MHT CET 2026: CAP Round 1 Choice Filling from July 28, Cutoff and Marks vs Percentile

MHT CET 2026 (Maharashtra Health and Technical Common Entrance Test) is conducted by the State Common Entrance Test Cell, Maharashtra for admission to BE/BTech, B.Pharmacy, Pharm.D, and Agriculture programs across more than 750 colleges in Maharashtra. The exam was held in two sessions — PCM (April 11–20 for Session 1, May 12–21 for Session 2) and PCB (April 21–26 for Session 1, May 10–11 for Session 2) — with results declared in June 2026. The Centralized Admission Process (CAP) for 2026-27 is now underway: the provisional merit list was published on July 22, and CAP Round 1 option form (choice filling) opens on July 28, 2026.

• Final Merit List: The final MHT CET 2026 merit list is expected on July 27, 2026. The provisional merit list was published on July 22; today (July 25) is the last day to raise grievances at cetcell.mahacet.org.
• CAP Round 1 Option Form: Choice filling opens July 28 and closes July 30, 2026. You can add up to 300 institute-course preferences — only your last saved list is used for allotment.
• Round 1 Provisional Allotment: CAP Round 1 provisional seat allotment is expected on August 2, 2026. Candidates who receive a seat must accept online and pay the confirmation fee by August 5, 2026.
• More CAP Rounds: Four CAP rounds in total are scheduled for MHT CET 2026. Rounds 2, 3, and 4 will follow through September 2026, with all institute-level admissions to be completed by September 13, 2026.

What is MHT CET 2026?

MHT CET (Maharashtra Health and Technical Common Entrance Test) is a state-level, Computer-Based Test conducted by the State Common Entrance Test Cell, Maharashtra (CET Cell). It is the primary gateway for admission to undergraduate engineering (BE/BTech), pharmacy (B.Pharmacy, Pharm.D), and agriculture programs in more than 750 government, government-aided, and private colleges across Maharashtra.

The exam is conducted in two separate groups. The PCM group (Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics) is for engineering aspirants. The PCB group (Physics, Chemistry, Biology) is for pharmacy and agriculture aspirants. Many candidates appear in both groups by paying the applicable fee for each.

More than 4.5 lakh candidates registered for MHT CET 2026 across both groups. In the PCB stream alone, 2,84,063 candidates registered and 2,63,213 appeared, reflecting an attendance rate of 92.66%. After the exam and result, all admissions happen through the Centralized Admission Process (CAP) run by the CET Cell and DTE Maharashtra. An MHT CET percentile is valid only for the same academic year and cannot be carried forward.

This makes MHT CET one of Maharashtra’s most competitive state entrance exams, especially for students targeting government engineering and pharmacy colleges where fees are significantly lower than private institutions.

MHT CET 2026: Key Highlights

The table below gives you the most important details about MHT CET 2026 at a glance.

MHT CET 2026 Important Dates

The table below lists all key MHT CET 2026 dates. Upcoming events appear first, in chronological order, so you can act on what matters right now. Past events follow in chronological order for reference.

Today (July 25, 2026) is the last day to raise grievances on the provisional merit list. The final merit list is expected on July 27, and CAP Round 1 choice filling opens on July 28 — candidates must be prepared.

Source: State Common Entrance Test Cell, Maharashtra — cetcell.mahacet.org

MHT CET 2026 CAP Round 1: Option Form and Choice Filling

The option form — also called choice filling — is the most important step in the MHT CET 2026 Centralized Admission Process. CET Cell uses your saved preference list, your merit rank, and your category to allot you the best available seat in Round 1. Getting this right matters as much as your percentile — a candidate with a lower rank who fills strategically often secures a better seat than one who does not plan carefully.

The CAP Round 1 option form window opens on July 28, 2026 and closes on July 30, 2026. Log in to cetcell.mahacet.org with your MHT CET 2026 application number to access it. Do not wait until July 30 — save your list a day early in case of server congestion.

How to Fill MHT CET 2026 CAP Round 1 Option Form

• Go to cetcell.mahacet.org and log in with your application number and password.
• Click on the CAP Round 1 option form link in your candidate dashboard.
• Browse the seat matrix for available institute-course combinations.
• Add preferred combinations to your preference list in genuine order — your top choice at the top, not just the safest option.
• You can add up to 300 institute-course preferences.
• Edit and reorder your list as many times as you need before the window closes on July 30. Each save replaces the previous one.
• Lock and submit the form when you are satisfied. Only your last submitted list counts for allotment.

Strategy Tips for MHT CET 2026 Option Form

• Put the college and branch you genuinely want most at position 1 — even if it is competitive. The system always tries to give you the highest preference you qualify for.
• Check the 2025 closing percentile for each institute-course. If your 2026 percentile sits comfortably above that, include it as a high-priority choice.
• Always include at least 10–15 safe preferences where your rank is well within the 2025 closing rank. This ensures you get a seat in Round 1 even if top choices go above your rank.
• Do not list only dream colleges. A longer, well-planned list protects you better.
• Verify seat availability in the seat matrix on cetcell.mahacet.org — some popular branches have very few seats and fill fast.
• Check your category eligibility for each college. Seats for SC/ST/OBC/EWS categories are separate from the Open pool.

