The Maharashtra government has announced a major change in the schedule of the Common Entrance Test (CET) examinations conducted for admissions to professional courses in the state. The MHT-CET examination for engineering, pharmacy, and agriculture admissions, along with the MBA CET, will now be conducted much earlier than before. According to the new schedule, the examinations will take place between 15 December and 15 January from academic year 2027-28.
The decision has been taken on the lines of the Joint Entrance Examination (JEE) conducted at the national level. The move is expected to bring Maharashtra’s entrance examination process closer to the national admission framework followed for technical education courses across the country.
Earlier Schedule
Until now, the MHT-CET examinations were generally conducted during the months of April and May every year. Students preparing for engineering, pharmacy, agriculture, and MBA admissions would usually appear for the examinations towards the end of the academic session.
However, with the latest change announced by the Higher and Technical Education Department, the complete examination calendar for the next academic year has now been revised. The new schedule advances the examinations by nearly four months compared to the earlier system.
The revised timeline is expected to become effective from the upcoming academic year itself. Students planning to appear for CET examinations will therefore have to begin their preparation much earlier than before.
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Reduced Pressure
The Higher and Technical Education Department had already introduced a policy of conducting the CET examinations twice a year. This policy was adopted with the aim of reducing examination stress among students and giving them more opportunities to improve their performance.
Under the new schedule, the first phase of the CET examinations will now be conducted between December and January. This earlier examination window is expected to help students assess their performance at an earlier stage.
State CET Cell Commissioner Dilip Sardesai stated that the earlier examination schedule would allow students to verify their scores and prepare better for the second attempt if required. Students who are not satisfied with their first attempt will get an opportunity to improve their scores during the next phase of the examination cycle.
JEE Pattern
The decision to shift the CET examinations to December and January has been taken by following the structure of the JEE examination system. The JEE examination is already conducted in multiple sessions at the national level, allowing students to attempt the examination more than once.
By adopting a similar approach, the Maharashtra government aims to provide flexibility to students appearing for state-level entrance examinations. The move is also expected to create better alignment between national-level and state-level entrance examination schedules.
The revised system is likely to influence the academic planning of students, colleges, and coaching institutions, as the preparation cycle will now begin much earlier in the year.
MBA Admissions
The revised examination schedule will not only apply to MHT-CET examinations for engineering, pharmacy, and agriculture courses but also to the MBA CET examination. Students seeking admission to MBA programmes through the state entrance examination system will also appear for the examination during the December to January period.
This change means that candidates aspiring for management admissions will have to complete their preparation earlier than in previous years. The new examination timeline is expected to become part of the state’s broader effort to streamline entrance examination processes.
Single Examination
Another important change announced by the authorities relates to teacher education courses. Until now, separate CET examinations were conducted for B.Ed, B.P.Ed, and integrated B.Ed-M.Ed courses.
From the next academic year onwards, a single CET examination will be conducted for all three courses. The decision has been taken because all three programmes are related to the field of education.
According to the authorities, conducting one common examination for these courses will simplify the administrative process and reduce duplication within the entrance examination system.
Administrative Ease
The introduction of a common CET for B.Ed, B.P.Ed, and integrated B.Ed-M.Ed courses is expected to improve administrative efficiency. Instead of organising separate examinations for each programme, the authorities will now conduct one unified entrance test.
The change is also expected to benefit students directly. Candidates who previously had to appear for different entrance examinations for related courses will now need to appear for only one CET.
As a result, students are expected to save both time and examination fee expenses. The simplified process may also reduce the burden associated with managing multiple entrance examination schedules and application procedures.
New Academic Plan
With the CET examinations moving to December and January, students across Maharashtra will now need to adjust their academic planning and preparation schedules. Since the entrance examinations will take place much earlier than before, preparation for professional courses will also begin earlier in the academic year.
The revised examination calendar marks a significant change in the state’s admission process for higher education courses. By introducing earlier examination dates and a common test for related education programmes, the Maharashtra government has announced one of the most important changes to the CET system in recent years.
Important Link:
MHT-CET 2025 Paper Analysis: Difficulty Level, Chapter-wise Weightage, and Expert Review







