MHT CET Counselling 2026 is the gateway to B.Tech admissions in Maharashtra. If you have cleared MHT CET 2026 or hold a valid JEE Main 2026 score and are targeting an engineering seat in a government, aided, or private college in Maharashtra, this guide covers everything you need before the Centralised Admission Process (CAP) begins.
Whether you are a Maharashtra State candidate or an All India candidate, a fresh 12th pass student or a diploma holder applying for lateral entry, read this carefully before you register.
MHT CET Counselling 2026 Quick Summary
| Parameter | Details |
|---|---|
| Conducting Authority | Commissioner, State CET Cell, Maharashtra |
| Process Name | Centralised Admission Process (CAP) |
| Program | B.E. / B.Tech (First Year and Direct Second Year Lateral Entry) |
| Official Portal | cetcell.mahacet.org |
| Basis of Admission (Maharashtra) | MHT CET 2026 PCM score (non-zero) |
| Basis of Admission (All India) | JEE Main 2026 (preferred) or MHT CET 2026 |
| Number of CAP Rounds | 4 rounds |
| Maximum Options in Option Form | 300 |
| Seat Acceptance Fee | Rs. 1,000 (non-refundable) |
| Application Fee (General) | Rs. 1,000 (for JEE/NEET-only candidates) |
| Application Fee (Reserved – Maharashtra) | Rs. 800 |
| Application Fee (NRI/OCI/PIO/Foreign) | Rs. 5,000 |
MHT CET B.Tech Counselling 2026 Important Dates (Expected)
| Activity | Expected Period |
|---|---|
| MHT CET 2026 Exam (PCM) | April to May 2026 |
| MHT CET 2026 Result | May to June 2026 |
| CAP Registration and Application | June 2026 |
| Document Verification at Facilitation Centres | June to July 2026 |
| Provisional and Final Merit List | July 2026 |
| CAP Round I Option Form and Allotment | July 2026 |
| CAP Round II | July to August 2026 |
| CAP Round III | August 2026 |
| CAP Round IV | August 2026 |
| Institutional Level Admission | After CAP Round IV |
All dates are indicative based on the previous year’s pattern. The official schedule will be published on cetcell.mahacet.org.
What Is MHT CET B.Tech Counselling 2026?
MHT CET Counselling for B.Tech 2026 is the Centralised Admission Process (CAP) managed by the Commissioner of State CET Cell, Maharashtra. It fills seats across government, government-aided, university departments, and unaided private engineering colleges in the state for the four-year B.E./B.Tech program.
Admissions to B.Tech seats are based on MHT CET 2026 PCM scores for Maharashtra State candidates and JEE Main 2026 scores for All India candidature candidates. Where JEE Main candidates also have MHT CET scores, preference is given to those with a valid JEE Main positive score.
MHT CET Counselling 2026 Eligibility Criteria
Before you register, confirm you meet all conditions below. The Competent Authority does not make exceptions after submission.
Academic Eligibility for First Year B.Tech
| Candidate Type | Academic Requirement | Entrance Exam Requirement |
|---|---|---|
| Maharashtra State Candidature | 10+2 with Physics and Mathematics as compulsory + one of Chemistry / Biotechnology / Biology / CS / IT / Informatics Practices / Agriculture / Engineering Graphics / Business Studies / Electronics / Entrepreneurship; minimum 45% aggregate (40% for Reserved / EWS / PwD of Maharashtra) | Non-zero score in PCM MHT CET 2026 |
| Maharashtra State (PCB route) | 10+2 with Physics and Chemistry + one relevant subject; minimum 45% (40% reserved) | Non-zero score in PCB MHT CET 2026; eligible only for 9 specific disciplines listed by AICTE |
| All India Candidature | Same subject requirements as above; minimum 45% (40% for Reserved / EWS / PwD of Maharashtra) | Non-zero positive JEE Main 2026 score preferred; alternatively non-zero MHT CET 2026 score |
| Diploma Candidates (First Year) | 3-year Diploma in Engineering with minimum 45% (40% reserved) | No separate CET needed; merit based on Diploma marks |
| D.Voc Candidates | 3-year Diploma of Vocation in same or allied sector | Merit based on D.Voc marks |
| NRI / OCI / PIO / Foreign | 10+2 with Physics, Mathematics, and one relevant subject; minimum 45% aggregate | No CET required |
PCB route is limited to these 9 AICTE-specified disciplines only: Agriculture Engineering, Biotechnology, Food Engineering, Leather Technology, Packaging Technology, Pharmaceutical Engineering, Printing Engineering, Fashion Technology, and Textile Chemistry.
