MHT CET 2027 Phase 1 exam likely in December; what changes for aspirants

The Maharashtra CET Cell has officially announced its plan to conduct the MHT CET 2027 Phase 1 Examination between December 15, 2026, and January 15, 2027. This proposed schedule, confirmed by CET Commissioner Dileep Sardesai, marks a significant shift from the traditional April–May examination window, moving it approximately four months earlier.

The move is intended to align Maharashtra’s entrance exam calendar with national-level examinations, particularly JEE Main, which typically takes place in the third week of January. The MHT CET is a state-level entrance examination for admission to undergraduate degree courses including engineering, pharmacy, and agriculture in colleges across Maharashtra.

Revised Examination Schedule and Rationale

The Maharashtra CET Cell’s decision to advance the MHT CET 2027 Phase 1 examination to December 2026 and January 2027 aims to provide students with a state-level benchmark score before they appear for JEE Main. This alignment is expected to reduce pressure on candidates and integrate Maharashtra’s admission cycle more closely with the national technical education framework. Commissioner Dileep Sardesai stated, “Students finish their syllabus by December every year. JEE is conducted in the third week of January. So we want to conduct the first attempt of CET before JEE.”

Historically, the MHT CET was conducted in April–May, following the HSC board exams, which are traditionally held in February–March. The formal notification with the exact dates for MHT CET 2027 is yet to be released on the official portal, cetcell.mahacet.org. Application forms for the examination are anticipated to open around September–October 2026, with the official notification tentatively expected in the second week of September 2026.

Two-Phase System and Eligibility Criteria

The State CET Cell introduced a two-phase system for MHT CET last year, which will continue for the 2027 examination cycle. Under this system, candidates are provided two opportunities to appear for the entrance exam, with the best score considered for admission. The first attempt for MHT CET 2027 is proposed for December 2026 – January 2027, while the second attempt is proposed for April 2027. This two-attempt system applies to PCM, PCB, and MBA/MMS groups.

Eligibility for MHT CET requires candidates to be Indian nationals who have passed or are appearing in Class 12 (HSC) or an equivalent examination. General category candidates must have scored 45% marks in Class 12, while backward class, EWS, and PwD categories require 40% marks. The MHT CET exam is conducted in computer-based test (CBT) mode, with a duration of 180 minutes for both PCM and PCB groups. There is no negative marking, and the exam is offered in English, Marathi, and Urdu mediums.

Syllabus and Admission Weightage Review

The MHT CET exam syllabus is based on the Maharashtra State Board Class 11 and Class 12 curricula. Class 11 topics carry 20% weightage, while Class 12 topics account for 80% weightage. Approximately 80–85% of MHT CET questions are directly based on Maharashtra State HSC Board textbooks. For PCM, Physics and Chemistry each have 50 questions worth 50 marks, and Mathematics has 50 questions worth 100 marks. For PCB, Physics and Chemistry each have 50 questions worth 50 marks, and Biology has 100 questions worth 100 marks.

In a related development, a five-member panel has been constituted to examine the potential consideration of Class 12 marks for engineering and pharmacy admissions. This panel will also review the ratio between Class 12 marks and MHT CET percentile scores for admissions. The panel has been tasked with submitting its recommendations within 15 days. The MHT CET exam score is used for the Centralised Admission Process (CAP) counselling process.

Further reading

• B.Tech AI/ML CAP 2026: Apply with 10+2 (50% PCM) & JEE Main/MHT CET score.
• MHT CET CAP 2026 Round 4 Option Form Filling Begins; Check Last Date to Submit Choices at fe2026.mahacet.org
• MHT CET application form: eligibility, dates and how to apply Next step
• UPESEAT 2027 Registration Begins; BTech Admission Applications Open at upes.ac.in Applications open
• JEE Main application form: eligibility, dates and how to apply
• MHT CET: complete exam guide

Written by Nishit Kumar

Nishit Kumar is a senior EdTech industry leader with over a decade of experience in building and scaling education platforms, shaping their product, content, and growth strategy. At FindMyCollege, Nishit oversees content and editorial strategy, guiding topic selection and content frameworks to ensure accuracy, relevance, and student-first value across the website.

View all posts →