State Common Entrance Test Cell, Maharashtra
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The MAH MCA CET 2026 cycle is almost complete. The exam was held on 30 March, results declared on 19 May, and now the Centralized Admission Process (CAP) is set to begin. If you’re reading this on 14 June 2026, your focus should shift entirely to counselling preparation: document readiness, college research, and strategic option form filling.
Over 100 institutes across Maharashtra will admit first-year MCA students through this single test. The State Common Entrance Test Cell, Maharashtra, confirmed the entire timeline this year - from registration starting 7 January to the final cut-off date for admissions in mid-September.
Below is the definitive guide for the MAH MCA CET 2026, covering every completed and upcoming stage.
The Maharashtra MCA Common Entrance Test (MAH-MCA-CET) is the state-level computer-based entrance exam for admission to the first year of two-year full-time Master of Computer Applications (MCA) programmes in Maharashtra. The State CET Cell conducts it once a year. Scores are used exclusively for the Centralized Admission Process (CAP), through which seats are allotted across government, aided, and private institutions.
The official schedule for the 2026-27 academic year was released through multiple notifications on cetcell.mahacet.org. Here is every key event:
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Online registration opened | 7 January 2026 |
| Initial last date (without late fee) | 10 February 2026 |
| Final extension (regular fee) | 23 February 2026 |
| Application edit facility | 24 February 2026 |
| Payment deadline | 11 February 2026 (as per brochure) |
Registration was extended twice. The final chance to submit the form with the regular fee ended on 23 February. A correction window allowed limited edits on 24 February.
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Admit card release | 17 March 2026 |
| Exam date | 30 March 2026 |
| Exam duration | 90 minutes (1.5 hours) |
| Mode | Online (Computer-Based Test) |
Admit cards were available for download from the candidate login. No candidate was allowed entry without a printed hall ticket and a valid photo ID.
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Provisional answer key release | April 2026 (expected) |
| Final answer key | April 2026 |
| Result declaration | 19 May 2026 |
Results were published on the official website. Scorecards are available in the candidate login and show section-wise marks, overall score, and rank.
| Stage | Tentative Window |
|---|---|
| Online registration & document upload | Last week of June 2026 |
| Document verification (e-scrutiny or FC) | July 2026 |
| Provisional merit list | Late July 2026 |
| Final merit list | Late July 2026 |
| CAP Round I (option form, allotment) | Late July - Early August 2026 |
| CAP Round II | Early - Mid August 2026 |
| CAP Round III | Mid - Late August 2026 |
| CAP Round IV | Late August - Early September 2026 |
| Cut-off date for admissions | Second week of September 2026 |
After four rounds of CAP, institutes may conduct institute-level admissions for remaining vacancies.
As per the information brochure, you must meet all conditions below.
NRI/OCI/PIO/CIWGC/Foreign National Candidates: Must have a bachelor’s degree with at least 50% marks, must have studied Mathematics at 10+2 or graduation, and must apply through the CET Cell’s verification process. Seats for these categories are filled directly by institutes after CET Cell document confirmation.
The exam pattern announced in the official information brochure is:
Each correct answer carries 2 marks. Unanswered and incorrect answers get zero. You should attempt every question - there is no penalty for guessing.
| Section | No. of Questions | Marks per Question | Maximum Marks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mathematics & Statistics | 30 | 2 | 60 |
| Logical / Abstract Reasoning | 30 | 2 | 60 |
| English Comprehension & Verbal Ability | 20 | 2 | 40 |
| Computer Concepts | 20 | 2 | 40 |
| Total | 100 | 200 |
Mathematics and reasoning together account for 120 out of 200 marks. Plan your practice accordingly.
The syllabus is explicitly outlined in the brochure. Use this as your study checklist.
The fee was paid online only. It is non-refundable.
| Category | Fee (2026) |
|---|---|
| Open category (Maharashtra), Outside Maharashtra State (OMS), J&K/Ladakh migrant candidates | ₹1,500 |
| Reserved categories (SC, ST, VJ/DT-NT, OBC, SBC, SEBC, EWS), PwD (Maharashtra only), Orphan, Transgender | ₹1,300 |
No late fee windows were provided beyond the final extension; all submissions after the regular deadline were accepted only until the extension deadline.
Released on 17 March 2026 through the candidate portal. You needed your registration number and password to download. The admit card carried:
You were required to paste a recent photograph on the printed admit card and carry it with an original photo ID (Aadhaar, passport, driving licence, voter ID, college ID, etc.). Candidates with a name mismatch between the hall ticket and ID proof were denied entry.
The result was declared on 19 May 2026. Scorecards are accessible via the candidate login at cetcell.mahacet.org. The scorecard includes:
No physical scorecards are sent. Download and save a copy for CAP counselling.
CAP is the online seat allocation system. Here is the step-by-step process you will follow starting late June 2026.
Auto-freeze rules apply: if allotted your first preference (Round I), top 3 (Round II), or top 6 (Round III), the seat locks automatically and you cannot participate further. 6. Reporting: After accepting a seat, report to the allotted institute with original documents and pay the admission fee before the deadline.
Based on previous years and early estimates, here are approximate score ranges needed for top MCA colleges:
| Institute | Expected Score (out of 200) |
|---|---|
| VJTI, Mumbai | 150 - 160 |
| SPIT, Mumbai | 145+ |
| SPPU Department (Pune) | 140+ |
| PIMPRI CHINCHWAD COE, Pune | 135+ |
| VESIT, Mumbai | 125 - 135 |
| SIES College, Mumbai | 120 - 130 |
| Other reputed private colleges | 100 - 120 |
Cutoffs vary by category, round, and type of candidature. All-India cutoffs are generally higher than Maharashtra domicile seats. The official round-wise cutoff PDFs will be released after each CAP round.