The Maharashtra Admission Regulating Authority (ARA) has increased fees for the Maharashtra Common Entrance Test (CET) and other state-level entrance examinations. This change impacts students seeking admission to various professional courses across Maharashtra. The fee hike, effective from the academic year 2026-27 , aims to facilitate the integration of APAAR and Aadhaar into the admission process, with plans for a 10% annual increase.
These revised fees are part of broader changes to streamline the admission system and prevent malpractices. The move also includes proposed adjustments to seat acceptance fees for engineering admissions and higher education courses.
Revised Exam Fees for 2026-27
Beginning 2026-27, candidates registering for CET will pay increased exam fees. This adjustment supports the implementation of new digital identity verification systems. The new fee structure applies to both Open and Reserved Categories, with specific rates set for each examination.
| Exam Name | Open Category (Rs.) | Reserved Category (Rs.) |
|---|---|---|
| MAH-MCA-CET | 1500 | 1300 |
| MAH-MBA/MMS CET | 1500 | 1300 |
| MAH-B.BHMCT | 1200 | 1000 |
| MAH-MHMCT | 1500 | 1300 |
| MHT-CET | 1200 | 1000 |
| MHT-B.Design-CET | 1500 | 1300 |
| MAH-B.Ed/M.Ed-CET | 1300 | 1000 |
| MAH-LLB-3Yrs | 1300 | 1000 |
| MAH-M.P.Ed-CET | 1300 | 1000 |
| MAH-LLB-4Yrs-CET | 1300 | 1000 |
| MAH-B.P.Ed-CET | 1300 | 1000 |
| MAH-M.Ed CET | 1300 | 1000 |
| MAH-B.Ed & B.Ed (Elect)-CET | 1300 | 1000 |
| MAH-BA/BSc/BEd CET | 1300 | 1000 |
| MAH-PGP/PGO/PGASLP/M.Sc IP&OR CET | 2500 | 2500 |
| MAH-AAC CET | 2200 | 1700 |
| MAH-B.Sc. Nursing CET | 1300 | 1000 |
| MAH-DPN/PHN CET | 1300 | 1000 |
| MAH-BBA/BCA/BMS CET | 1300 | 1000 |
Higher Seat Acceptance Fees Proposed
The ARA also plans to recommend increased seat acceptance fees for engineering admissions. Currently, candidates pay an acceptance fee of Rs. 1,000 per round, regardless of whether they hold seats from previous rounds. Under the new proposal, candidates may pay Rs. 5,000 for seats allotted in the last round and Rs. 10,000 for seats in the penultimate round.
This fee adjustment aims to free up seats for other candidates by discouraging students from holding multiple seats without a firm commitment. For higher education professional courses, including law and teacher training, the seat acceptance fee has already doubled from Rs. 1,000 to Rs. 2,000 .
APAAR and Aadhaar for CET Registration
From the academic year 2026-27 , the registration process for all CET examinations will consider integration with Aadhaar or APAAR (Automated Permanent Academic Account Registry) . This measure intends to prevent duplication and other malpractices during candidate registration. The potential expenditure associated with this integration contributes to the approved fee increases.
Introduction of Mock CAP Rounds
The State CET Cell will introduce a mock Centralised Admission Process (CAP) round starting from the academic year 2026-27 . This practice round aims to familiarize candidates with the CAP process. Many students experience confusion when filling college preference forms or selecting ‘freeze’ or ‘betterment’ options during actual CAP rounds.
According to an official notice, the mock CAP round will provide an indicative seat and college allotment. This allocation is for practice and familiarization only. The actual CAP allotment may differ based on merit, reservation policies, candidature type, and institution category. This initiative seeks to reduce candidate challenges and improve understanding of the admission system.
Scholarship Approvals Streamlined
In a related development, the MahaDBT and CAP integration will allow Maharashtra students to receive scholarship approvals at the time of admission. This new process, expected from the 2026-27 academic year, eliminates the need for scholarship renewal applications, simplifying financial aid for eligible students.