Maharashtra Health Sciences and Technical Common Entrance Test : Exam Date, Registration, Eligibility, Syllabus, Results

The MHT CET Exam 2026 is a vital state-level entrance exam conducted by the Maharashtra State Common Entrance Test Cell for admission to undergraduate courses in engineering, pharmacy, and agriculture in Maharashtra. The MHT CET 2026 application form window opened on 10 January 2026 and the deadline to fill out the application without a late fee was 24 February 2026. Candidates who missed the MHT CET last date could complete the registration with a late fee window open until 27 February 2026. After the application process, the admit cards for PCM exam were released on 07 April 2026 and will be available soon in Late April 2026 for PCB exam. The MHT CET 2026 will be in two categories PCM (Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics) and PCB (Physics, Chemistry, Biology) and will be in two sessions, as the first session will be in April and the second session will be in May. The MHT CET exam dates for the 1st session are from April 11 to 20, 2026 (except 12 April) for PCM group and April 21 to 26, 2026 for PCB group. On the other hand, the exams for the 2nd session will be conducted from May 10 to 11, 2026 (PCM group) and May 12 to 16, 2026 (PCB group).

MHT CET Exam Dates 2026

The following is the MHT CET eligibility criteria that candidates must meet to apply and appear for the exam:

• Nationality: Candidate must be an Indian national.

• Age Limit: There is no age limit to apply for MHT CET 2026.

• Educational Qualification: Candidate needs to pass or be appearing in Class 12 or equivalent in 2026.

• Compulsory Subjects:

  • For Engineering/BTech: Physics and Mathematics should be the compulsory subjects, plus one of Chemistry/Biotechnology/Biology/Technical Vocational subject/Computer Science/IT/Agriculture/Engineering Graphics/Business Studies.

  • For Pharmacy/BPharma: Physics and Chemistry must be the main subjects, plus either Mathematics or Biology.

• Minimum Marks Required:

  • General category candidates need at least 45% aggregate in Class 12, whereas reserved category candidates have a 5% relaxation.

• Maharashtra State Candidates: Also, they must fulfill domicile requirements as per Type A, B, C, D, or E (based on place of education, domicile, or parents’ employment in Maharashtra).

• Non-Maharashtra Candidates: Candidates who are not from Maharashtra are also eligible to apply, but are not eligible for Maharashtra reservation benefits.

• OCI/PIO/NRI Candidates: Foreign candidates are exempted from MHT CET. However, they can apply for admission based on Class 12 marks, with separate counselling.

• Diploma Holders: Diploma holders can also apply for engineering if they have passed a diploma in Engineering/Technology from a recognized institution in Maharashtra.

MHT CET Exam 2026 Application Form

The MHT CET 2026 application form was made available on 10 January 2026. Candidates had the chance to submit their applications by paying a late fee until 27 February 2026. They also need to pay an application fee of INR 1300 for the general category and INR 1000 for reserved categories and PwD candidates from Maharashtra. Candidates who want to appear in both phases have to pay INR 2600 for general category and INR 2000 for reserved category. Those who were interested were required to apply online by visiting the MHT CET official website, cetcell.mahacet.org. The application process includes registering with basic details, filling out personal and academic information, choosing exam preferences, and uploading necessary documents. After completing the application, candidates were advised to download and save the confirmation receipt for future use.

The MHT CET Exam Pattern 2026 features a computer-based test with MCQs. The exam is designed to check candidates' knowledge in Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics, and Biology, depending on their chosen group (PCM or PCB). The exam is divided into two sections, PCM and PCB. Candidates are given 90 minutes for Physics, Chemistry and 90 minutes for Biology/Mathematics each, totaling 180 minutes. The MHT CET syllabus is 20% of its content from the Class 11 syllabus and 80% from Class 12 syllabus. Below are additional details for the MHT CET exam pattern & marking scheme:

