Maharashtra has dropped its plan to hold the first attempt of MHT-CET 2027 in December 2026, in a major relief for engineering and pharmacy aspirants. Both attempts of the state entrance examination will now be conducted only after the Class 12 board examinations conclude, officials of the state’s higher and technical education department have said.

Under the revised plan, the two attempts are expected to fall within the March-May 2027 window, with a gap of about four weeks between the two sessions. As in the previous cycle, the candidate’s higher score from the two attempts will be considered for admission purposes.

Why the December attempt was scrapped

Earlier, the state had planned to hold the first attempt in December 2026 and the second in April 2027. The proposal drew concern from students, parents and counsellors, who argued that preparing for a competitive entrance test just before the board examinations would add to academic pressure.

A senior department official said feedback collected from different parts of Maharashtra revealed a difference of opinion, with particularly strong resistance from rural districts. Parents and counsellors from areas including Dharashiv, Nandurbar and Chandrapur asked the state to hold both attempts only after the board examinations. After consulting education experts, the department agreed and moved both sessions into the post-board window.

What the two-attempt format means for students

Maharashtra introduced the two-attempt format to align MHT-CET with national-level entrance examinations such as the Joint Entrance Examination, giving students another opportunity to improve their scores. The format was first used in the 2025-26 academic year, when both attempts were held in April and May because the decision came late in the year.

For the 2027 cycle, the state had wanted to shift the first attempt to December and keep the second in April. That idea is now off the table. The two-attempt structure stays, but both sessions will follow the boards, reducing the clash between board preparation and entrance test revision.

Exact dates awaited

The CET Cell has not yet announced the final dates for the two sessions. Aspirants have been advised to concentrate on their Class 12 board preparation for now and watch for the official schedule once it is released. Those who appear for both attempts will have the best of their two scores considered for admission to engineering and pharmacy courses across the state.