The Maharashtra state government has decided to modify the norms for entrance into courses such as BMS, BBA, BCA, and integrated MBA, two years after introducing a CET-based entry process. The move aims to address the issue of vacant seats and delays in the admission process.
New Eligibility Criteria
Students with a valid MHT-CET score in either PCM or PCB will now be eligible to apply for these courses. However, first preference will be given to candidates who have appeared for the dedicated CET conducted specifically for these courses and have obtained a non-zero score. Only after this pool of candidates is exhausted will the remaining seats be opened to students with PCM and PCB scores. Currently, MHT-CET scores are used only for admissions to engineering, pharmacy, and agriculture courses in the state. A government resolution is likely to be issued in a day or two.
Background of the Change
These programmes were brought under the purview of the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) and classified as professional courses. As per state regulations for professional programmes, an entrance test was introduced for the first time in the 2024-25 academic year. Earlier, admissions were based solely on Class 12 scores. Additionally, the state conducted the entrance test twice to accommodate students who missed the first attempt. This, however, pushed the process into October, by which time most colleges had completed their first semester. Consequently, fewer students were willing to wait, and the delays disrupted the academic calendar of colleges.
For the past two admission cycles, institutions witnessed a significant number of vacant seats. For the 2026-27 admission cycle, about 70,000 candidates have registered for the entrance test for over one lakh seats available across all these courses combined.
Official Statements
A government official stated that the primary issue is to address the delay. The two CETs conducted by the government have been delaying the entire process. It has therefore been decided to allow admissions through MHT-CET scores as well. However, these will be allowed only after the pool of candidates with a valid score in MAH-BBA/BMS/BCA CET is exhausted. In case of a tie, students with PCM scores will be preferred. Another official added that the decision will also give MHT-CET aspirants another option if they do not secure a seat in engineering or pharmacy.
Impact on Colleges
Faced with complications related to AICTE-recognised courses, which were earlier regulated by Mumbai University, many city colleges had changed the nomenclature of their once-popular BMS course to BCom (Management Studies). After experiencing delays in admissions, some colleges that earlier followed the AICTE route decided to split their divisions into two: one under the university with the changed nomenclature as BCom (Management Studies), and the other under AICTE as BMS. This ensures they do not lose out on high-scoring students.