For all other engineering branches (including CSE, IT, Mechanical, Civil, Electrical, Electronics, etc.), PCM is mandatory.
Academic Eligibility for Direct Second Year B.Tech (Lateral Entry)
| Route | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Diploma in Engineering | 3-year Diploma in any branch of Engineering with minimum 45% marks (40% for Reserved / EWS / PwD of Maharashtra); from AICTE or Central/State Govt. approved institution |
| B.Sc Degree | B.Sc from UGC/AIU recognized university with minimum 45% (40% reserved) AND Mathematics as a subject in 10+2 |
| D.Voc | 3-year D.Voc in the same or allied engineering sector |
Lateral entry seats are 10% of the sanctioned intake, supernumerary to the approved intake, available over and above first year seats.
Types of Candidature for B.Tech Admission
Every candidate must fall into one of the following candidature types. Your candidature type determines which seats you are eligible for.
| Candidature Type | Who Qualifies |
|---|---|
| Type A | Passed SSC and HSC/Diploma from Maharashtra AND is a domicile of Maharashtra or born in Maharashtra |
| Type B | Does not meet Type A but father or mother is domiciled in Maharashtra (domicile certificate mandatory) |
| Type C | Father or mother is a Central Government or GoI Undertaking employee currently posted in Maharashtra before the CAP application last date |
| Type D | Father or mother is a Maharashtra State Government or State Government Undertaking employee or retired employee |
| Type E | From Maharashtra-Karnataka border area with Marathi as mother tongue |
| All India Candidature | Any Indian national (not restricted to Maharashtra) |
| NRI Candidature | As per NRI definition under the Act |
| J&K and Ladakh Migrant | Children of displaced J&K citizens, IAS/IPS/IFS officers posted there, military/paramilitary personnel, Kashmiri Pandits |
A candidate can claim only one type of Maharashtra State Candidature (Type A to E). Home University (HU) is determined by the place where the qualifying examination was passed or where the domicile certificate was issued.
Reservation Structure for B.Tech Seats in MHT CET 2026
All reservations apply only to Maharashtra State candidates. The percentages below are of the total seats available for Maharashtra candidates in CAP.
Vertical (Category-Based) Reservation
| Category | Reservation |
|---|---|
| Scheduled Castes (SC) and SC converts to Buddhism | 13% |
| Scheduled Tribes (ST) | 7% |
| Vimukta Jati / De-Notified Tribes (NT-A) | 3% |
| Nomadic Tribes 1 (NT-B) | 2.5% |
| Nomadic Tribes 2 (NT-C) | 3.5% |
| Nomadic Tribes 3 (NT-D) | 2% |
| Other Backward Classes (OBC) | 19% |
| Socially and Educationally Backward Classes (SEBC) | 10%* |
| Total | 60% |
Additional Reservations
| Category | Reservation |
|---|---|
| Economically Weaker Section (EWS) | 10% supernumerary (over and above sanctioned intake) |
| Defence (DEF-1, DEF-2, DEF-3 combined) | 5% of total Maharashtra CAP seats per course |
| Persons with Disability (minimum 40% benchmark disability) | 5% of total Maharashtra CAP seats per course |
| Orphan Candidates | 1% of CAP seats (excluding minority institutions and All India seats) |
| Female Candidates | 30% seats reserved for female candidates |
| Tuition Fee Waiver Scheme (TFWS) | Up to 5% of sanctioned intake, supernumerary |
Seat Allocation: How Seats Are Split Between Institutions
First Year B.Tech in Government and Government-Aided Institutions
| Institution Type | Maharashtra CAP Seats | All India Seats | Minority Quota |
|---|---|---|---|
| Autonomous Non-Minority | 100% State Level | Nil | Nil |
| Non-Autonomous Non-Minority | 70% Home University (HU) + 30% Outside Home University (OHU) | Nil | Nil |
| Government Minority (Autonomous) | 50% State Level | Nil | 50% |
| Government Minority (Non-Autonomous) | 35% HU + 15% OHU | Nil | 50% |
| ICT Mumbai / LIT Nagpur | 70% State Level | 30% | Nil |
| BATU Lonere | 85% State Level + 15% Konkan Districts | Nil | Nil |
| COEP Pune | 80% State Level | 20% | Nil |
First Year B.Tech in Unaided Private Institutions
| Institution Type | Maharashtra CAP Seats | All India Seats | Institutional Quota | Minority Quota |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Non-Minority Autonomous | 65% State Level | 15% | 20% | Nil |
| Non-Minority Non-Autonomous | 45.5% HU + 19.5% OHU | 15% | 20% | Nil |
| Minority Autonomous | As per declared minority % (State Level) | 15% | 20% | Minimum 51% |
| Minority Non-Autonomous | 70% of MS seats (HU) + 30% of MS seats (OHU) | 15% | 20% | Minimum 51% |
Institutional Quota of up to 20% includes up to 5% NRI seats if the institution has prior AICTE approval. If NRI seats remain vacant, they are offered to Maharashtra State candidates first, then All India candidates.
