In a major development for students across Maharashtra, the Common Entrance Test (CET) for key professional courses — including Engineering, Law, Pharmacy, and MBA — may soon be conducted twice a year. The Higher and Technical Education Department has initiated a detailed study and sought a feasibility report from the State Common Entrance Examination Cell regarding this proposal.
Following the pattern of the Joint Entrance Examination (JEE) held at the national level, the State Government is exploring the possibility of conducting the State CET in two sessions — January and April. However, since examination centres are already occupied during the JEE period, officials are also considering conducting both CET sessions in the last week of March, about 15 days apart.
Currently, the CET Cell conducts 19 different entrance tests for 73 courses across Maharashtra. Over one lakh students appear each year for major exams such as Engineering, Pharmacy, MBA, and Law.
An official from the Higher and Technical Education Department said that a plan has been prepared to conduct two CETs annually for Class 12 pass-outs from the Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics (PCM) stream, which attracts the largest number of candidates.
Officials noted that delayed CET schedules often lead students to enroll in private, self-financed institutions, which announce admissions earlier. Conducting the first CET in January and the second in April could help prevent this. However, the availability of exam centres remains a key concern, as the CET Cell currently does not have its own examination infrastructure.
If the proposal is approved, the first CET could be held around January 27. While this might give students less preparation time, it would also provide an additional opportunity for those seeking admission to professional courses.
The final decision will be made after the CET Cell’s feasibility report is submitted, the official confirmed.
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