Sakshi Gupta | August 23, 2026 | 07:05 PM IST | 2 mins read
Maharashtra CET cell directs colleges to follow inter-se merit for vacant seats and warns students against admission agents and unauthorised offers

The Maharashtra State Common Entrance Test (CET) Cell has released guidelines for filling seats that remain vacant at the institutional level after the completion of all Centralised Admission Process (CAP) rounds for courses under the Department of technical education.
According to the notice, colleges must conduct institutional-level admissions in accordance with rule 13 of the information brochure. The process can begin only after all CAP rounds are over.
The CET Cell has clarified that admissions to these vacant seats must be offered strictly on the basis of the inter-se merit of eligible candidates.
Colleges have been directed to publish the applicable rules, admission procedure and prospectus for institutional-level admissions on their official websites. Applicants seeking admission against vacant seats can apply directly to the respective college.
Where direct applications are not available, applicants can submit the institutional-level option form through their CAP portal login. The colleges will then consider the applications received for preparing the merit list.
Based on the applications and the list of students provided by the CET cell, colleges are required to prepare the institutional-level merit list. The list must be displayed on both the college notice board and its official website.
Once an institutional-level admission is confirmed, the concerned college must immediately update the applicant's admission details on the CAP portal. This requirement applies to admissions made against seats remaining vacant after the CAP process.
The guidelines require colleges to follow the prescribed procedure while filling such seats. The institutional-level admission process is to be conducted according to the applicable admission rules and the inter-se merit of applicants.
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The CET cell has cautioned students and parents against individuals or intermediaries claiming to arrange admissions. Applicants have been advised against accepting admission offers made before the completion of the CAP rounds.
The notice also asks students to remain alert to misleading information shared through social media links, agents and private counsellors. Applicants and parents are advised to verify admission-related information before taking any decision.
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