MHT CET 2026 CAP Round 3 Option Form: Initial Six Selections Will Be Automatically Locked

The Maharashtra State Common Entrance Test (MHT CET) 2026 Centralized Admission Process (CAP) Round 3 counselling is currently underway, with the option entry being conducted online. Candidates participating in this round are urged to pay close attention to a newly implemented rule regarding the choice filling process before finalizing their preferences. The option form-filling for CAP Round 3 is scheduled from August 20 to August 22, 2026.

According to the latest advisory from the Maharashtra State CET Cell, the first six preferences entered by candidates will be automatically frozen. This means that candidates must carefully consider and arrange their choices before confirming their option forms. If a candidate is allotted a seat corresponding to any of their first six preferences, that seat will be auto-frozen, requiring them to pay the seat acceptance fee. Importantly, these candidates will not be eligible to participate in any subsequent CAP rounds.

Conversely, candidates who receive a seat beyond their first six preferences will have the option to either accept and freeze that seat or opt for betterment, allowing them to participate in further rounds, subject to the applicable rules. This new auto-freeze provision emphasizes the importance of the preference order in CAP Round 3, compelling candidates to list only those colleges and branches they are genuinely willing to attend among their top six choices.

To complete the option form, candidates should visit the official MHT CET CAP counselling website at fe2026.mahacet.org. They will need to log in using their registered application ID and password, then navigate to the CAP Round III Option Form. Candidates can search for colleges by name, district, branch, or institute code, and must carefully arrange their preferred college-course combinations before saving and confirming their option form by the deadline.

Before finalizing their choices, candidates are advised to review available vacancies, previous-round cutoffs, their MHT CET percentile, category, and preferred branches. Once the option form is confirmed, it is crucial for candidates to double-check the order of their selected choices to ensure they align with their academic goals and preferences.