MHT CET Eligibility Criteria 2026 - Age, Marks & Domicile

MHT CET 2026 is the state entrance test that decides admission to engineering, pharmacy, and planning courses across Maharashtra. Also called MHT CET 2026, it is held by the State Common Entrance Test Cell, Maharashtra, across two sessions, and it is open to students from any Indian state, not just Maharashtra. Eligibility for MHT CET 2026 depends on the Class 12 subject group chosen, the marks scored, and the candidature type declared, which together affect reservation and seat category during counselling. This page covers the age, subject, marks, attempt, and domicile rules needed before applying for MHT CET 2026, along with a few conditions that catch applicants off guard.

MHT CET 2026 Eligibility Overview

MHT CET 2026 eligibility depends on a handful of core conditions that interact with each other rather than standing alone, which is why a candidate meeting the subject rule can still be blocked by the domicile rule at counselling. The table below lays out the full set before the sections that follow go into detail.

Who Can Apply for MHT CET 2026

Citizenship is the starting requirement for MHT CET 2026, and it is a simple one. Indian citizens can apply, and domicile only comes into play later, when the State CET Cell sorts applicants into a candidature type for counselling.

• Candidates must be Indian citizens to apply for MHT CET 2026.
• A Maharashtra domicile is not needed to appear for MHT CET 2026. Candidates from any Indian state can apply.
• Foreign nationals, along with NRI, OCI, and PIO children, are treated under a separate MHT CET 2026 candidature and are generally not required to sit the exam.

MHT CET 2026 Candidature Types

MHT CET 2026 sorts every applicant into a candidature type, and this is where domicile actually matters. The candidature type decides seat category and reservation, not the right to appear for the exam.

• A candidate from Maharashtra can claim only one Maharashtra State Candidature type, based on where SSC and HSC were passed, or domicile.
• Candidates studying in the disputed Maharashtra-Karnataka border area get a special candidature, subject to a Marathi-medium and residence condition.

Age Limit for MHT CET 2026

There is no age limit for MHT CET 2026. The State CET Cell has not set a minimum or maximum age, so candidates of any age who meet the subject and marks conditions can apply.

MHT CET 2026 Educational Qualification

MHT CET 2026 splits candidates into two subject groups, and the group chosen decides which papers are attempted and which courses can be applied for later.

• A pass in, or appearance in, Class 12 or an equivalent exam from a recognised board is required to apply for MHT CET 2026.

Is There a Minimum Percentage to Appear for MHT CET 2026

This is a point many applicants get backwards, so it is worth stating clearly. There is no minimum percentage required just to sit the MHT CET 2026 exam itself.

• A candidate can register for and appear in MHT CET 2026 regardless of their Class 12 marks.
• The 45%/40% marks condition applies only later, at the Centralised Admission Process stage, and decides whether a candidate can actually be admitted through counselling, not whether they can sit the exam.

MHT CET 2026 Eligibility for All India Candidates

MHT CET 2026 treats All India candidates a little differently for engineering and pharmacy admission, and this nuance confuses several applicants who assume the exam always decides the seat.

• All India candidates may still choose to appear for MHT CET 2026, since a valid score keeps other seat options open during counselling.

MHT CET 2026 Number of Attempts

There is no cap on attempts for MHT CET 2026. Since 2026, the exam runs across two sessions in the same year, so a candidate who is not satisfied with the first attempt can register again for the second, and the better score is counted.

MHT CET 2026 Eligibility for Appearing and PwD Candidates

MHT CET 2026 keeps the door open for two groups that often worry about eligibility unnecessarily: students still finishing school, and candidates with a disability.

• Candidates appearing in Class 12 in 2026 can apply for MHT CET 2026, but must produce the final mark sheet during the Centralised Admission Process.
• Candidates with more than 40% disability can use a scribe during the exam, arranged by the candidate, with a declaration submitted before the exam date.

MHT CET 2026 Reservation and Required Documents

Reservation under MHT CET 2026 applies only to Maharashtra candidates, not to All India candidates from other states, and it comes with a paperwork requirement that catches many applicants off guard at counselling.

• Seats are reserved for SC, ST, OBC, VJ/DT-NT, SBC, and EWS candidates of Maharashtra, along with PwD candidates, as per state norms.
• Reserved-category candidates need a valid Caste Certificate, Caste Validity Certificate, and Non-Creamy Layer Certificate, where applicable.
• Class 10 and 12 mark sheets, a photograph, signature, ID proof, and category certificate are required at the time of MHT CET 2026 registration.

MHT CET 2026 vs JEE Main Eligibility

MHT CET 2026 and JEE Main are both engineering entrance paths into overlapping colleges, and candidates often ask which is the easier one to qualify. The eligibility rules differ enough to matter.

About the State CET Cell - MHT CET 2026 Conducting Body

The body running MHT CET 2026 also conducts several other Maharashtra entrance exams, including MH CET Law, and it is worth knowing where to check official updates rather than relying on unofficial sources.

• The State Common Entrance Test Cell, Government of Maharashtra, conducts MHT CET 2026 and manages the Centralised Admission Process counselling.
• MHT CET 2026 is one of the largest state-level entrance tests in India, with 6 to 7 lakh registrations and 5 to 6 lakh candidates typically appearing across both sessions.
• All official MHT CET 2026 updates are published on cetcell.mahacet.org.

Colleges Accepting MHT CET 2026 Scores

MHT CET 2026 percentile decides which of Maharashtra's engineering colleges a candidate can realistically target, and the gap between top colleges is often within a fraction of a percentile.

Admission through MHT CET 2026 to these colleges depends on percentile, category, and choices filled during the Centralised Admission Process.

MHT CET 2026 eligibility comes down to Class 12 subjects, marks for CAP admission, and candidature type. There is no age limit and no attempt cap, so most students clear the basic conditions easily. The candidature and reservation paperwork is where mistakes usually happen, so keep the certificates ready well before counselling starts.

MHT CET Eligibility Criteria 2026 FAQs

Ques: Is a Maharashtra domicile certificate needed to register for MHT CET 2026?

Ques: Can a candidate change their subject group after registering for MHT CET 2026?

Ques: Does a backlog or compartment in Class 12 affect MHT CET 2026 eligibility?

Ques: Is MHT CET 2026 eligibility the same for B.Pharm and Pharm.D?

Ques: What happens if a candidate's MHT CET 2026 category certificate is found invalid at counselling?