A significant translation error in the Mathematics section of the Maharashtra Health and Technical Common Entrance Test (MHT CET) has resulted in a re-examination being scheduled for thousands of candidates. The incident, which occurred during the PCM (Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics) paper held on April 27, was brought to light after numerous students reported that nearly half of the mathematics questions carried incorrect answer options.
The error was traced back to the translation process, where the original Marathi question paper was converted into English. It was revealed by the CET cell that during this conversion, the answer choices for 21 out of 50 Mathematics questions were inadvertently jumbled. As a result, students who had opted for the English version were left at a disadvantage. The Marathi and Urdu versions, by contrast, were reported to have remained error-free.
A re-examination has been scheduled for May 5 and will be conducted exclusively for the 24,744 candidates who had attempted the PCM exam in English. The re-test will include all 150 questions spanning Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics. Updated admit cards and centre details are expected to be sent via SMS and email to the affected students. The lapse was acknowledged by the Maharashtra CET cell, and the responsibility for the error was attributed to a technical glitch in the translation process. It was stated by CET cell commissioner Dilip Sardesai that the issue had stemmed from a misalignment of answer options during the digital conversion of the original Marathi paper into English. He further confirmed that an internal investigation was underway to identify those responsible for the oversight.
It was also assured that strict action would be taken against those found at fault, and that the individuals or agencies involved in this error would not be assigned exam-related duties in the future. The paper-setting and translation processes are now expected to be reviewed in detail, with additional quality checks likely to be enforced. The MHT CET is a state-level entrance examination conducted annually for admissions into engineering, agriculture, and pharmacy courses across Maharashtra. Candidates are given the choice of appearing for the test in English, Marathi, or Urdu. The April 27 PCM paper was the final paper of the CET cycle this year.
No decision has yet been announced regarding a re-exam for the 2,875 Marathi-medium or 218 Urdu-medium candidates, as their papers were unaffected. However, concerns have been raised about the reliability of language translations and the adequacy of oversight during question paper preparation. The CET cell has stated that new measures would be put in place to avoid such mishaps in future editions of the examination, with a focus on safeguarding the interests of all candidates, regardless of language preference.