MHT CET CAP 2026: Despite multiple counselling rounds, over 15,000 BPharm, PharmD seats remain unfilled

The Maharashtra State Common Entrance Test (CET) Cell conducts counselling for BPharmacy and PharmD admissions across pharmacy colleges in the state. This year, across 530 pharmacy colleges, 31,521 students have taken admission out of a total of 47,192 seats for BPharmacy and PharmD courses. However, admissions have dipped across the pharmacy colleges in the state, CET Cell data reveals. 

Maharashtra CET Cell conducted four rounds of the Centralized Admission Process (CAP) and an institutional round counselling. Despite this, one-third of the seats remained unfilled. 

Careers360 had reported earlier that student intake has barely grown over the years, yet the number of pharmacy colleges has kept rising. Since 2023-24, nearly one-third of seats have gone empty, and the problem has persisted ever since. 

Moreover, due to the fall in the number of admissions, Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar Technological University (DBATU), Lonere, also proposed a major restructuring through its newly approved Master Plan for 2025-2031.  DBATU has proposed that no new BPharmacy or DPharmacy institutes should be set up between the academic sessions 2027-28 and 2030-31.

Also read Pharmacy Council of India revamps B Pharma syllabus with AI, hospital training; rollout from 2026-27 session

Maharashtra BPharmacy, PharmD admissions over last four years

The intake across Maharashtra Pharma colleges in the last four years is shown in the table below. 

The online registration for Maharashtra BPharmacy and PharmD admissions 2026 began on July 31 and ended on August 23.

Also read Why Maharashtra’s BATU University makes engineering, pharmacy graduates wait years for marksheets

Maharashtra CAP Counselling 2026: Round-wise admissions

MHT CET Cell conducted four rounds of CAP, followed by the institutional round. This year, 16,528 students were admitted in the first round, 7,283 in the second round, 2,895 in the third round, and 1,938 in the fourth round. 

Round-wise admission numbers in BPharmacy, PharmD

Through the CAP process, 1,907 were admitted; in the institutional quota, 940; and in the North-East, Jammu & Kashmir, and AICTE quota, 30. Across all rounds combined, 31,521 students have taken admission in Maharashtra’s pharmacy colleges.