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MHT CET Application Form 2026: Registration, Fee, APAAR ID and How to Apply

Shristy Kandwal

Jul 22, 2026

MHT CET 2026 introduced two changes that affected every candidate who registered: a mandatory APAAR ID alongside Aadhaar, and a two-session exam structure replacing the earlier single-window format. The State Common Entrance Test Cell, Maharashtra, opened registration on January 10, 2026 at cetcell.mahacet.org, with over 10.9 lakh candidates eventually signing up across both PCM and PCB groups. This page covers MHT CET 2026's full application process: the revised fee, the late-fee windows, the documents that were new this cycle, and the correction facility that followed.

MHT CET 2026 Application Highlights

MHT CET 2026's key registration facts sit in the table below. Each row gets its own section further down, including the new APAAR ID requirement and the two-session structure.

ParticularDetail
Exam NameMaharashtra Common Entrance Test (MHT CET)
Conducting BodyState Common Entrance Test Cell, Maharashtra
GroupsPCM (Engineering) and PCB (Pharmacy, Agriculture, Fisheries)
SessionsTwo: Session 1 (April 2026) and Session 2 (May 2026), first time
Application ModeOnline only, at cetcell.mahacet.org
Registration Without Late FeeJanuary 10 to February 24, 2026
Application FeeRs 1,300 (General), Rs 1,000 (Reserved), per attempt
New for 2026Mandatory APAAR ID alongside Aadhaar, fee hike of Rs 300/200
Official Websitecetcell.mahacet.org

MHT CET Registration Dates and Late Fee Windows 2026

MHT CET's registration ran in phases rather than a single open-and-close window, with two separate late-fee extensions after the regular deadline and a brief reopening in March.

WindowDatesExtra Fee
Regular registrationJanuary 10 to February 24, 2026None
Late fee window 1February 25 to 27, 2026Rs 500
Reopened windowMarch 19 to 20, 2026Rs 500
Correction windowMarch 2026 (dates announced by CET Cell)None
Session 1 examApril 2026 
Session 2 examMay 2026 

MHT CET 2026's correction facility allowed editing name, date of birth, photograph, signature, gender, and group. Candidates could also add Session 2 or a second subject group during the correction window. Registration for this cycle is now closed, and results for both sessions have been declared.

MHT CET 2026 Application Fee and the Fee Hike

MHT CET 2026's application fee went up by Rs 300 for General category candidates and Rs 200 for Reserved category candidates compared to the previous year, a change CET Cell announced alongside the notification.

CategoryFee Per Attempt (2026)Previous Year
General / OpenRs 1,300Rs 1,000
Reserved (SC/ST/OBC/EWS, Maharashtra domicile)Rs 1,000Rs 800

Each attempt (Session 1 or Session 2) carries its own fee. A candidate who registered for both sessions paid twice. Payment was accepted through credit card, debit card, net banking, UPI, or mobile wallets. Once paid, the fee was not refunded under any circumstance.

Mandatory Aadhaar and APAAR ID for MHT CET 2026

MHT CET made two identity documents mandatory for the first time in 2026: an updated Aadhaar card and an APAAR ID generated through DigiLocker. No earlier MHT CET cycle required the APAAR ID, so this was a genuine new step for every candidate.

CET Cell issued a pre-registration advisory in January 2026, asking candidates to update their Aadhaar details (name, biometrics, and address) and generate an APAAR ID before starting the form. Both were verified at the registration stage itself, not at a later point like counselling. A candidate whose Aadhaar name did not match their Class 12 records faced a verification failure that stopped the form from progressing.

How to Fill MHT CET 2026 Application Form Online

MHT CET 2026's registration followed a four-stage sequence: register, fill details, upload documents, then pay. The steps below cover the process as it ran on cetcell.mahacet.org during the January to February window.

  • Go to cetcell.mahacet.org and select new registration for MHT CET 2026.
  • Enter your name, date of birth, mobile number, email address, and Aadhaar number, then verify using the OTP sent to your mobile.
  • Create your login credentials (application number and password).
  • Log in and select your domicile type (Type A through E for Maharashtra candidates, or non-Maharashtra).
  • Choose your subject group (PCM for Engineering, PCB for Pharmacy and Agriculture, or both) and preferred exam session.
  • Fill in personal details, category, address, and parent or guardian information.
  • Enter Class 12 educational details including board, year of passing, subjects, and marks.
  • Upload your passport-size photograph, signature, and any applicable category or domicile certificates.
  • Enter your APAAR ID as generated through DigiLocker.
  • Pay the application fee online.
  • Download and print the confirmation page.