Direct Second Year B.Tech (Lateral Entry) Seat Split
| Institution Type | CAP Seats | Institutional Quota |
|---|---|---|
| Government/Aided Institutions | 100% of (Lateral Entry Seats + Vacant Seats) | Nil |
| Unaided Private Non-Minority | 100% of (Lateral Entry Seats + Vacant Seats) | Nil |
| Unaided Private Minority | 100% of (Lateral Entry Seats + Vacant Seats) minus Minority Quota | Minimum 51% Minority Quota |
For lateral entry, B.Sc candidates are considered for supernumerary seats only after Diploma seats are fully utilized. If B.Sc seats remain vacant, they are then filled by D.Voc candidates.
Tuition Fee Waiver Scheme (TFWS) for B.Tech 2026
| Parameter | Details |
|---|---|
| Seats | Up to 5% of sanctioned B.Tech intake per course, supernumerary |
| Who Can Apply | Only Maharashtra State Candidature candidates |
| Annual Family Income | Less than Rs. 8 lakh from all sources |
| What Is Waived | Only tuition fee as approved by Fee Regulatory Authority |
| Other Fees | All non-tuition fees must be paid by the student |
| Course/Institute Change | Not permitted at any stage once admitted under TFWS |
| Institution Eligibility | Only institutions that filled at least 50% of approved intake in the previous academic year |
If no candidates from this category are available for TFWS seats, those seats are not given to any other category. TFWS seats are strictly supernumerary and do not affect the regular seat count.
MHT CET B.Tech CAP Rounds: How the Process Works
MHT CET counselling for B.Tech has four CAP rounds. Here is a brief overview of the various steps taken through each round:
Online Application and Document Verification: Upon successful registration on the CET Cell portal, a candidate submits their type (first-time applicant, second-time applicant etc), category (general, SC, ST etc.), and qualification details (score obtained on MHT CET), and uploads all required supporting documentation.
Candidates in Maharashtra who have taken the MHT CET exam do not have to pay a fee to apply. Candidates who take JEE Main/NEET only and apply as an all-India candidate pay a fee of Rs 1,000 (general category) or Rs 800 (reserved category) as their application fee. Once all documentation has been submitted, the candidate’s documents will be verified at a Facilitation Centre or through the online self-scrutiny method.
Merit List: After document verification, a provisional merit list is published. Candidates can submit grievances within the specified window. The final merit list is then published and used for all four CAP rounds.
Option Form Filling: Before each CAP round, candidates fill in their choices of institutes and courses in decreasing order of preference. A maximum of 300 options can be filled. Once confirmed through candidate login, the option form cannot be changed. Candidates who do not fill the option form for a round cannot participate in that round’s allotment.
CAP Round I: Allotment is done as per inter-se merit and confirmed option form. If a candidate gets their first choice, allotment is auto-frozen. The candidate must report to ARC or complete online self-scrutiny and pay the Rs. 1,000 seat acceptance fee. Candidates who get a seat other than first preference can freeze (accept the seat), or float (accept the seat and try for improvement in Round II), or reject (by not reporting) and still remain eligible for Round II.
CAP Round II: Seats remaining from Round I plus new vacancies are available. Candidates allotted first three preferences in Round II get auto-frozen allotments. Others can freeze, try for improvement in Round III, or reject.
CAP Round III: Candidates allotted their first six preferences in Round III get auto-frozen allotments. No betterment option after Round III for those auto-frozen. Others can freeze or try for Round IV.
CAP Round IV: This is the final round. No further improvement after Round IV. All allotments in Round IV (whether new or retained from earlier rounds) are final. Remaining vacant seats after Round IV are filled at the institutional level.
