CET Exams for PCM, PCB, & MBA to Be Held Twice a Year Starting 2026

In a landmark decision aimed at aligning state-level exams with national patterns, the Maharashtra State Common Entrance Test Cell has announced that CET Exams for PCM, PCB, and MBA will be conducted twice a year starting 2026.

The decision was confirmed during a review meeting chaired by Higher and Technical Education Minister Chandrakant Patil in Nagpur on Tuesday. Officials from the education department, including CET Commissioner Dilip Sardesai, attended the session.

This move mirrors the Joint Entrance Examination (JEE) model, where aspirants get two opportunities in a single academic year, reducing exam pressure and allowing flexibility.

Maharashtra to Hold CET Exams Twice a Year from 2026: Key Highlights

Why CET Exams Will Now Be Held Twice a Year

During the announcement, Minister Chandrakant Patil emphasized that holding MHT CET exams twice annually provides students greater flexibility and reduced exam stress.

“At the national level, JEE exams are conducted twice a year, giving students two chances. Similarly, Maharashtra students will now get two opportunities through CETs,” Patil said.

This change is part of a larger effort by the Higher and Technical Education Department to bring Maharashtra’s admission processes in line with modern national standards.

CET Exam 2026 Pattern and Flexibility

Starting 2026, the MHT CET for both PCM and PCB groups, along with the MBA CET, will be conducted in two sessions — April and May.

• Attempt Flexibility: Appearing for one attempt will remain mandatory, while the second will be optional.
  
  

• Best Score Considered: If a candidate takes both exams, the higher score will be used for admission ranking.
  
  

• Same Syllabus, Different Dates: Both sessions will have the same syllabus and difficulty level, ensuring fairness.
  
  

This model aims to help students who might not perform optimally in one session due to exam-day factors like stress or health.

How This Decision Benefits Students

The decision to hold CET Exams Twice a Year is expected to benefit over 5 lakh aspirants each year across engineering, pharmacy, and management streams.

Major Advantages:

1. Reduced Exam Pressure — Students won’t have to rely on a single performance.
   
   

2. Improved Confidence — A second attempt helps build exam resilience.
   
   

3. Increased Admission Chances — Best-of-two score ensures a fair ranking.
   
   

4. Flexible Preparation — Candidates can plan their attempts based on readiness.
   
   

5. Alignment with National Exams — Parallels with JEE Main and NEET models enhance competitiveness.
   
   

Expert Insights — A Progressive Step for Maharashtra Education

Education experts have welcomed this reform, calling it a “student-centric modernization move”.

Minister Chandrakant Patil said, 

"At the national level, JEE exams are held twice a year, giving students two opportunities. Similarly, Maharashtra students will now get two chances through these CETs.  If a student appears for both exams, the higher of the two scores will be considered for admission.”

This structural shift demonstrates Maharashtra’s intent to elevate the CET framework to meet national-level academic benchmarks.