The State Common Entrance Test Cell is planning to conduct the first session of the MHT-CET examination for the academic year 2027-28 in December, following a pattern similar to the Joint Entrance Examination Main (JEE Main) held by the National Testing Agency (NTA). At present, the first session of JEE Main is conducted every January for admissions to engineering and technology degree programmes across the country. Inspired by this structure, Maharashtra authorities are now considering an earlier schedule for the MHT-CET examination. Officials believe that introducing the first session in December could help streamline the admission calendar and provide students with greater flexibility while preparing for multiple competitive examinations throughout the academic year.
Currently, the Maharashtra State Board conducts Class 12 examinations between February and March each year, while the first session of JEE Main takes place in January and the MHT-CET examination is conducted in April. As a result, students are required to appear for several important examinations one after another within a short period. Considering the intense academic pressure faced by candidates, the CET Cell has started discussions on shifting the first session of MHT-CET to an earlier timeframe. According to officials, the first session may now be held between December 15, 2026, and January 15, 2027. The move is expected to provide students with additional preparation time and allow them to focus on each examination more effectively without overlapping stress.
Authorities stated that the decision is aimed at reducing delays in the admission process, easing the burden on students, and enabling candidates to prepare for national-level entrance examinations and board exams in a more relaxed environment. Statistics released by the CET Cell revealed that more than 1.16 lakh candidates appeared for the first session of the MBA entrance examination, while over 53,000 students attended the second session. Similarly, for the PCB group of MHT-CET, around 2.64 lakh candidates took the first session examination and more than 95,000 appeared for the second session. In the PCM group, over 4.54 lakh students participated in the first session, while the second session examination process is still underway across the state.
For the academic year 2026-27, the CET Cell had already introduced the decision to conduct the MHT-CET examination twice for PCM, PCB, and MBA courses. The same system is expected to continue in the coming years as well. Officials believe that conducting two sessions gives students a better opportunity to prepare separately for entrance examinations and board examinations without unnecessary pressure. The revised schedule is also expected to ensure that the admission process is completed on time. Explaining the proposal, CET Cell Commissioner Dilip Sardesai said that preparations are underway to organise the first session of CET examinations for PCM, PCB, and MBA courses in December for the academic year 2027-28.