MHT-CET 2027: Exam Dates, Registration, Syllabus & Admit Card

MHT CET stands for the Maharashtra Common Entrance Test. The State Common Entrance Test Cell (CET Cell), Government of Maharashtra, conducts it every year. It decides admission to Engineering and Technology, Pharmacy, and Agriculture degree courses across the state (Source: cetcell.mahacet.org, About CET Cell page).

MHT CET 2026 has already been conducted. The State CET Cell ran the exam in two attempts, in April and again in May 2026. It declared results for both attempts in June 2026 (Source: cetcell.mahacet.org, Notices, June 2026). Admissions for the 2026-27 academic year ran through the Centralised Admission Process (CAP). The CET Cell issued a cutoff-date notice for all technical courses on 7 September 2026, then revised it to a final 14 September 2026 (up to 5 PM) following Supreme Court and AICTE directions, and CAP for AY 2026-27 has now concluded (Source: cetcell.mahacet.org, Notices; Times of India and Jagran Josh, 8-13 September 2026).

This page covers MHT CET 2026 in full. That means dates, eligibility, fees, exam pattern, syllabus, results, cutoff, selection process, previous papers and preparation. The official portal is cetcell.mahacet.org. Always cross-check a time-sensitive detail there before you act on it.

MHT CET is a state-level entrance test. It decides admission to government, government-aided and private unaided Engineering, Pharmacy and Agriculture colleges in Maharashtra.

A 2015 state Act set up the State CET Cell: the Maharashtra Unaided Private Professional Educational Institutions (Regulation of Admissions and Fees) Act, Section 10. That is its legal basis (Source: cetcell.mahacet.org, About CET Cell). The Commissioner of State CET Cell is the competent authority for the exam.

MHT CET runs as two separate papers, called groups. You pick the group based on the course you want.

What does MHT CET stand for?

MHT CET stands for the Maharashtra Common Entrance Test. The State CET Cell does not spell out a longer official expansion in its current brochure. It refers to the exam only as "MHT-CET" in every notice (Source: cetcell.mahacet.org).

Who conducts MHT CET?

The State Common Entrance Test Cell, Government of Maharashtra, conducts MHT CET. It works under a 2015 state Act (Source: cetcell.mahacet.org, About CET Cell).

What is MHT CET used for?

MHT CET decides seats in MHT CET colleges offering Engineering and Technology (B.E./B.Tech), Pharmacy (B.Pharm) and Agriculture degree courses in Maharashtra. Some management and other professional courses also accept the score. Engineering and pharmacy remain the two courses most candidates take it for.

What is the difference between MHT CET PCM and PCB?

PCM stands for Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics. It is the paper for Engineering and Technology admission.

PCB stands for Physics, Chemistry and Biology. Pharmacy and Agriculture admissions accept it, along with PCM candidates who studied Biology in Class 12. The two papers run on different dates, with different question counts.

See the MHT CET 2026 dates page for the complete stage-wise calendar, from registration to CAP. MHT CET 2026 registration opened on 10 January 2026. The CET Cell originally set 12 February 2026 as the last date, with fee payment up to 13 February 2026, then extended the window twice more, closing it for good on 24 February 2026 without a late fee and 27 February 2026 with a late fee (Source: MHT-CET 2026 Information Brochure, cetcell.mahacet.org; Moneycontrol, 10 and 23 February 2026; KollegeApply, 21 February 2026). The exam ran in two attempts. The CET Cell counted a candidate's best score across both.

When was MHT CET 2026 held?

The PCM paper ran from 11 to 20 April 2026, and again from 12 to 21 May 2026 (excluding 16 and 17 May) for second-attempt candidates, after the CET Cell revised the second-attempt PCM window from an earlier 12-16 May schedule. The PCB paper ran from 21 to 26 April 2026, and again on 10-11 May 2026 (Source: cetcell.mahacet.org revised notice; Careers360, Jagran Josh, April 2026).

Is there a second attempt in MHT CET?