Documents Required for MHT CET 2026 Registration

MHT CET's document list expanded from previous years in 2026 because of the APAAR ID requirement. Keep every item ready before starting the form, since the portal does not allow saving an incomplete upload step to finish later.

DocumentNotes
Aadhaar cardMust be updated, name must match Class 12 records
APAAR IDGenerated through DigiLocker, mandatory for 2026
Passport-size photographRecent, colour, as per specifications on the upload screen
SignatureScanned clearly, within the file-size limit shown on the portal
Category certificateOnly for SC, ST, OBC, EWS, or other reserved-category claims
Domicile certificateOnly for Maharashtra domicile candidates claiming reservation

Class 12 mark sheets were not uploaded at the application stage; academic details were entered as text and verified later during counselling and document verification.

MHT CET Application Form Correction Window 2026

MHT CET 2026's correction facility opened after the regular registration closed, allowing edits to a wider set of fields than most other state-level entrance exams.

Editable During CorrectionNot Editable
NameRegistered mobile number
Date of birthRegistered email address
Photograph and signatureApplication number
Gender 
Subject group (can add a second group) 
Session (can add Session 2) 

Adding Session 2 or a second subject group during the correction window required paying the additional fee for that session or group at the time of editing. No separate charge was levied for corrections to personal details or document re-uploads.

MHT CET 2026 Two-Session Exam Structure

MHT CET ran as a two-session exam for the first time in 2026, with Session 1 in April and Session 2 in May. This gave candidates a second attempt within the same cycle, the way JEE Main has offered for several years, but it was new to MHT CET.

A candidate could register for one session or both at the time of application. If only Session 1 was chosen initially, Session 2 could be added during the correction window by paying the additional fee. Once both sessions were complete, CET Cell considered the better of the two percentile scores for the final merit list, with no action needed from the candidate to request a merge.

Common MHT CET Registration Mistakes 2026

MHT CET 2026 drew over 10.9 lakh registrations, and the new APAAR ID requirement introduced a category of errors that no previous cycle had seen.

  • Not generating the APAAR ID through DigiLocker before starting the form, since the field is mandatory and cannot be skipped or filled in later.
  • Submitting an Aadhaar card whose name does not match the Class 12 records, which triggers a verification failure at the registration stage itself.
  • Selecting only one session at the time of application and then assuming Session 2 is added automatically, when it requires a separate action and a separate fee during the correction window.
  • Confusing domicile types (A through E) and selecting the wrong one, since the domicile type determines reservation eligibility at counselling.
  • Paying a late fee in the February 25 to 27 window and then trying to re-register in the March 19 to 20 window, which creates a duplicate application rather than extending the original.

MHT CET 2026's two-session model and the new identity requirements changed the registration experience for over 10 lakh candidates. Anyone planning for the next cycle should keep an updated Aadhaar and a ready APAAR ID well before the registration window opens, since both are verified at the form stage itself rather than at counselling.

MHT CET Application Form 2026 FAQs

Ques: What is APAAR ID and why was it needed for MHT CET 2026?

Ans: APAAR is a unique student identity number generated through DigiLocker. CET Cell made it mandatory for MHT CET 2026 registration as an additional identity verification layer, on top of Aadhaar.

Ques: If I registered for Session 1 only, could I still appear for Session 2?

Ans: Yes, but only if you added Session 2 during the correction window and paid the additional session fee. It was not added automatically.

Ques: Is the Rs 500 late fee in addition to the regular application fee, or does it replace it?

Ans: In addition. A General category candidate applying during the late-fee window paid Rs 1,300 plus Rs 500, totalling Rs 1,800.

Ques: Can non-Maharashtra candidates appear for MHT CET?

Ans: Yes. Non-Maharashtra candidates can register and appear, but their access to reserved-category seats and state-quota benefits during counselling is limited compared to Maharashtra domicile holders.

Ques: Does MHT CET have negative marking?

Ans: No. MHT CET does not deduct marks for incorrect answers. Only correct responses earn marks, which is different from JEE Main and NEET where wrong answers carry a penalty.

*The article might have information for the previous academic years, please refer the official website of the exam.

*The article might have information for the previous academic years, please refer the official website of the exam.
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