CAP Round 1 Seat Allotment — What Happens After July 30

After the option form window closes, CET Cell processes all candidate preference lists against the seat matrix and available merit ranks. The CAP Round 1 provisional seat allotment is expected on August 2, 2026. The system goes through your list from the top and assigns you the highest-preference seat where a vacancy exists in your category and rank.

If you receive a seat in Round 1, you must accept it online and pay the seat confirmation fee by August 5, 2026. Missing this deadline cancels your seat. After accepting, you can still participate in Round 2 to try for a better college — your Round 1 seat is held until the next allotment.

Candidates who do not fill the CAP Round 1 option form by July 30 are not considered for Round 1 allotment. They must participate from Round 2 onwards, where fewer seats remain available.

MHT CET 2026 Eligibility Criteria

You must meet the MHT CET 2026 eligibility requirements to appear for the exam and to be included in the CAP merit list for admission. The criteria cover your subjects in 10+2, your aggregate percentage, and your domicile.

Eligibility for PCM Group (Engineering)

• You must have passed 10+2 or equivalent with Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics as compulsory subjects.
• Minimum 45% aggregate marks in Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics in 10+2 for General/Open category candidates.
• Minimum 40% aggregate marks for SC, ST, VJ/NT, OBC, SBC, and Persons with Disability (PwD) categories.
• Candidates appearing in 10+2 in 2026 were also eligible to apply, subject to submitting final marksheets before admission.

Eligibility for PCB Group (Pharmacy / Agriculture)

• You must have passed 10+2 or equivalent with Physics, Chemistry, and Biology as compulsory subjects.
• Minimum 45% aggregate marks in Physics, Chemistry, and Biology for General/Open category.
• Minimum 40% aggregate marks for reserved categories.

Domicile and Nationality

• Indian nationals can appear for MHT CET 2026.
• Maharashtra domicile candidates (those who have lived in Maharashtra for at least 15 years continuously, or whose parents hold Maharashtra domicile) are eligible for state-quota seats.
• Candidates who studied in Maharashtra for the last 3 years of their 10+2 schooling are also eligible for state-quota seats.
• Candidates from other states can appear for MHT CET, but their eligibility for state-quota seats depends on conditions defined by DTE Maharashtra.

There is no upper age limit for MHT CET 2026 for engineering programs. For pharmacy programs, candidates should verify any age requirements set by the Pharmacy Council of India for the specific program they are applying to.

MHT CET 2026 Application Process

The MHT CET 2026 application process was conducted entirely online on cetcell.mahacet.org and closed earlier this year. If you already registered, your credentials remain valid for the ongoing CAP process. The steps below serve as a complete reference for candidates planning for future cycles.

Steps in MHT CET Application

• Step 1 — Registration: Visit cetcell.mahacet.org and create your login using a valid email ID and mobile number.
• Step 2 — Form Filling: Enter personal details (name, date of birth, address), academic details (10th and 12th information), and choose your group — PCM, PCB, or both.
• Step 3 — Document Upload: Upload a recent passport-sized photograph (white background) and your signature in the prescribed format and dimensions as listed in the information brochure.
• Step 4 — Exam City Selection: Select your preferred exam city from the available options. Final exam centre allocation depends on seat availability in that city.
• Step 5 — Fee Payment: Pay the application fee online through net banking, debit/credit card, or UPI. The fee is non-refundable once paid.
• Step 6 — Confirmation: Download the confirmation page and note your application number carefully. You need it for admit card download, result access, and CAP login.

MHT CET Application Fee (Approximate)

The exact fee applicable to each category and year is specified in the official MHT CET information brochure at cetcell.mahacet.org. Application fees are non-refundable.

MHT CET 2026 Syllabus

The MHT CET 2026 syllabus follows the Maharashtra State Board (MSBSHSE) Class 11 and Class 12 curriculum. Class 12 topics carry 80% weightage and Class 11 topics carry 20% weightage across all subjects. Since questions are framed in the style of MSBSHSE textbook problems, your state board preparation directly prepares you for MHT CET.

MHT CET 2026 PCM Syllabus — Major Topics

MHT CET 2026 PCB Syllabus — Biology Major Topics

Physics and Chemistry syllabus for PCB candidates is the same as for PCM. Always start with Class 12 topics — they account for 80% of questions — and allocate the last 2–3 weeks before the exam to revise Class 11 topics.

MHT CET 2026 Admit Card

The MHT CET 2026 admit card was released on cetcell.mahacet.org before each session. For Session 1 (April 2026), the admit card was available in late March. For Session 2 (May 2026), it was released in late April. Since MHT CET 2026 has already been conducted, the admit card phase for this cycle is over.

For candidates planning for future cycles, here is how the admit card process works and what to carry on exam day.

