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MHT-CET 2026 Counselling

How CAP works · Eligibility · Registration · Choice Filling · Round Structure

This is an overview page

MHT-CET 2026 CAP counselling is now fully complete — see our CAP Round 1 tracker for the full round-by-round timeline. This page explains how the overall counselling process works — eligibility, registration, choice filling, and the round structure.

What is MHT-CET CAP Counselling?

MHT-CET counselling is conducted through the Centralized Admission Process (CAP) run by DTE Maharashtra (Directorate of Technical Education) on dtemaharashtra.gov.in. It governs admission to B.Tech/B.E. engineering, pharmacy, and related technical programs across Maharashtra's government, government-aided, university-managed autonomous, and private unaided colleges — including institutes such as VJTI Mumbai, COEP Pune, and ICT Mumbai.

Unlike JoSAA, which allots seats purely by JEE Main/Advanced rank across all-India institutes, MHT-CET CAP factors in home university and state-level reservation categories specific to Maharashtra, alongside an All-India (AI) quota open to candidates from other states. Candidates can qualify for CAP seats via either the MHT-CET percentile or a JEE Main percentile, since a portion of seats at many institutes accept JEE Main scores as well.

CAP Counselling Process – Step by Step

1

CAP Registration & Document Upload

Register on dtemaharashtra.gov.in with MHT-CET/JEE Main application number, fill personal and academic details, and upload scanned documents (marksheets, category certificates, domicile proof) for verification.

2

Document Verification

Documents are verified either online or at a Facilitation Centre (FC). Verified candidates become eligible to fill choices; discrepancies must be resolved before the deadline.

3

Choice Filling

List preferred college-branch combinations in order of preference. The order matters — allotment always tries to give you the highest-preference choice your rank/percentile qualifies for.

4

Provisional & Final Merit List

DTE Maharashtra publishes a provisional merit list based on MHT-CET/JEE Main percentile and category; candidates can raise grievances before the final merit list is frozen.

5

CAP Round Seat Allotment

Based on the merit list and choices filled, seats are allotted round-by-round. Each round's result is published on the portal with the allotted college, branch, and seat type.

6

Seat Acceptance – Freeze / Float / Slide

After each allotment, choose Freeze (confirm permanently), Float (seek upgrade, retain current seat), or Slide (upgrade within same institute) and pay the seat acceptance fee within the deadline.

7

Reporting & Document Verification at Institute

Freeze candidates report physically to the allotted institute with original documents to complete admission. Float/Slide candidates continue into the next CAP round.

CAP Rounds — Structure

RoundWho ParticipatesOutcome
CAP Round 1All registered & verified candidates who filled choicesFirst allotment based on merit list and preferences
CAP Round 2Round 1 Float/Slide candidates + newly registered candidatesUpgrade opportunity; new candidates get first allotment
CAP Round 3Round 2 Float/Slide candidates + remaining new registrantsFurther upgrade / allotment from remaining vacant seats
CAP Round 4 (Final, for 2026)Round 3 Float/Slide candidates + remaining registrantsFinal centralized allotment — candidates strongly advised to Freeze
Institute-Level Round (if held)Candidates with no CAP allotment after the final roundDirect allotment of any seats still vacant, at institute level

Related MHT-CET Pages

CAP Round 1 GuideCAP Round 2 GuideCAP Round 3 & Round 4 GuideChoice Filling GuideMHT-CET College PredictorMHT-CET Rank Predictor
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Frequently Asked Questions – MHT-CET 2026 Counselling

Common questions about MHT-CET CAP counselling process

1
What is CAP in MHT-CET counselling?
CAP stands for Centralized Admission Process, conducted by DTE Maharashtra (Directorate of Technical Education) for admission to engineering, pharmacy, and other technical courses in Maharashtra. It replaces individual college-level admissions with a single, rank/percentile-based, multi-round counselling process on dtemaharashtra.gov.in, covering government, government-aided, university-managed, and private unaided institutes across the state.
2
Who is eligible for MHT-CET 2026 CAP counselling?
Candidates who appeared for MHT-CET 2026 (or JEE Main 2026, which is also accepted for a portion of seats) and satisfy the Class 12 (or equivalent) eligibility criteria with Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics can register for CAP. Maharashtra domicile candidates are eligible for Home University and State-level quota seats, while All India / Other State candidates can compete for the All-India (AI) quota seats within CAP.
3
How many CAP rounds are there in MHT-CET 2026?
MHT-CET CAP counselling is typically conducted across 3-4 main rounds, based on the number of vacant seats remaining after each round. For MHT-CET 2026, DTE Maharashtra conducted four CAP rounds (Round 1: Aug 2, Round 2: Aug 9, Round 3: Aug 24, and the final Round 4: Sept 3, 2026), followed by an institute-level round for any seats still vacant. Each round involves choice filling, provisional and final merit lists, seat allotment, and a seat acceptance/reporting window.
4
What is the difference between Freeze, Float, and Slide in MHT-CET CAP?
Freeze means you accept the allotted seat permanently and exit the counselling. Float means you want to be considered for a better choice in the next round while keeping your current seat as a fallback. Slide means you want to move only within the same institute to a better branch, again keeping your current seat protected. Choosing Float or Slide keeps you in the pool for the next CAP round; Freeze does not.
5
Is MHT-CET counselling separate from JoSAA and CSAB?
Yes. MHT-CET CAP is a state-level counselling process run by DTE Maharashtra exclusively for colleges within Maharashtra. JoSAA and CSAB are central counselling bodies for IITs, NITs, IIITs, and GFTIs based on JEE Main/Advanced ranks. A candidate can participate in both MHT-CET CAP and JoSAA/CSAB simultaneously, since they are independent processes with separate registration portals and seat pools.
6
Do I need to pay a fee for MHT-CET CAP registration?
Yes, CAP registration involves a nominal registration/processing fee payable online during document upload, in addition to a separate seat acceptance fee (typically in the ₹15,000–₹25,000 range) that is paid after a seat is allotted in any round. The seat acceptance fee is later adjusted against the institute's tuition fee.

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dtemaharashtra.gov.in — CAP registration, choice filling, and allotment results