MHT CET Counselling 2026: Over 1.81 Lakh Students Secure Engineering Seats in Maharashtra

The Maharashtra State Common Entrance Test (CET) Cell has officially concluded the counselling process for the 2026-27 academic year, reporting a total of 1,81,927 engineering admissions across the state. This figure represents a notable increase in enrollment compared to the previous academic year, which saw 1,66,746 students secure engineering seats.

Data released by the State CET Cell confirms that these admissions were distributed across 387 engineering colleges, covering 111 distinct branches of study. The process encompassed students admitted through the four Centralised Admission Process (CAP) rounds, as well as those who secured spots via institutional, management, and other specialized quotas.

Preferred Engineering Branches and University Trends

Computer Engineering maintained its position as the most sought-after discipline, attracting 28,170 students. Other popular choices included Mechanical Engineering with 19,702 admissions, followed by Electronics and Telecommunication Engineering with 18,895, Computer Science and Engineering with 18,277, and Information Technology with 15,219 admissions. The data also highlights a growing interest in specialized fields, with Artificial Intelligence and Data Science recording 10,502 admissions.

At the university level, Savitribai Phule Pune University (SPPU) led the state with 64,822 total engineering admissions. Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Technological University, Lonere, followed with 34,385 admissions, while the University of Mumbai recorded 32,126. Geographically, Pune district emerged as the primary hub for engineering education, hosting 49,616 admitted students, significantly ahead of Nagpur, which reported 18,921 admissions.

Breakdown of Admission Routes and Vacancies

The Centralised Admission Process (CAP) served as the primary gateway for students, accounting for 1,40,554 of the total admissions. Among the four rounds, the fourth round saw the highest activity, with 48,689 students securing seats. Despite the high volume of enrollments, the State CET Cell reported that 29,042 engineering seats remained vacant at the conclusion of the process.

The admission framework in Maharashtra allows for multiple entry pathways, including MHT CET scores for Home-State quotas and JEE Main scores for All India quota seats. For candidates who did not appear for these entrance examinations, admissions were also facilitated based on Class 12 performance. While the 2026 counselling cycle has now closed, the State CET Cell continues to serve as the official repository for all admission-related data and verification requests for the current academic year.