How to Download MHT CET Admit Card

• Go to cetcell.mahacet.org and click on the admit card link when it is available.
• Log in using your MHT CET application number and date of birth.
• Download and take at least two printouts. Save a digital copy on your phone as a backup.
• Check all details — name, exam date, centre address, group (PCM/PCB), and session time. Report any discrepancy to CET Cell before the exam day.

What to Carry on MHT CET Exam Day

• MHT CET admit card (printed or on phone)
• Original government-issued photo ID: Aadhaar card, PAN card, school/college ID, or passport
• One passport-sized photograph (same as uploaded during registration)
• No mobile phones, calculators, electronic watches, or earphones are allowed inside the exam hall — the admit card on your phone may be shown at entry, but switch the phone off immediately after

Candidates are typically asked to arrive 30–45 minutes before the session start time to complete biometric attendance and seat allocation at the exam centre.

MHT CET 2026 Answer Key

CET Cell Maharashtra released the official MHT CET 2026 answer keys on cetcell.mahacet.org after each session’s exam. Answer keys for both PCM and PCB sessions were released following the April and May exams, giving candidates a chance to estimate their raw scores before the official result was declared.

How the MHT CET Answer Key Process Works

• CET Cell publishes the provisional answer key on cetcell.mahacet.org shortly after the exam.
• Candidates have a 2–3 day window to raise objections against answers they believe are incorrect, with supporting references from MSBSHSE textbooks.
• CET Cell reviews all objections with subject experts and releases the final answer key after incorporating valid corrections.
• The final answer key is used to calculate raw scores, which are then normalized to generate percentiles.
• Upheld objections can change the answer key and shift percentiles for some candidates.

Since MHT CET 2026 results are already declared (PCB: June 9, PCM: June 16, 2026), the answer key and objection process is complete for this cycle. The final answer keys remain archived on cetcell.mahacet.org.

Top Colleges Accepting MHT CET 2026

More than 750 government, government-aided, and private engineering and pharmacy colleges in Maharashtra participate in MHT CET 2026 CAP. Below are the top government engineering colleges and popular private institutions to consider when building your option form preference list.

Top Government Engineering Colleges — MHT CET 2026

Top Private Engineering Colleges — MHT CET 2026

Total engineering seats under CAP in Maharashtra are approximately 1.6 lakh. Government and government-aided seats number around 25,000–30,000 and are the most sought-after. You can view the full seat matrix — available seats by college, branch, and category — on cetcell.mahacet.org once it is published ahead of Round 1.

MHT CET 2026 Preparation Tips

Whether you are preparing for the next MHT CET cycle or guiding someone who is, these tips are based on the 2026 exam pattern and what past papers reveal about question distribution and difficulty.

• Build your base on Maharashtra State Board textbooks: MHT CET is based on the MSBSHSE curriculum. The 2026 paper had 80% questions from Class 12 and 20% from Class 11. If your 12th board is MSBSHSE, your regular board preparation already covers most of the exam. NCERT books work well alongside for Physics and Chemistry conceptual clarity.
• Prioritize Mathematics for PCM: Mathematics carries 2 marks per question and accounts for 100 of the 200 total marks. Even a 5-question improvement in Mathematics can push you 1–2 percentile points upward. Focus on Integration, Definite Integrals, Differential Equations, Vectors, Conics, and Probability — these topics contribute the most questions in MHT CET PCM.
• Biology is the key for PCB: Biology has 100 questions and contributes 50% of all marks in the PCB paper. Human Health and Disease, Genetics and Evolution, Reproduction, and Biotechnology are repeatedly high-weightage topics. Revise Class 12 Biology NCERT diagrams carefully — many questions are figure-based or process-based.
• Practice in Computer-Based mode: MHT CET is a CBT with a two-part timed structure. If you are used to paper-based practice, switch to mock tests on a computer or laptop at least 4–6 weeks before the exam. Get comfortable with on-screen navigation, flagging questions for review, and the auto-lock after Part 1.
• Attempt every question — no negative marking: Never leave a question blank. A wrong answer costs you nothing. Even when unsure, eliminate two obviously wrong options and guess between the remaining two — this strategy can add 5–10 extra marks.
• Manage the two-part time structure: Part 1 (Physics + Chemistry) runs for exactly 90 minutes and locks automatically. Part 2 (Mathematics or Biology) follows for 90 minutes. Aim to finish Part 1 in 80 minutes, leaving 10 minutes to review flagged questions before the auto-lock kicks in.
• Do not skip Class 11 topics: Class 11 contributes 20% of all questions — around 30 questions in PCM (worth 40 marks with Maths at 2x) and 40 questions in PCB. These are often easier to score. Laws of Motion, Wave Optics, s-Block elements, and Animal Kingdom from Class 11 appear regularly.
• Solve the last 5 years of MHT CET papers: The question style is consistent year to year. Past papers show the pattern clearly: roughly 40% easy questions, 40% moderate, and 20% difficult. They also reveal time traps — Physics tends to have calculation-heavy questions that take longer than Chemistry.