MHT CET is one of the main entrance exams for students who want to pursue professional undergraduate courses in Maharashtra. It is conducted by the State Common Entrance Test Cell, Maharashtra, and is used for admission to courses such as B.E./B.Tech, B.Pharmacy, Pharm.D, B.Planning and some integrated postgraduate programmes. For engineering aspirants, the PCM group is the relevant option because it covers Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics.
The exam is conducted online, so students answer the questions directly on a computer. For the PCM group, the paper contains 150 questions from Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics. Physics and Chemistry questions carry 1 mark each, while Mathematics questions carry 2 marks. The total examination time is 180 minutes and there is no negative marking. Candidates can choose English, Marathi or Urdu as the question-paper language while filling out the application form.
MHT CET is also different from an exam that is meant only for Maharashtra students. Candidates with Indian nationality can appear, and the 2026 brochure includes both Maharashtra State Candidature and All India Candidature categories. However, the admission rules and the benefits available under Maharashtra candidature can be different. For B.E./B.Tech admission, Maharashtra State and Minority Candidature candidates are required to appear for MHT CET, while All India candidates can also be considered through JEE Main, with JEE Main being preferred over MHT CET for the applicable All India admission route.
Another thing students should know is that MHT CET has PCM and PCB groups. PCM is mainly relevant to engineering and technology courses, while PCB is used for pharmacy and several other courses. Candidates can choose one group or, where permitted, both groups. The examination is held in separate sessions, and the marks obtained in one group are not transferred to the other.
After the entrance exam, admission is handled through the Maharashtra Centralized Admission Process (CAP). Candidates who are eligible for the particular course and admission route can participate in the process, fill in their preferred choices and wait for the seat-allotment rounds. The final college and course depend on factors such as merit, candidature type, category, available seats and the choices entered during counselling.