Upward Shift Rule: If a candidate accepted a seat in Round I and gets a higher preference in Round II, the earlier allotment is automatically cancelled. If no higher preference is available, the earlier allotment stands.
CAP Allotment Stages for B.Tech
Within each CAP round, the computerized allotment runs in the following sequence:
| Stage | What Happens |
|---|---|
| Stage I | All open and reserved candidates considered as per inter-se merit; EWS and Orphan candidates for reserved seats first; reserved class candidates first considered for General seats if merit permits |
| Stage II | Vacant female-reserved seats transferred to male candidates of same category |
| Stage III | Vacant reserved seats considered for SBC candidates up to 2% |
| Stage IV | All remaining seats allotted to all candidates without reservation, on merit |
| Stage V | Remaining seats allotted to All India candidature candidates |
| Stage VI (Round IV only) | Remaining seats filled by Diploma candidates on inter-se merit, then D.Voc candidates |
Every stage runs with Home University (HU) and Outside Home University (OHU) tags first. If seats still remain vacant, the same stage runs without HU/OHU tags, making seats available to all eligible candidates irrespective of home university.
Merit List Preparation for B.Tech
For HSC (12th Pass) Candidates
Merit is determined by MHT CET 2026 score. In case of a tie, the following order applies:
- Higher marks in Mathematics at MHT CET
- Higher marks in Physics at MHT CET
- Higher marks in Chemistry at MHT CET
- Higher percentage of marks in Physics, Mathematics, and Chemistry combined at HSC/10+2
- Higher percentage in Mathematics at HSC/10+2
- Higher percentage in Physics at HSC/10+2
- Higher aggregate percentage at HSC/10+2
For Diploma Candidates (First Year or Lateral Entry)
Merit is determined by percentage of marks on the basis of which the Diploma is awarded. Tie-breaking order: higher SSC percentage, higher Mathematics in SSC, higher Science in SSC, higher English in SSC.
For NRI/OCI/PIO/Foreign Candidates
Merit is determined by percentage of Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics combined at qualifying examination. Tie-breaking: higher Mathematics at HSC/10+2, higher Physics at HSC/10+2, higher aggregate at HSC/10+2.
MHT CET B.Tech Counselling 2026 Cut Off
The official MHT CET B.Tech Counselling 2026 cut off is the closing MHT CET percentile or JEE Main rank of the last candidate admitted in a specific branch, institution, category, and CAP round. The 2026 cut off will be published on the CET Cell portal after each round concludes. Until then, previous years round-wise cut off data serves as a reliable benchmark.
Download previous years round-wise cut off data for MHT CET B.Tech below:
| Year | Download Link |
|---|---|
| MHT CET B.Tech CAP Cut Off 2025 – All Rounds | Download PDF |
| MHT CET B.Tech CAP Cut Off 2024 – All Rounds | Download PDF |
| MHT CET B.Tech CAP Cut Off 2023 – All Rounds | Download PDF |
Once MHT CET Counselling 2026 rounds conclude, we will update this section with live round-wise cut off data for all B.Tech branches and categories.
MHT CET B.Tech 2026 College Fee Structure
Fees for B.Tech programs in Maharashtra depend on the type of institution:
For Government and Government-Aided Institutions, fees are fixed and regulated by the Maharashtra Government . These are significantly lower than private college fees.
For Unaided Private Institutions, fees are approved by the Fee Regulating Authority (FRA) established under the Maharashtra Act. The adhoc or interim fee approved by FRA applies for that academic year. The final approved FRA fee is the fee payable by the candidate.
Download MHT CET 2026 B.Tech College Fee Structure: Download PDF
Documents Required for MHT CET B.Tech CAP 2026
Upload scanned copies during online application and carry originals to the Facilitation Centre or ARC.