MHT CET Exam Pattern 2026

MHT CET Marking Scheme 2026

The MHT CET syllabus 2026 is designed by the Maharashtra State Common Entrance Test Cell and covers four main subjects: Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics, and Biology. The exam syllabus is based on the Maharashtra State Board curriculum, with 20% of questions from selected Class 11 topics and 80% from the full Class 12 syllabus. Candidates applying for engineering courses must appear for the PCM group, while those interested in pharmacy or allied health sciences opt for the PCB group (Physics, Chemistry, Biology). Additionally, the difficulty Level of MHT CET PCM exam is similar to JEE Main and Biology with NEET Exam. The detailed syllabus for the MHT CET 2026 exam is given below:

The MHT CET 2026 admit card has been released by the Maharashtra State Common Entrance Test Cell on 7 April 2026 for both PCM candidates, while it will be made available soon for PCB candidates. Candidates can download their admit card from the official website by logging in with their registered email ID or application number and password. The admit card contains important details such as the candidate’s name, exam date, time, exam center address, and exam day instructions. In addition, it is mandatory for candidates to carry a printed copy of their admit card for entry to the exam center. In case of any discrepancies in the details, candidates must contact the CET Cell helpline for rectification. Candidates must also note that the admit card is released separately for PCB and PCM groups. Hence, those who registered for both must download each admit card individually.

MHT CET Exam Answer Key 2026

The MHT CET 2026 provisional answer key for the 1st session will be released after the exams in May 2026 (Tentative), followed by the 2nd session provisional answer key in June 2026 (Tentative). Candidates were given a limited window for 2-3 days from the answer key release date to raise objections against any answers they found incorrect. To object, they need to submit a valid proof and pay an expected objection fee of INR 1,000 per question. After reviewing all objections, the final MHT CET 2026 answer key will be published in June 2026 (Tentative) and the results will be declared by June 2026 (Tentative). Candidates can use these answer keys to estimate their probable scores before results are announced. It can be downloaded from the official website by logging in with credentials. Once the final answer key is released, no further challenges are accepted, and the results are entirely based on it.

The MHT CET exam 2026 results will be announced separately for both groups. The result date is yet to be announced, while it is expected to be released in June 2026. The results are published by the Maharashtra State Common Entrance Test Cell on the official website. Candidates must log in using their credentials to check their results. The scorecard includes subject-wise marks, overall percentile, qualifying status, candidate’s name, roll number, etc. After the result declaration, qualified candidates can participate in the counseling and seat allotment process. 

MHT CET Cutoff 2026

The MHT CET cutoff is the minimum score or percentile required for admission to various engineering, pharmacy and allied courses in Maharashtra colleges. The MHT CET cutoff will be released by the State CET Cell, Maharashtra, after the counseling process and will be published separately for each CAP (Centralized Admission Process) round. However, the cutoffs differ by institute, branch, and candidate category. For example, top branches like Computer Science and IT at premier colleges such as COEP Pune and VJTI Mumbai require percentiles above 99.90 for the General category, while reserved categories (SC/ST/OBC) have lower cutoffs due to relaxation policies. Here are the MHT CET exam 2026 expected cutoffs given below: 

Follow the below MHT CET preparation tips to score better in the exam:

• Get to know the latest MHT CET syllabus (20% from Class 11, 80% from Class 12) and exam structure before starting preparation.

• Make a daily timetable with dedicated slots for each subject, revision, and breaks.

• Solve MHT CET previous year question papers and take online/offline mock tests to get familiar with the exam pattern and improve speed.

• Allocate time for each section as per the group (PCM/PCB). For PCM, spend more time on Mathematics, and for PCB, maintain a steady pace in Biology due to a higher number of questions.

• Focus on the basics in Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics, and Biology.  

• Practice quick calculation techniques for Mathematics and shortcut methods for recalling facts in Biology and Chemistry.

• Keep revising important formulas, reactions, and diagrams. Make summary notes for last-minute revision.

• There is no negative marking, so attempt every question, even if unsure.

• Don’t just read 24*7. Instead, include short physical activities and maintain a balanced routine to keep your mind fresh.

Best MHT CET Books List 2026