Yes, MHT CET 2026 offered a second attempt to every registered candidate. The CET Cell considered the better of the two scores while preparing the merit list.

Has MHT CET 2027 been announced?

No, not as of 23 September 2026. The official CET Cell portal was still running the "A.Y. 2026-27" admission and CAP portals. No MHT CET 2027 registration notice was live. Treat any "MHT CET 2027 tentative dates" article elsewhere as a guess, not an official date, until cetcell.mahacet.org publishes its own notice.

Data Sources: MHT-CET 2026 Information Brochure and official notices, cetcell.mahacet.org.

You need Indian nationality for MHT CET. You also need a pass, or an appearance, in the HSC (Class 12) exam or its equivalent (Source: MHT-CET 2026 Information Brochure, cetcell.mahacet.org). There is no age limit.

The brochure sets these minimum HSC marks:

Subject requirements follow the group you choose. Engineering (PCM) needs Physics and Mathematics as compulsory Class 12 subjects, with Chemistry or another approved subject. Pharmacy and Agriculture (PCB) need Physics and Chemistry as compulsory subjects, with Mathematics or Biology.

The brochure also defines several candidature types, each with its own document rules. These include Maharashtra State candidates (Types A to E), All India candidates, J&K migrants, minority candidates, and NRI/OCI/foreign candidates. Check your exact type against the MHT CET registration guide before you apply.

What is the minimum percentage needed for MHT CET?

You need 45% aggregate in HSC for the General category. Reserved categories, including SC, ST, OBC, SEBC, EWS and PWD, need 40% (Source: MHT-CET 2026 Information Brochure).

Is there an age limit for MHT CET?

No. The official brochure states plainly that there is no age limit for MHT CET 2026, either to appear or to get admission.

Which subjects are compulsory for MHT CET?

Physics and Mathematics are compulsory for the PCM (Engineering) group. Physics and Chemistry are compulsory for the PCB (Pharmacy/Agriculture) group.

MHT CET 2026 registration opened on 10 January 2026. The CET Cell originally set 12 February 2026 as the last date, with fee payment open till 13 February 2026, then extended the deadline twice more, closing registration for good on 24 February 2026 without a late fee and 27 February 2026 with a late fee (Source: MHT-CET 2026 Information Brochure, cetcell.mahacet.org; Moneycontrol; KollegeApply, 21 February 2026). Applications went in only online, through the official portal.

The registration steps, per the brochure:

1. Go to the official MHT CET registration portal linked from cetcell.mahacet.org.
2. Register with your basic details, mobile number and email ID.
3. Fill in academic, category and candidature-type details.
4. Upload photograph, signature and required documents in the specified format.
5. Pay the fee online and choose your exam group (PCM, PCB, or both).
6. Print the filled application form for your records.

A correction window usually opens after registration closes. It lets candidates fix errors in photo, category or exam-centre choices before the MHT CET admit card stage. The 2026 brochure did not carry exact correction-window dates in the version reviewed for this page. Check the official notices page nearer the 2027 cycle for that window.

How do I register for MHT CET 2026?

You register only online, on the official CET Cell portal. Fill in personal, academic and category details, upload documents, then pay the fee before the deadline.

What is the MHT CET application fee?

The MHT CET 2026 fee was Rs 1,300 per group for General category candidates. Reserved categories paid Rs 1,000 per group. Both figures double for both groups together (Source: MHT-CET 2026 Information Brochure).

Can I take both PCM and PCB in MHT CET?

Yes. You can register for both groups in the same year by paying the combined fee, and appear for both papers on their separate dates.

The State CET Cell released the MHT CET 2026 admit card roughly three to four days before each candidate's own exam date. It issued the first notice about this on 17 March 2026 (Source: cetcell.mahacet.org, Important Notice on Admit Card).

Steps to download it:

1. Log in to the candidate portal at cetcell.mahacet.org with your application number and password.
2. Open the "Download Admit Card" or "Hall Ticket" link once it is active for your exam date.
3. Check your name, photograph, exam centre, date and reporting time carefully.
4. Download and print at least two copies in colour.

