MHT CET 2026 Reservation Criteria Explained
| Updated On - Apr 8, 2026
The MHT CET Reservation Criteria 2026 ensures equal and accessible education for all students meeting the eligibility criteria.
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In the MHT CET Reservation Criteria, 60% of seats are reserved for the backward classes like OBC, EWS, SC/ST.
- The rest 40% is accessible for the general category as per the MHT CET Reservation Criteria
- In the MHT CET 2026 Seat Reservation, 30% of the seats are reserved for women in each category.
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Key Summary:
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Category-wise seat in MHT CET Reservation Criteria
The MHT CET Reservation Criteria is done by the State CET cell and follows the vertical reservation policy.
- As per MHT CET reservation criteria, 13% seats are reserved for SC category and 7% for ST category.
- 19% seats in MHT CET are reserved for OBC candidates, and for SEBC is 10%.
- For VJ category, 3% are reserved, and for NT-B, NT-C, and NT-D, 2.5%, 3.5%, and 2% seats are reserved, respectively.
| Category | Reservation Percentage |
|---|---|
| Scheduled Castes (SC) | 13.0% |
| Scheduled Tribes (ST) | 7.0% |
| Other Backward Classes (OBC) | 19.0% |
| Socially & Educationally Backward Class (SEBC) | 10.0% |
| Vimukta Jati (VJ) / De-Notified Tribes (A) | 3.0% |
| Nomadic Tribes (NT-B) | 2.5% |
| Nomadic Tribes (NT-C) | 3.5% |
| Nomadic Tribes (NT-D) | 2.0% |
| Total Vertical Reservation | 60.0% |
Source: official brochure
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Horizontal MHT CET 2026 Seat Reservation
In the MHT CET 2026 Seat Reservation policy, the horizontal reservation applies to all sections of vertical categories like general, ST, SC, OBC, and EWS
- As per MHT CET CAP official brochure, 30% of the seats in MHT CET 2026 are reserved for female candidates.
- 5% of the seats are reserved for people with 40% disability in the MHT CET 2026 Seat Reservation.
- In the MHT CET 2026 Seat Reservation, another 5% is kept for children of ex-servicemen and active duty personnel.
| Category | MHT CET 2026 Seat Reservation% | Key Eligibility & Constraints |
|---|---|---|
| Women Candidates | 30% | Reserved in each vertical category. Not applicable to Defense, PwD, or Orphan seats. |
| Persons with Disability (PwD) | 5% | Minimum 40% benchmark disability required. A valid certificate from a competent medical authority is mandatory. |
| Defense Personnel | 5% | For children of ex-service (Def-1), active service domiciled in MH (Def-2), or active service transferred to MH (Def-3). |
| Orphan Candidates | 1% | Applicable for candidates officially registered as orphans. Not applicable to Minority or All-India seats. |
Special provision in MHT CET Category-wise reservation
Apart from the standard categories the Maharashtra government also has MHT CET Category-wise reservation for not only EWS but also Orphans.
- In MHT CET Category-wise reservation, there is a tuition fee for a family having low income of less than 8 lakh annually.
- There is 1 seat in the MHT CET Category-wise reservation for Jammu and KASHMIR migrants.
- Excluding the minorities and the all-India section in MHT CET Category-wise reservation, 1% seat is kept for orphans.
| Type of Provision | Seats Allocated | Key Eligibility & Features |
|---|---|---|
| TFWS (Tuition Fee Waiver Scheme) | 5% | For candidates with annual family income below ₹8 Lakh. Only tuition fees are waived; other fees apply. |
| EWS (Economically Weaker Section) | 10% | For General category students with family income below ₹8 Lakh. Requires a valid State EWS Certificate. |
| J&K and Ladakh Migrants | 1 Seat per Branch | For children of citizens who migrated from J&K/Ladakh or children of staff on duty there. |
| PMSSS (J&K and Ladakh) | As per AICTE | Prime Minister’s Special Scholarship Scheme for students from J&K/Ladakh to study in MH. |
| GOI (Govt. of India) Nominees | Varies | Seats reserved for students from States/UTs where specialized facilities for technical education are lacking. |
| Orphan Candidates | 1% | Reserved within the CAP seats (excluding Minority and All-India Quota seats). |
MHT CET Category-wise Reservation: Eligibility
If you are an OMS or All India candidate, then you will be treated as general in the MHT CET Category-wise reservation, regardless of your home state.
- EWS is a part of MHT CET Category-wise reservation, but needs to meet the passing criteria of a General candidate.
- In the MHT CET Reservation Criteria, the non-creamy layer certificate must be valid till 2027.
| Category / Group | HSC (12th) Min. Marks | Mandatory Eligibility Documents for MHT CET 2026 Seat Reservation |
| General (Open) | 45% Aggregate | Domicile Certificate / Birth Certificate / LC |
| SC / ST | 40% Aggregate | Caste Certificate + Caste Validity Certificate |
| OBC / SBC / SEBC | 40% Aggregate | Caste Certificate + Validity + Non-Creamy Layer (NCL) |
| VJ / DT / NT (A/B/C/D) | 40% Aggregate | Caste Certificate + Validity + Non-Creamy Layer (NCL) |
| EWS | 45% Aggregate* | Eligibility Certificate for Economically Weaker Section |
| PwD (Disability) | 40% Aggregate | Medical Certificate (Min. 40% disability) from Authority |
| Defense | 45% Aggregate | Defense Proforma (C/D/E) + Parent’s Service Record |
There will also be a DOmicile Rule applicable for MHT CET 2026 Seat Reservation.
Source - Official Site
FAQs
Ques. Who is eligible for MHT CET reservation?
Ans. Only Maharashtra State (MS) candidates and All India (OMS) students are treated as General/Open in MHT CET, with reservation categories having separate seats for them.
Ques. What is the PwD criteria in MHT CET?
Ans. You will need a minimum of 40% benchmark disability certified by a competent medical authority to claim the 5% rule of quota in MHT CET.
Ques. What is the TFWS benefit in MHT CET?
Ans. The Tuition Fee Waiver Scheme waives 100% of the tuition fee for students in MHT CET with a family income < ₹8 Lakh. This is applicable for 5% of intake for all streams and courses.
*The article might have information for the previous academic years, please refer the official website of the exam.