If you have secured admission to a professional courses in Maharashtra for the academic year 2026-27 but are facing difficulties submitting your caste validity certificate, here is an important update for you.
The Maharashtra Government has provided an additional three-month period for eligible reserved-category candidates admitted to engineering, medical, and other professional courses to submit their caste validity certificates.
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Caste Validity Certificate Deadline Extended for 2026-27 Admissions
The State Government has taken this decision considering the difficulties faced by some candidates in submitting their caste validity certificates.
Under the latest circular, eligible candidates have been given three months from 4 September, 2026 to submit their caste validity certificates to the concerned college or educational institution.
Who Can Avail the 3-Month Extension?
The extension applies to candidates from the following categories whose admission has been confirmed:
- Scheduled Castes (SC)
- De-notified Tribes (DNT/VJ)
- Nomadic Tribes (NT)
- Other Backward Classes (OBC)
- Special Backward Classes (SBC)
- Other relevant reserved categories covered by the Government Circular
The provision covers admissions to professional courses, including engineering, medical, and other professional courses.
Important Points Regarding Caste Validity Certificate Submission Deadline 2026
The Government has clearly stated that the three-month period is the final opportunity for candidates covered by this extension.
If you are eligible for the extension, you should complete the caste validity certificate process within the given period. The Government has stated that no further extension will be provided.
What If You Have Already Applied for Caste Validity?
If you have already applied for a Caste Validity Certificate (CVC) and submitted your application receipt, your admission would not be cancelled solely because you have not submitted the caste validity certificate within the earlier prescribed period.
Once you receive the certificate, you must submit it to your concerned college or educational institution.
Caste Validity Certificate Rule for Maharashtra CAP Admissions 2026-27
The latest provisions are relevant to candidates admitted through the Centralised Admission Process (CAP) for professional courses.
Candidates admitted in CAP Round I, II, and III who are required to submit caste validity certificates will have to submit them within the applicable prescribed period.
Colleges have also been instructed to inform eligible candidates about the extension and complete the necessary recording and verification of the caste validity certificate after receiving it.
The colleges should not delay the admission of eligible candidates during the period provided under the Government Circular.
What Was the Earlier Caste Validity Certificate Rule?
A separate Government Decision dated 2 July, 2026 provides a six-month period for candidates belonging to the Socially and Educationally Backward Classes (SEBC) and Other Backward Classes (OBC) categories.
If your admission to a professional course for the 2026-27 academic year has been confirmed, you are required to submit the caste validity certificate within six months from the date of application, as specified in the Government Decision.
The six-month provision was introduced because some SEBC and OBC candidates were facing difficulties in submitting their caste validity certificates after their admission was confirmed.
The Government Decision also makes it clear that the six-month period is the final opportunity, after which no further extension will be provided under that provision.
Maharashtra Caste Validity Certificate Government Circular 2026
The latest circular was issued by the Social Justice and Special Assistance Department, Government of Maharashtra.
If you have secured admission to a professional course through the Maharashtra admission process, check which provision applies to your category and make sure you submit your caste validity certificate within the applicable deadline.
Important Links
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Conclusion
If you are required to submit a caste validity certificate, make sure you follow the deadline applicable to your category. The latest circular provides a three-month extension, while the earlier Government Decision allows six months for eligible SEBC and OBC candidates. Both are final deadlines, with no further extension.
Source
Official Notice by CET Cell, 04 September, 2026: click here to read.
Official Notice by CET Cell, 04 September, 2026: click here to read.
Kindly note that any and all information is subject to change as per the CET Cell, Education Ministry, and Government of India.