Carry the admit card to the exam centre. Also carry a valid original photo ID and any category or reservation certificate your candidature type requires.

When is the MHT CET admit card released?

The CET Cell makes the admit card available in your login about three to four days before your specific exam date. It is never released on one fixed date for everyone.

What if my MHT CET admit card has an error?

Contact the CET Cell helpline or your regional facilitation centre right away. Use the contact details printed on the admit card, since a wrong photo or centre detail can block your entry.

Both MHT CET papers run for 180 minutes and carry 200 total marks. Neither has negative marking (Source: MHT-CET 2026 Information Brochure, cetcell.mahacet.org). See the full MHT CET exam pattern page for a section-wise breakdown. The two groups differ in question count and per-question marks.

The official brochure does not publish an exact question count for each subject inside the Physics-Chemistry block. It states only the group total and the block-wise timing. Treat any exact 50-50 subject split you see elsewhere as an unofficial estimate, not a CET Cell figure.

How many questions are in MHT CET?

PCM carries 150 questions for 200 marks. PCB carries 200 questions for 200 marks. Both run in 180 minutes, split into two 90-minute blocks.

Is there negative marking in MHT CET?

No. The MHT-CET 2026 Information Brochure states plainly that there is no negative marking. This holds for both the PCM and PCB groups, and for both attempts.

Can I get extra time in MHT CET if I finish a section early?

No. The exam auto-submits the Physics-Chemistry block at 90 minutes, and the exam itself closes at the time shown on your admit card, with no extra time under any circumstances.

The MHT CET syllabus is drawn from the Maharashtra State Board's Class 11 and 12 HSC syllabus. It covers Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics and Biology (Source: cetcell.mahacet.org, Syllabus and Marking Scheme page). The CET Cell publishes a separate, subject-wise syllabus and marking-scheme PDF each cycle.

The CET Cell's syllabus PDF for 2026 did not extract as readable text in this research pass. An exact chapter-wise weightage table cannot be confirmed here as a CET Cell figure. Open the MHT CET syllabus page's linked PDF directly on cetcell.mahacet.org to read the chapter list for your group.

Is MHT CET syllabus based on class 11 or class 12?

Both. The CET Cell draws questions from the full Class 11 and Class 12 HSC syllabus, not Class 12 alone. You need both years covered before the exam.

Does MHT CET follow the CBSE syllabus or the Maharashtra State Board syllabus?

It follows the Maharashtra State Board's HSC syllabus. A CBSE or other-board student should map their own syllabus against the State Board's topic list to find any gap.

The State CET Cell declared MHT CET 2026 results group-wise and attempt-wise, not on one common date. PCB first-attempt results came out on 9 June 2026. PCM first-attempt results became accessible from 15 June 2026. PCB second-attempt results followed on 18 June 2026, and PCM second-attempt results followed on 19 June 2026 (Source: cetcell.mahacet.org, official Press Notes No. TED-1226/C.No.05/PCB Result/CET/2026/1441 and /1447).

MHT CET reports your score as a percentile, not a raw mark or a rank. A percentile shows what share of that session's candidates scored at or below you. The CET Cell calculates it separately for every session and attempt, then normalises it before the final merit list.

Before the result, the CET Cell releases a provisional and then a final MHT CET answer key for every group and attempt, with a paid objection window in between. Check the MHT CET result page for the live status of the current cycle, since result dates never repeat exactly from one year to the next. Steps to check your result:

1. Log in to your candidate account at cetcell.mahacet.org.
2. Open the "Result" or "Scorecard" section for your group and attempt.
3. Download the scorecard PDF, which shows your raw marks, percentile and category rank.

When is the MHT CET result declared?

The CET Cell declares each group's result separately, usually within two to five weeks of that group's exam. In 2026, PCB results came first, in early to mid-June, and PCM followed by mid-June.

How is MHT CET percentile calculated?

