, and Biology combined (40% for reserved categories from Maharashtra).

Age Limit

There is no age limit to appear for MHT CET 2026. Candidates of any age can apply as long as they meet the educational qualification conditions.

Domicile and Nationality

Both Maharashtra State (MS) and Outside Maharashtra State (OMS) candidates can appear in MHT CET. However, most state quota seats in government and aided colleges are reserved 100% for Maharashtra domicile holders. In private unaided colleges, 85% of state quota seats go to Maharashtra domicile holders. OMS candidates compete for the remaining open seats. Candidates who appeared in both JEE Main 2026 and MHT CET 2026 can use either score at eligible autonomous institutes in Maharashtra.

New for 2026: Aadhaar and APAAR ID Required

From 2026 onwards, the CET Cell has made Aadhaar-based eKYC authentication and APAAR ID (Academic Bank of Credits) registration mandatory at the time of application. Candidates who had not linked their APAAR ID could not complete registration.

Important: For admission to government and aided engineering or pharmacy colleges through the Maharashtra state quota, you must hold a valid Maharashtra domicile certificate. OMS candidates without domicile cannot claim state quota seats.

MHT CET 2026 Exam Pattern

MHT CET 2026 is a Computer-Based Test (CBT) with only Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs). The exam is 3 hours long, divided into two sections of 90 minutes each. There is no negative marking — attempt every question.

MHT CET 2026 PCM Group Exam Pattern

MHT CET 2026 PCB Group Exam Pattern

Key Points About the MHT CET 2026 Exam Pattern

• No negative marking: Wrong answers carry zero marks. You should attempt every question — never leave anything blank.
• Mathematics dominates PCM scoring: Mathematics carries 100 out of 200 marks (2 marks per question). Scoring well in Mathematics has the single largest impact on your PCM percentile.
• Biology dominates PCB scoring: Biology carries 100 out of 200 marks in the PCB group. Genetics, Human Physiology, and Biotechnology have the highest question frequency.
• Section timer is independent: Each 90-minute section is timed separately. You cannot return to Section 1 once the timer expires and Section 2 begins.
• Paper available in four languages: English, Hindi, Marathi, and Urdu.
• Best-of-two score policy: For candidates who appeared in both sessions, CET Cell uses the higher of the two percentile scores for the merit list automatically.
• Normalization applied: Scores are normalized across shifts to account for varying difficulty levels before percentiles are computed.
• Syllabus split: 20% of questions in every paper come from Class 11 and 80% from Class 12 topics.

MHT CET 2026 Syllabus

The MHT CET 2026 syllabus is based entirely on the Maharashtra State Board (MSBSHSE) curriculum for Class 11 and Class 12. The weight distribution is 20% from Class 11 and 80% from Class 12. Your primary study resource should be the Maharashtra Board textbooks — not NCERT alone. You can download the complete official syllabus PDF from cetcell.mahacet.org.

PCM Group — Key Topics by Subject

PCB Group — Key Topics by Subject

Important: The MHT CET syllabus is based on Maharashtra State Board textbooks — not NCERT alone. Students who rely exclusively on NCERT books will encounter topics in the exam that NCERT does not cover. Always study Maharashtra Board Class 11 and 12 textbooks as your primary resource.

MHT CET 2026 Admit Card

The MHT CET 2026 admit card was released on the official CET Cell portal separately before each session, typically 7–10 days before the exam dates. Since both sessions are now over, the 2026 admit card phase is complete. The admit card carried the candidate’s name, application number, roll number, exam centre address, reporting time, shift, exam date, and subject group.

How to Download MHT CET Admit Card (For Future Reference)

• Visit cetcell.mahacet.org and click the Admit Card download link for the relevant session.
• Log in using your registered email ID and password.
• Your admit card will appear on screen. Download it and take a colour printout.
• Carry the printed admit card along with a valid government-issued photo ID (Aadhaar, PAN card, or passport) to the exam centre. Entry is not allowed without the printed admit card.