- SSC (Class 10) Mark Sheet – All candidates
- HSC / Diploma Mark Sheet – All candidates
- MHT CET 2026 Score Card – Maharashtra State candidates
- JEE Main 2026 Score Card – All India candidature candidates
- Domicile Certificate / Birth Certificate / School Leaving Certificate (Maharashtra) – Type A candidates
- Domicile Certificate of Father or Mother (Maharashtra) – Type B candidates
- Employer Certificate in Proforma-A (Central Govt employee parent posted in Maharashtra) – Type C candidates
- Employer Certificate in Proforma-B (Maharashtra State Govt employee parent) – Type D candidates
- Border area certificate (Proforma G1) and Marathi mother tongue certificate (Proforma G2) – Type E candidates
- Caste Certificate and Caste Validity Certificate – SC/ST candidates
- Caste Certificate, Caste Validity Certificate, and Non-Creamy Layer Certificate (valid till 31.03.2026) – OBC / NT / VJ / SBC / SEBC candidates
- EWS Eligibility Certificate (Proforma-V, valid for 2025-26) – EWS candidates
- Orphan Certificate (Proforma-U) – Orphan candidates
- Defence Service Certificate (Proforma C, D or E as applicable) + Domicile Certificate – Defence candidates
- Disability Certificate from competent authority (minimum 40% disability, permanent) – PwD candidates
- Income Certificate below Rs. 8 lakh from all sources – TFWS candidates
- J&K / Ladakh Migrant Certificate (Proforma J, K, L or M as applicable) – J&K / Ladakh migrant candidates
- NRI Documents (as notified by Competent Authority) – NRI candidates
All scanned documents must be in .jpg or .gif format, minimum 150 dpi resolution, and up to 1 MB file size each.
Cancellation and Refund Policy
Candidates can cancel admission online through the CET Cell portal. If cancellation is done on or before the last date specified by the Competent Authority for full fee refund, the entire fee is refunded after deducting Rs. 1,000 as processing charges. All original documents submitted to the institution must be returned within two days.
If cancellation is done after the full refund cut-off date, only Security Deposit and Caution Money Deposit are refundable. No other fee refund applies. Institutions cannot withhold original certificates to compel continued enrollment or fee payment.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. Is MHT CET mandatory for B.Tech admission in Maharashtra?
A. Candidates applying from Maharashtra State must have an MHT CET 2026 non-zero test score to be eligible for admission to B.Tech programs. Candidates applying from All India basis must also have a JEE Main score greater than zero to be eligible for admission to B.Tech programs. It should be noted that JEE Main is the required entry examination for admission under All India basis rather than MHT CET. Candidates from an approved diploma program will be considered based solely on their diploma grades; there is no MHT CET is required for diploma candidates.
Q. Can a JEE Main candidate get a seat in government engineering colleges in Maharashtra?
A. JEE Main candidates are eligible under All India candidature. Government colleges in Maharashtra do not have All India seats for B.Tech (except ICT Mumbai, LIT Nagpur, BATU Lonere, and COEP Pune which have 15-30% All India seats). Most government college seats are reserved for Maharashtra State candidates only.
Q. What is the difference between Home University and Outside Home University seats?
A. Home University (HU) seats are for candidates whose qualifying exam was passed within the jurisdiction of a specific university area. Outside Home University (OHU) seats are for candidates from other university areas within Maharashtra. For non-autonomous government colleges, the split is 70% HU and 30% OHU.
Q. What happens if I do not fill the option form for a CAP round?
A. If you do not fill and confirm the option form for a round, you cannot participate in that round’s seat allotment. You remain eligible for subsequent rounds if you fill the option form for those rounds. Failure to participate in all rounds means you will not get a seat through CAP.
Q. If I get auto-frozen in CAP Round I, can I still apply elsewhere?
A. No. If you receive your first choice in CAP Round I, your allotment is auto-frozen. You must accept the seat and report to ARC or complete online self-scrutiny. You will not be eligible for any subsequent CAP round. The allotment is final.
Q. What is the maximum number of choices I can fill in the option form?
A. You can fill a minimum of 1 and a maximum of 300 choices in the online option form. Fill them in the order of your actual preference, with your top choice in Block 1. Once the option form is confirmed through your login, it cannot be edited.
Q. Can a Diploma candidate directly get admission to second year B.Tech?
A. Yes. Diploma candidates in Engineering can apply for Direct Second Year (Lateral Entry) B.Tech admission. The seats are 10% of the sanctioned intake, supernumerary to the regular first year seats. Admission is based on Diploma marks, and the entire lateral entry admission process runs through CAP.
Q. Is there any concession in eligibility marks for reserved category candidates?
A. Yes. For SC, ST, VJ/DT-NT, NT-B, NT-C, NT-D, OBC, SEBC, EWS, and PwD candidates belonging to Maharashtra State, the minimum eligibility is 40% aggregate marks in the qualifying subjects instead of 45% for General category candidates.
Rajesh Mishra is an admission counsellor and the founder of GLN Admission Advice Pvt. Ltd. with more than 16 years of experience in student counselling and admission guidance. He has worked with thousands of students and parents seeking clarity in complex admission processes across India.
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