Engineering aspirants across India are facing uncertainty as the schedule for MHT CET 2026 overlaps with BITSAT 2026 Session 1, two major entrance examinations required for admission to engineering programmes. The clash in exam dates has raised concerns among the students who plan to appear for both exams in order to maximise their chances of securing admission to a top institute.
According to the announced schedule, the MHT CET 2026 examination for the PCM (Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics) group is expected to be conducted from April 11 to April 19, 2026, for the first attempt. At the same time, BITSAT 2026 Session 1 is scheduled to take place from April 15 to April 17, 2026. The overlapping timelines mean that students may end up having both exams on the same day, making it impossible for them to attend both.
The situation has become more complicated because the BITSAT slot booking process is set to begin earlier than the release of the MHT CET admit cards. Reports indicate that BISAT slot booking for Session 1 will likely take place between March 27 and March 31, while the MHT CET hall ticket is expected to be released only in the first week of April. As a result, students will not know their exact MHT CET exam date while selecting their BITSAT slot, increasing the risk of a scheduling conflict.
MHT CET–BITSAT Overlap: Options Available for Affected Candidates
To most of the candidates, both the tests are considered to be equally significant as they are the gateway to the engineering colleges in Maharashtra and BITSAT is the entrance exam to the sole Birla Institute of Technology and Science campuses. Students usually attend numerous entrance exams to increase their likelihood of having a seat in a renowned engineering institute. Education experts suggest that candidates who face a clash should wait until the MHT CET admit cards are released to confirm their exam dates. If the conflict persists, students are advised to contact the respective exam authorities for assistance. The Maharashtra State Common Entrance Cell and the BITS admission authorities may offer guidance or a possible solution.
Also, BITSAT provides an absentee slot where candidates not able to take the exam tend to take it at a later date, given valid reasons such as conflict with other entrance examinations. In case the student with overlapping sees the opportunity to present during this special slot when the dates are announced, they could do so when they register and get another hall ticket.
As the engineering admission season is nearing, students are pressuring authorities to look into making changes or offering clear recommendations to ensure that candidates will not miss a valuable opportunity because of the conflict arising between the date and the exam.