Note: MHT CET 2026 has been fully conducted and both sessions are over. The admit card portal for 2026 is no longer active for exam use. Candidates should now focus entirely on completing CAP counselling registration at cetcell.mahacet.org.

MHT CET 2026 Answer Key

CET Cell released provisional and final answer keys for all sessions of MHT CET 2026. After each provisional release, candidates could challenge individual answers by paying a fee per question. CET Cell reviewed all objections and published final answer keys, which were used to compute result scores.

Since MHT CET 2026 was conducted across multiple shifts and two sessions, raw scores are not directly comparable between candidates. CET Cell applies a percentile-based normalization process to account for difficulty variations between shifts. The percentile figure on your scorecard — not your raw marks — determines your rank and eligibility for CAP.

MHT CET 2026 Result

All four MHT CET 2026 results are declared. CET Cell released results in a staggered manner, starting with PCB Session 1 on June 8, 2026, and completing with PCM Session 2 on June 19, 2026. You can download your scorecard by logging into the official portal.

How to Check MHT CET 2026 Result and Download Scorecard

• Go to cetcell.mahacet.org and click the Result / Scorecard section for MHT CET 2026.
• Log in with your registered email ID and password.
• Your scorecard will show subject-wise marks, total marks, and percentile for each session attempted.
• Download and print the scorecard. You will need to submit it during CAP counselling registration and document verification.

MHT CET 2026 Toppers

In Session 1, 26 candidates scored 100 percentile in the PCM group — including Aryan Shailendra Kunjir and Adarsh Raj among others. In Session 1 PCB, 11 candidates achieved 100 percentile. In Session 2 PCB, 4 candidates scored 100 percentile. Zeel Hitesh Cheda of Palghar is the standout performer this year, having scored 100 percentile in both PCB Session 1 and Session 2.

Best-of-Two Score Policy

If you appeared in both sessions, CET Cell automatically picks the higher of your two percentile scores for the merit list. You do not need to make a separate request — the system handles this automatically when computing the provisional merit list after CAP registration closes.

MHT CET 2026 Preparation Tips

If you are preparing for a future MHT CET cycle or coaching younger students, here is a practical strategy based on the 2026 exam pattern and difficulty analysis.

• Start with Maharashtra Board textbooks: The entire MHT CET syllabus is from MSBSHSE Class 11 and 12. Read every chapter in Maharashtra Board textbooks before using coaching notes or reference books. This single step covers most of what you need and nothing else can replace it.
• Prioritise Class 12 over Class 11: 80% of MHT CET questions are from Class 12. Cover Class 12 thoroughly first, then pick up the 20% from Class 11. Do not split your time equally between the two.
• Mathematics is the game-changer in PCM: With 100 out of 200 marks, Mathematics has the largest impact on your PCM percentile. Spend extra time on Integration, Vectors, Probability, and Matrices. Mastering one difficult Mathematics topic can lift your rank by thousands.
• Biology is your foundation in PCB: Biology carries 100 marks in PCB. Genetics, Human Physiology, Plant Physiology, and Biotechnology appear every year with high frequency. Study diagrams carefully — many questions are visual.
• Never leave any question blank: There is no negative marking. Always attempt every question. Eliminate clearly wrong options first and then pick the best remaining answer if you are unsure.
• Practice timed mock tests: Solve 5–6 previous year MHT CET papers (2021–2025) under actual exam conditions. The 90-minute section timer is strict — regular mock tests build the habit of managing it efficiently.
• Plan your time within each section: In PCM, do not spend more than 2 minutes on any single Mathematics question. If stuck, skip it and come back. In PCB, Biology questions are usually quicker — aim to complete them in 50–55 minutes and use remaining time to review.
• Use the two-attempt system smartly: If Session 1 goes below expectations, review every mistake during the gap between sessions. Focus intensively on your weakest chapters and attempt additional full-length mocks before Session 2.

Recommended Daily Study Time (3 Months Before MHT CET)