Entrance exams
Exams that open doors in Maharashtra
Most Maharashtra seats are filled through one of these. State CETs carry a domicile advantage that national exams do not — worth planning for early.
National exams
JEE Main
Joint Entrance Examination (Main)
The entry route to NITs, IIITs and centrally funded institutes, and the qualifying round for JEE Advanced. Many Maharashtra private colleges accept the score directly.
- Conducted by
- National Testing Agency (NTA)
- Mode
- Computer-based, multiple sessions per year
- Eligibility
- Class 12 with Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics
JEE Advanced
Joint Entrance Examination (Advanced)
The IIT entrance. In Maharashtra this is the route into IIT Bombay, consistently among the highest-ranked engineering institutes in the country.
- Conducted by
- The IITs, on rotation
- Mode
- Computer-based
- Eligibility
- A qualifying rank in JEE Main
NEET UG
National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (Undergraduate)
The single entrance exam for MBBS and BDS across India. Seats are divided between the All India Quota and state quotas, each with separate counselling.
- Conducted by
- National Testing Agency (NTA)
- Mode
- Pen and paper
- Eligibility
- Class 12 with Physics, Chemistry and Biology
CAT
Common Admission Test
The gateway to the IIMs and most top-tier business schools, including several in Mumbai and Pune.
- Conducted by
- The IIMs, on rotation
- Mode
- Computer-based
- Eligibility
- A bachelor's degree with the required minimum marks
CLAT
Common Law Admission Test
The entrance for National Law Universities, including Maharashtra National Law University's campuses.
- Conducted by
- Consortium of National Law Universities
- Mode
- Pen and paper
- Eligibility
- Class 12 for the five-year integrated programme
Maharashtra state CETs
MHT-CET
Maharashtra Common Entrance Test
The state entrance test for engineering and pharmacy seats across Maharashtra. It carries the state-quota advantage that national exams do not.
- Conducted by
- Maharashtra State CET Cell
- Mode
- Computer-based
- Eligibility
- Class 12 with PCM or PCB, and Maharashtra domicile for state-quota seats
MAH MBA CET
Maharashtra MBA Common Entrance Test
The state route into Maharashtra's MBA and MMS seats, including well-regarded government and university-affiliated institutes.
- Conducted by
- Maharashtra State CET Cell
- Mode
- Computer-based
- Eligibility
- A bachelor's degree; Maharashtra domicile for state-quota seats
MH CET Law
Maharashtra Common Entrance Test for Law
The state law entrance, used by government law colleges and most private law schools across Maharashtra.
- Conducted by
- Maharashtra State CET Cell
- Mode
- Computer-based
- Eligibility
- Class 12 for the five-year course, or graduation for the three-year LLB
Exam patterns and schedules change every cycle. We deliberately don't publish dates or cutoffs here — ask a counsellor for the current cycle rather than trusting a page that may be out of date.