Summary: The State CET Cell fills Maharashtra's state quota seats and private college seats on NEET merit through CAP rounds. You need Maharashtra SSC, HSC and domicile for state quota seats (with listed exceptions), a separate registration from MCC, fresh choices in every round, and great care with the Status Retention Form.
This post follows the NEET UG 2026 Information Brochure published by the State CET Cell, Maharashtra, on its admission portal linked from cetcell.mahacet.org. Rules are revised every year. Read the brochure and notices for your year before you register.
Who runs what
The Commissioner, State CET Cell, Mumbai is the competent authority for admission to health science courses in Maharashtra. In the 2026 brochure this covered state quota seats in government, corporation and aided colleges, and the seats of private unaided, minority and private university colleges. The Director of Medical Education and Research is the nodal officer for MBBS, BDS and the allied courses, and the Director of Ayush for BAMS, BHMS, BUMS and BNYS.
15% of MBBS and BDS seats in government, corporation and aided colleges go to the all-India quota counselled by MCC. 15% of AYUSH seats go to the all-India quota counselled by AACCC. Our post on MCC and state counselling explains how the two systems interact.
The three groups
The CET Cell runs preference filling and allotment separately for three groups of courses:
| Group | Courses (2026 brochure) |
|---|---|
| Group A | MBBS, BDS |
| Group B | BAMS, BHMS, BUMS |
| Group C | BNYS, BPTh, BOTh, BP&O, BASLP |
Registration and schedules are announced group by group through numbered notices on the admission portal, so a student interested in both MBBS and BAMS must follow two sets of dates.
Eligibility for state quota seats
The main conditions in the 2026 brochure were these. Each has exceptions, such as children of certain government and defence employees, which are listed in the brochure.
- Indian national (OCI candidates only under specific conditions in the brochure).
- Domicile of Maharashtra.
- Passed SSC and HSC (or equivalent) from institutions in Maharashtra, with English, Physics, Chemistry and Biology.
- For MBBS and BDS, at least 50% in PCB together in Class 12 for Open and EWS candidates, 40% for constitutional reservation and SEBC candidates, and 45% for general PwD candidates. For BAMS, BHMS, BUMS and Group C courses, a pass in Class 12 was enough.
- NEET qualified at the required percentile for your category.
- Medical fitness certificate in the brochure's format.
Institutional quota: private unaided and minority colleges have an institutional quota (15% for MBBS, BDS, BAMS, BHMS and BUMS as per the brochure) open to eligible candidates from all over India, including NRI, OCI and outside-Maharashtra candidates. For these five courses the CET Cell fills institutional quota seats through CAP too, and you opt for them while applying.
How a CAP round works
Every round follows the same broad sequence. Dates for each step come in the notices.
- Online registration and fee payment on the admission portal. This is separate from MCC registration and is compulsory for state quota seats.
- Upload colour scans of original documents, followed by online document verification.
- Registered candidate list, provisional merit list, a short grievance window, then the final merit list and seat matrix.
- Online preference form: you list colleges and courses in order of preference. There is no offline form.
- Selection list published. You report in person to the allotted college with original documents and fees within the joining period. Proxies are not allowed.
Choices do not carry over. You fill fresh preferences for Round 1, Round 2, Round 3 and the online stray vacancy round. Merit is applied from NEET rank one onwards in every round, so a better seat can open up for you in a later round even if you did not get it earlier.
Round by round rules for MBBS and BDS
| Round | If you join and want a better seat | If you do not join |
|---|---|---|
| Round 1 | Do not submit the Status Retention Form. Fill fresh choices for Round 2. If upgraded, your old seat is released; if not, you keep it. | Your selection is cancelled, but you stay eligible for Round 2 without new registration. |
| Round 2 | Do not submit the Status Retention Form. Fill fresh choices for Round 3. | You can take part in Round 3 only after registering again and paying the fee. |
| Round 3 | No further upgrades. Joining the Round 3 seat is compulsory. | A candidate allotted in Round 3 is not eligible for the stray vacancy round. |
| Online stray vacancy round | Only for registered candidates who did not get a seat up to Round 3. No new registration. As per an NMC circular cited in the brochure, there is no institute-level round after it. | |
The Status Retention Form
This form is where families make mistakes they cannot undo. If you join a seat and are happy with it, you may submit a Status Retention Form to the Dean or Principal within the given period. Once submitted, it cannot be withdrawn, and you are removed from all further rounds of state counselling for that year. The brochure asks you to insist on a written acknowledgement and keep it until admissions close.
Submit it only when you are sure you would not want any seat higher on your preference list. If there is any chance you would prefer another college, keep your seat without the form and fill choices for the next round. You keep your current seat if the upgrade does not come.
Documents to prepare early
Most delays come from certificates that take weeks to issue. The exact list is in the brochure and notices, but these are the ones to start in Class 12:
- Domicile certificate issued by the competent authority in Maharashtra.
- Nationality certificate, or one of the alternatives the brochure accepts, such as a passport or a leaving certificate that states nationality.
- Caste certificate and caste validity certificate, if claiming reservation.
- Non-creamy layer certificate valid for the admission year, where applicable.
- EWS certificate, if applicable.
- SSC and HSC mark sheets and leaving certificate.
- PwD certificate in the format the notice specifies, if applicable.
Common questions
Can a student from another state get a Maharashtra state quota seat?
Generally no. State quota seats need Maharashtra domicile and schooling, with specific exceptions in the brochure. Outside-Maharashtra candidates can apply for institutional quota seats in private colleges and for all-India quota seats through MCC.
Is registering with MCC enough for Maharashtra seats?
No. The CET Cell requires its own registration for state quota counselling, regardless of your MCC registration.
Do I lose my seat if I fill choices for the next round?
Not if you have joined it. If you are upgraded, the old seat is released; if you are not, you keep the seat you joined.
Is B.Sc. Nursing part of this process?
In Maharashtra, nursing admissions have their own entrance test, MH-Nursing CET, conducted by the State CET Cell. Check the CET Cell website for that year's process.