MHT CET 2026 CAP Round 3 Option Entry Starts: Check How to Fill Choices, Seat Vacancy Trends, and Critical Rules

The State Common Entrance Test Cell, Maharashtra, has officially activated the online option entry portal for Centralized Admission Process (CAP) Round 3. Candidates seeking undergraduate admission to First-Year Bachelor of Engineering (B.E.) and Bachelor of Technology (B.Tech) courses across participating government, government-aided, and private un-aided institutes can now log in to the official portal at fe2026.mahacet.org to submit and confirm their choice preferences.

This critical phase follows the official publication of the provisional vacant seat matrix on August 19, 2026. With tens of thousands of seats still up for allocation across approximately 385 participating colleges, CAP Round 3 represents one of the final major opportunities for candidates to secure or upgrade their engineering seats for the 2026–27 academic year.

MHT CET 2026 CAP Round 3 Key Schedule

The CET Cell revised the counselling schedule, establishing a strict three-day window for candidates to evaluate seat vacancies, build their preference lists, and lock their choices.

Understanding the Round 3 Seat Matrix & Trends

Before filling out their option forms, candidates are urged to thoroughly analyze the category-wise vacant seat matrix PDF available on the portal.

• High-Demand Branches: Core circuit branches like Computer Science, Information Technology, and Artificial Intelligence & Data Science in top-tier autonomous institutions (such as VJTI Mumbai, COEP Pune, and SPIT Mumbai) have filled over 90% of their intake, leaving limited seats largely subject to reservation conversions.

• Core Engineering Availability: Streams such as Mechanical Engineering, Civil Engineering, Electrical Engineering, and Chemical Engineering hold the highest volume of vacant seats across state-affiliated institutes.

• Category Conversions: Unfilled reserved category seats (including EWS, TFWS, and Minority quotas) from Round 2 are converted into General Merit seats for Round 3 in accordance with state reservation norms, giving general merit candidates expanded access to open options.

Step-by-Step Guide: How to Fill Choices for CAP Round 3?

Candidates must complete their option form submission carefully before the August 22 deadline.

1. Access the Portal: Visit fe2026.mahacet.org and click on the Candidate Login tab.

2. Authenticate: Enter your registered Application ID and Password to enter your dashboard.

3. Examine Vacancies: Download the Round 3 vacant seat matrix PDF. Filter by your target institutes, desired engineering branches, and specific reservation category.

4. Select Options: Add choices by searching via unique Institute Choice Codes or branch names. Candidates can select multiple preferences.

5. Set Preference Priority: Arrange your chosen college choices in exact order of priority, placing your top-choice institute and branch as Preference 1.

6. Lock and Confirm: Review the final sequence thoroughly. Confirm your choices using your login password and the One-Time Password (OTP) sent to your registered mobile number. Forms that remain unconfirmed/unlocked will not be considered for seat allotment on August 24.

7. Download Receipt: Save and print a PDF copy of the locked Option Form Acknowledgement for future admission procedures.

Crucial Admission Guidelines & Rules

• Mandatory Fresh Entry: Option forms submitted in Round 1 or Round 2 do not carry over automatically. Every participating candidate must submit and lock a fresh option form for Round 3.

• Betterment Candidates: Applicants who secured a seat in earlier rounds and selected the “Not Freeze” option can participate in Round 3 to attempt an upgrade. If a higher preference option is allotted in Round 3, their previous seat is automatically cancelled and transferred to another candidate. If no new seat is allotted, the previously secured seat remains intact.

• Auto-Freeze Rule: If a candidate is allotted their Preference 1 choice in Round 3, the seat is automatically auto-frozen. Such candidates are obligated to pay the seat acceptance fee, accept the seat online, and report physically to the institute between August 25 and August 28, 2026, to finalize their admission.

Candidates are strictly advised to complete their choice locking well ahead of the August 22 deadline to avoid last-minute portal traffic or technical delays.