Mumbai: The Maharashtra government is set to revise the Common Entrance Test (CET) admission norms for undergraduate professional courses such as BMS, BBA, BCA, and integrated MBA in a major move aimed at reducing vacant seats and speeding up the admission process.
Two years after introducing CET-based admissions for these courses, the state has decided to modify the rules following repeated complaints from colleges about delayed admissions and a large number of unfilled seats. Under the revised system, students with valid MHT-CET scores in PCM or PCB streams will also be allowed to apply for these courses, expanding the overall applicant pool. However, priority will still be given to candidates who have appeared for the dedicated MAH-BBA/BMS/BCA CET and secured a non-zero score.
Why the Change Was Needed
These programmes were brought under the purview of the All India Council for Technical Education and classified as professional courses, making entrance tests mandatory from the 2024–25 academic session. Before that, admissions were based mainly on Class 12 marks.
To support students who missed the first test, the state conducted the entrance exam twice. However, this pushed the entire admission process as late as October, by which time many colleges had already begun their first semester. As a result, students often chose alternative colleges instead of waiting, leaving a large number of seats vacant.
New Admission Structure
For the 2026–27 admission cycle, around 70,000 candidates have registered for over one lakh available seats across these courses, highlighting the mismatch between demand and available capacity. Officials said the main objective is to speed up the process and prevent academic disruption.
Under the revised norms:
- First preference will go to students with valid MAH-BBA/BMS/BCA CET scores
- Remaining vacant seats will then be opened to students with MHT-CET PCM or PCB scores
- In case of a tie, students with PCM scores will be given preference
This will also provide MHT-CET students another option if they do not secure admission in engineering, pharmacy, or agriculture courses.
Impact on Colleges
Many colleges, especially in Mumbai, faced complications after these courses came under AICTE regulation. Some institutions even changed the name of their traditional BMS programmes to BCom (Management Studies) to stay under university regulation and avoid admission delays.
Others split their intake into two divisions—one under the university system and another under AICTE—to avoid losing high-scoring students during delayed admissions.
Expected Government Resolution
Officials said a formal government resolution is expected shortly, which will officially implement the revised admission framework for the upcoming academic session.
Bigger Picture
The move reflects Maharashtra’s effort to make higher education admissions more flexible, faster, and student-friendly. By allowing MHT-CET candidates to participate after the main CET pool is exhausted, the government hopes to reduce vacant seats, prevent semester delays, and improve academic planning for colleges.
If implemented smoothly, the revised CET norms could significantly improve admissions for professional undergraduate courses and provide students with wider opportunities across the state.
