MHT CET Eligibility Criteria 2027: Age, Subjects and Marks Guide

The MHT CET eligibility criteria 2027 work at two levels. The first decides whether you can sit the Maharashtra Common Entrance Test, which the State Common Entrance Test Cell, Maharashtra, conducts for engineering, technology and pharmacy admissions. The second, stricter level decides whether you can take a seat in a particular course after the result, based on your Class 12 subjects, marks and candidature type.

The 2027 information brochure has not been released yet, so this page follows the MHT CET 2026 brochure, the latest official version. It explains who can appear, the course-wise subject and percentage rules, the age limit, Maharashtra candidature types, reservation and PwD provisions, and the mistakes that make otherwise good candidates ineligible at the admission stage.

MHT CET Eligibility Criteria 2027

Eligibility to Appear for MHT CET

The bar for sitting the test is low. Most Class 12 science students can apply, even before their board results are out.

• Academic qualification: You must have passed Class 12 or an equivalent exam, or be appearing for it in the current year. HSC means the Maharashtra State Board exam or an equivalent certificate from a recognised board, so CBSE, CISCE and other recognised board students are eligible.

• No minimum marks to appear: Percentage requirements apply only at admission, not at registration.

• Nationality: The test is for Indian nationals.

• One application: Each candidate may submit only one application form. Duplicate forms can lead to cancellation.

Candidates exempted from appearing

Children of NRIs, children of Indian workers in Gulf countries, OCI and PIO candidates, and foreign nationals are exempted from MHT CET. They are admitted through separate provisions in the admission rules. If you fall in one of these categories but also qualify as an Indian national candidate, check the brochure before deciding not to register.

MHT CET Age Limit

The 2026 brochure states that there is no age limit for appearing in MHT CET or for admission. Students who passed Class 12 in an earlier year, or who are taking a gap year to prepare, can apply, provided they meet the subject and marks rules for their course.

The brochure does not mention any limit on the number of years you can appear. Within one cycle, you can take up to two attempts.

Course-wise Educational Qualification

This is where most eligibility problems appear. Your Class 12 subjects decide which courses you can be admitted to, and the course decides which MHT CET group you need.

The percentage is calculated on the three eligible subjects taken together, not on your overall Class 12 result. The brochure lists subject rules for pharmacy but does not print a marks threshold in the same section, so confirm the current pharmacy percentage in the CAP information brochure for B.Pharm and Pharm.D before you apply.

The PCB route to engineering

Students who skipped Mathematics can still enter nine engineering branches through the PCB group: Agricultural Engineering, Biotechnology, Food Engineering, Leather Technology, Packaging Technology, Pharmaceutical Engineering, Printing Engineering, Fashion Technology and Textile Chemistry. You need Physics and Chemistry in Class 12, 45% in the eligible subjects (40% for reserved, EWS and PwD candidates of Maharashtra), and a non-zero score in PCB MHT CET.

Diploma holders

A candidate with a minimum three-year diploma in engineering and technology, with at least 45% marks (40% for reserved, EWS and PwD candidates of Maharashtra), also meets the academic condition for first-year B.E./B.Tech. Direct second-year (lateral entry) admission for diploma holders runs through a separate process and does not use MHT CET.

Open schooling and pharmacy

For B.Pharm, the brochure states that Class 12 qualifications from non-formal, non-classroom schooling, such as the National Institute of Open Schooling, are not accepted. Engineering aspirants from open schools should check the current rules for their course before registering.

The Non-zero Score Rule

For Maharashtra State and Minority candidates, admission requires that you appeared in all subjects of the relevant group and obtained a non-zero score in MHT CET. In practical terms:

• Do not skip a subject: Missing either block of the paper can make you ineligible, even if your total looks reasonable.

• Pick the right group: A PCB score does not make you eligible for general engineering branches, and marks from one group cannot be moved to the other.

• Group choice is final: The group you select in the form cannot be changed later. If you studied all four science subjects and are unsure, register for both PCM and PCB.

Domicile and Candidature Types

Your candidature type decides which seats you compete for in CAP, the Centralised Admission Process. Most CAP seats are set aside for Maharashtra State candidates, with a smaller share open to All India candidates.

All India candidates do not have to take MHT CET for engineering if they have a valid JEE Main score, but appearing keeps an extra route open. Maharashtra State and Minority candidates must appear in MHT CET.

Reservation and Category Rules

• Reservation is for Maharashtra candidates only: The relaxed 40% marks rule and reserved-category seats apply only to backward class, EWS and PwD candidates belonging to Maharashtra. Candidates from other states are treated as open category.

• Certificates are checked at CAP: Caste, caste validity, non-creamy layer and EWS certificates are needed at the CAP stage, not at registration. Start the caste validity process early, as it often takes the longest.

• Fee follows category: Reserved-category candidates of Maharashtra, PwD, orphan and transgender candidates pay a lower fee. See the fee table below.

PwD Provisions: Scribe and Extra Time

Candidates with a benchmark disability of at least 40%, or a functional limitation in writing certified by a government health institution, can request a scribe and compensatory time.

Declare the requirement in the application form itself and carry the supporting documents to the exam centre.

Application Fee

These are 2026 figures and apply per group, so registering for both PCM and PCB means paying for each. The 2027 fee will be confirmed in the new brochure. Full dates and application steps are on the MHT CET 2027 overview page.

Who Is Not Eligible

• Wrong subject combination: A student without Mathematics in Class 12 cannot take general B.E./B.Tech seats, only the nine PCB-route branches.

• Marks below the threshold: Less than 45% in the three eligible subjects (40% for eligible reserved candidates) blocks engineering admission, whatever your percentile.

• Missed subject or zero score: Not appearing in every subject of the group, or scoring zero, fails the non-zero score rule.

• Failing Class 12: Appearing candidates must pass Class 12 with the required subjects and marks by the time of admission.

• Missing documents: Without valid domicile or caste validity papers, you may lose Maharashtra or reserved-category seats and be considered under open or All India candidature.

How to Check Your Eligibility in Four Steps

1. Pick your course: Engineering, pharmacy, planning, or more than one.

2. Match your subjects: Compare your Class 12 subjects with the course table above and choose PCM, PCB or both.

3. Work out your percentage: Add your marks in the three eligible subjects and divide by the total. Check it against 45% or 40%.

4. Confirm candidature and documents: Identify your type (A to E, All India or Minority) and start collecting domicile and category certificates now.

Always confirm the final MHT CET eligibility criteria in the 2027 brochure on the official State CET Cell website.