Percentile compares your score against every candidate in your exam session. It then normalises across sessions, since MHT CET runs over several days in multiple shifts. A 99 percentile means you scored higher than 99% of that session's candidates, not that you got 99% marks.

Does MHT CET consider my best score if I take both attempts?

Yes. When you appear for both attempts, the CET Cell uses whichever attempt gives you the higher percentile for the final merit list.

"Cutoff" in MHT CET means the closing percentile at which a college and branch stopped admitting candidates, in a given CAP round and category. It is not one single fixed qualifying score. The CET Cell and the Directorate of Technical Education publish these college-wise and branch-wise, round by round, once CAP begins.

MHT CET cutoffs move every year. They differ sharply by branch, college, category, home-university region and CAP round. A Computer Engineering seat at a well-known Mumbai or Pune college can close well above 99 percentile in Round 1. A newer college, or a less sought-after branch, can stay open into later rounds at a far lower percentile.

Four things move a MHT CET cutoff each year. These are how many candidates appeared, how tough that year's paper was, how many new seats a college opened, and how many outside-Maharashtra candidates applied under the All India quota. Check the MHT CET cutoff page for round-wise, category-wise detail, once verified against the official PDFs.

What is a good percentile for MHT CET?

There is no single "good" percentile. It depends entirely on the college, branch and category you target. A percentile that secures one branch can miss another, in the same college, by a wide margin.

Does MHT CET cutoff differ for PCM and PCB?

Yes. PCM cutoffs apply to Engineering admissions. PCB cutoffs apply to Pharmacy and Agriculture admissions. The two run on entirely separate merit lists, because they are different papers.

Admission after MHT CET runs through the Centralised Admission Process (CAP). The State CET Cell and course-specific bodies, such as the Directorate of Technical Education, manage it (Source: cetcell.mahacet.org, CAP 2026-27 portal). CAP covers Engineering/Technology, Pharmacy, Agriculture and several other professional courses, each on its own linked portal.

The broad CAP sequence:

1. CAP registration on the relevant course portal, using your MHT CET application number.
2. Document verification, either online or at a Facilitation Centre.
3. Choice filling, where you list colleges and branches in your order of preference.
4. Seat allotment, released round by round based on your percentile, category and choices.
5. Reporting and fee payment to confirm the allotted seat, or moving to the next round.

The CET Cell ran four CAP rounds for engineering admission through 2026, followed by an institutional vacant-seat round. It extended a caste-validity-certificate deadline to 4 September 2026, then issued a cutoff-date notice for all technical courses on 7 September 2026, and finally revised that cutoff to 14 September 2026 (up to 5 PM) following Supreme Court and AICTE directions, closing AY 2026-27 admissions for good (Source: cetcell.mahacet.org, Notices; Times of India and Jagran Josh, 8-13 September 2026).

What is CAP in MHT CET admission?

CAP stands for Centralised Admission Process. It is the round-based counselling system that turns your MHT CET percentile into a seat at a specific college and branch.

Do I need to fill choices separately for each CAP round?

Choices usually carry forward between rounds unless you actively edit them. Exact rules vary by round and by course. Always confirm the current instruction on the CAP portal before a round closes.

In past cycles, the State CET Cell has published previous MHT CET question papers and answer keys after each result. It also lets candidates view their own response sheet in their login. Check the official site's downloads and notices sections directly for the current list, since exact page paths change from cycle to cycle.

Practising real past papers, by session and by group, shows you the real difficulty level and question style. That works far better than a generic mock test. Time yourself strictly to the 90-minute block structure MHT CET actually uses, not to a single 180-minute block.

Where can I get MHT CET previous year papers?

Check the official CET Cell portal's notices and downloads sections first. It has published past papers and answer keys there after results in previous cycles. See the MHT CET previous year question paper page for a collected, verified list once available.

Are MHT CET previous year papers enough to prepare, or do I need mock tests too?

Past papers show you the real question style and difficulty. Timed mock tests, on top of them, build the speed and section-wise time management the actual 90-minute blocks demand.