A new mechanism has been implemented by the Maharashtra CET Cell, allowing engineering aspirants to apply for institutional quota seats through the Common Admission Process (CAP) in cases where direct applications to colleges are not possible. This optional route has been provided to ensure that eligible candidates are not disadvantaged due to procedural or institutional limitations.
The CAP system, which has traditionally managed 80% of seat allocations, has now been extended to function as an auxiliary application method for the remaining 20% of seats. While merit lists will continue to be issued by individual institutions, applications submitted through the CAP portal will be forwarded to colleges after the fourth and final CAP round and are expected to be considered during merit evaluations. These changes were announced after the release of the MHT-CET results, which signaled the beginning of the engineering admission season. Revised guidelines have also been released by the Higher and Technical Education Department, aiming to increase fairness and accessibility throughout the process.
Eligibility norms for Non-Resident Indian (NRI) applicants—who are allocated 5% of institutional quota seats—have been clearly defined. Furthermore, colleges have been instructed to adhere to updated fee structures. It has been specified that up to three times the regular fees may be charged for management quota seats, while fees for NRI seats may reach five times the standard rate. These directives are expected to bring more transparency to the institutional admission process. The introduction of a fourth CAP round has been approved, marking a deviation from the previous system that only included three rounds. This move is intended to offer students an additional opportunity to secure admission before the institutional quota round begins. Alongside this, stricter confirmation rules have been imposed. It has been mandated that students must confirm their admissions if the college allotted falls within their top three preferences in Round 2, or within their top six in Round 3.
It was clarified by officials that institutional autonomy would remain unaffected. According to DTE Director Vinod Mohitkar, the new CAP option has been introduced solely to support students who had reported difficulties in submitting applications directly to colleges. Institutions will now be expected to consider these forwarded applications while preparing their merit lists.
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