Maharashtra LLB Admissions 2026: CET Cell Extends CAP Round 1 Option Form Deadline to August 11

The Maharashtra State Common Entrance Test (CET) Cell has officially extended the deadline for candidate option form filling for Centralised Admission Process (CAP) Round 1. Applicants seeking admission into three-year and five-year LLB programmes for the 2026–27 academic session now have until August 11, 2026, to submit or revise their college choices. The original closing date was August 9, 2026.

This two-day extension comes after a significant development: 98 new law colleges were cleared by the Bar Council of India (BCI) and affiliated with state universities during the ongoing selection window. By extending the window, the CET Cell aims to ensure that all eligible candidates have enough time to review the newly expanded list of institutions and adjust their preferences accordingly.

Addition of 98 Law Colleges to Choice Pool

The primary driver behind the extension is the ongoing approval process for law institutions across Maharashtra. As regulatory bodies grant approvals, newly recognized colleges are being integrated directly into the centralized portal.

Before this update, the available options were limited. On August 5, 2026, the portal listed 93 colleges for the three-year LLB stream and 56 colleges for the five-year LLB stream. With the latest additions, 53 new colleges have joined the three-year programme and 45 new colleges have joined the five-year programme. Consequently, the total number of options available to prospective law students across Maharashtra has expanded to 247 colleges.

The CET Cell noted that additional colleges might be added before the closing window if their statutory approvals clear in time. Candidate choices directly determine allocation success, so this expanded list offers aspirants a higher likelihood of securing a seat in their preferred geographic region or institution.

Impact on Candidates: What You Need to Do

The extension applies to all candidates whose names appeared in the final merit list published on July 28, 2026. Unverified or non-merit candidates cannot participate in this round.

The admission authority recommends specific steps depending on your current application status:

1. Candidates who have already submitted their option forms: Log back into the official portal to review the updated college list. If any newly added college better suits your academic goals or location preferences, unlock your form, rearrange your priority list, and resubmit.

2. Candidates who have not yet submitted: Fill out your preference list as soon as possible. Do not wait until the final hours on August 11 to avoid potential web traffic bottlenecks.

3. Candidates seeking specific categories or reservations: Ensure that your preferred colleges offer valid seats under your designated category before finalizing choices.

Revised CAP Round 1 Admission Schedule

Following the two-day extension for preference filling, the State CET Cell has revised subsequent milestones for CAP Round 1. The updated sequence of events is detailed below:

• August 11, 2026 (11:59 PM): Last date to fill, edit, and lock the college option form online.

• August 13, 2026: Declaration of Round 1 provisional seat allocation.

• August 14 to August 19, 2026: Selected candidates report to their allocated colleges to verify original documents and complete admission formalities.

• August 20, 2026: Colleges upload details of admitted candidates onto the central admission system.

How to Fill or Modify Your Option Form Online

Candidates can submit or edit their college choices by following these steps:

1. Visit the Official Portal: Navigate to the dedicated website for your stream (llb3cap26.mahacet.org for 3-Year LLB or llb5cap26.mahacet.org for 5-Year LLB).

2. Log In: Click on the candidate login button and enter your registered Application ID and password.

3. Open the Option Form: Select the “Fill Option Form” link from the dashboard menu.

4. Select Districts and Colleges: Filter institutions by district, university, status (government, aided, unaided), or medium of instruction.

5. Set Preferences: Arrange your chosen colleges in order of priority (Preference 1, Preference 2, etc.).

6. Confirm and Lock: Double-check all selections, confirm the declaration, and lock your option form. Download and save a copy of the submitted form for future reference.

Key Guidelines for Aspirants

Applicants are advised to keep several factors in mind while filling out choices:

• No Limit on Choices: Candidates can select as many colleges as they wish from the available pool. Adding more options reduces the chance of remaining unallocated in Round 1.

• First Preference Rule: If a candidate is allotted their top preference (Preference 1), the allocation is auto-freezed. The candidate must accept the seat and report to the institute. Failing to do so will disqualify them from subsequent regular CAP rounds.

• Betterment Option: Candidates allotted any preference from 2nd onwards can choose to “Freeze” the seat if satisfied, or choose “Betterment” to retain the current seat while participating in Round 2 for a higher preference.

Applicants requiring technical support or clarification regarding approval numbers can reach out to the State CET Cell helpline or consult official notices published on mahacet.org.

Written by Simran

Simran is currently working as a Senior Content Writer at Findmycollege , where she creates engaging and research-driven learning resources for students. She has completed her Graduation in Journalism from Delhi University. With 4 years of experience in the EdTech industry, she has previously contributed to leading platforms like Leverage Edu and Aakash. Her expertise lies in simplifying Engineering and Medical entrance exam content to guide aspirants in their preparation journey. Beyond writing, Simran enjoys sketching, watching movies, and finding creative inspiration in everyday life.

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