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'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.
| Particular | Detail |
|---|---|
| Exam Name | Maharashtra Common Entrance Test (MHT CET) |
| Conducting Body | State Common Entrance Test Cell, Maharashtra |
| Groups | PCM (Engineering) and PCB (Pharmacy, Agriculture, Fisheries) |
| Sessions | Two: Session 1 (April 2026) and Session 2 (May 2026), first time |
| Application Mode | Online only, at cetcell.mahacet.org |
| Registration Without Late Fee | January 10 to February 24, 2026 |
| Application Fee | Rs 1,300 (General), Rs 1,000 (Reserved), per attempt |
| New for 2026 | Mandatory APAAR ID alongside Aadhaar, fee hike of Rs 300/200 |
| Official Website | cetcell.mahacet.org |
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.
| Window | Dates | Extra Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Regular registration | January 10 to February 24, 2026 | None |
| Late fee window 1 | February 25 to 27, 2026 | Rs 500 |
| Reopened window | March 19 to 20, 2026 | Rs 500 |
| Correction window | March 2026 (dates announced by CET Cell) | None |
| Session 1 exam | April 2026 | |
| Session 2 exam | May 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'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.
| Category | Fee Per Attempt (2026) | Previous Year |
|---|---|---|
| General / Open | Rs 1,300 | Rs 1,000 |
| Reserved (SC/ST/OBC/EWS, Maharashtra domicile) | Rs 1,000 | Rs 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.
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.
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.
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.
| Document | Notes |
|---|---|
| Aadhaar card | Must be updated, name must match Class 12 records |
| APAAR ID | Generated through DigiLocker, mandatory for 2026 |
| Passport-size photograph | Recent, colour, as per specifications on the upload screen |
| Signature | Scanned clearly, within the file-size limit shown on the portal |
| Category certificate | Only for SC, ST, OBC, EWS, or other reserved-category claims |
| Domicile certificate | Only 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 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 Correction | Not Editable |
|---|---|
| Name | Registered mobile number |
| Date of birth | Registered email address |
| Photograph and signature | Application 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 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.
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.
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.
| Relevant Links | ||
|---|---|---|
| MHT CET 2024 Question Paper | MHT CET 2023 Question Paper | MHT CET 2022 Question Paper |
| MHT CET 2021 Question Paper | MHT CET Previous Year Papers | MHT CET 2026 Question Paper |
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.
Download the PREPP App and attempt FREE MHT CET Mock Tests and get complete study material!
Comments