The Maharashtra Common Entrance Test (MHT CET) 2026 has witnessed an unprecedented number of registrations as the State CET Cell prepares to conduct the entrance examination for admission to engineering, pharmacy, agriculture and related undergraduate courses. As of 20 February 2026, a total of 10,94,159 candidates have registered for MHT CET 2026 across both the Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics (PCM) and the Physics, Chemistry and Biology (PCB) subject groups for the two-session exam format. This marks the highest ever registration count recorded for the entrance test in its history
MHT CET 2026 Registration Breakdown
Candidates enrolled for the MHT CET 2026 exam can be categorised based on their subject group and attempts:
- Total registrations: 10,94,159 candidates (PCM + PCB)
- PCM group: 7,32,268 registrations
- First attempt: 4,52,931
- Second attempt: 2,79,337
- PCB group: 3,61,891 registrations
- First attempt: 2,64,019
- Second attempt: 97,872
These figures indicate a substantial number of candidates gearing up for the MHT CET 2026 exams, which are divided into two windows April and May 2026
MHT CET 2026: Official Appearance Numbers Await Release
Although registration data is available now, the exact number of students who actually appeared in the MHT CET 2026 examination will be officially released by the State Common Entrance Test Cell, Maharashtra, along with the results announcement later. In previous years, a high proportion of registered candidates appeared in the exam. For instance, in MHT CET 2025, 7,65,335 candidates registered, and 6,75,600 candidates appeared, showing strong attendance rates among registered candidates.
Why MHT CET Registrations Are Increasing?
The rise in registration numbers for MHT CET 2026 is attributed to several key factors:
- Offering two attempts allows students to improve their scores.
- Continued strong demand for professional courses in engineering, pharmacy, and agriculture
- Enhanced accessibility of exam centres and streamlined application processes.
What to Expect Next?
Candidates who have registered should prepare for their respective examination dates and keep an eye on the official portal cetcell.mahacet.org for details on admit card releases, session schedules, and final appearance statistics once the exams conclude and results are declared. The final tally of actual appearances for both PCM and PCB across sessions will provide a clearer picture of competition and attendance trends in MHT CET 2026.