If you appeared for MHT CET 2026 and have been refreshing cetcell.mahacet.org every hour, your wait is almost over. The Maharashtra State Common Entrance Test (CET) Cell is releasing the MHT CET 2026 Provisional Merit List on July 22, 2026, after two schedule revisions pushed it back from its original July 15 date. This list is the single most important document in your engineering admission journey — it decides your rank, your seat allotment chances, and your entire Centralised Admission Process (CAP) timeline.
In this guide, you’ll learn exactly when and how to check your rank, what the list contains, how tie-breaking works, what documents you need ready, and the mistakes that trip up thousands of candidates every year. Let’s get into it.
Table of Contents
- What Is the MHT CET Provisional Merit List
- MHT CET 2026 Merit List: Key Dates
- How to Check the MHT CET Provisional Merit List 2026
- What Information the Merit List Contains
- How MHT CET Rank Is Calculated (Tie-Breaking Rules)
- Eligibility for CAP Counselling
- Documents You’ll Need
- Step-by-Step: From Merit List to Seat Allotment
- Tips to Prepare While You Wait
- Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Latest Updates and Trends
- Key Takeaways
- Conclusion
- FAQs
What Is the MHT CET Provisional Merit List
The provisional merit list is a preliminary ranking of every candidate who registered for CAP (Centralised Admission Process) for BE/BTech and integrated MTech admissions in Maharashtra. It’s called “provisional” because it’s open to correction — candidates can flag errors before the CET Cell locks in the final, binding version.
Think of it as a draft ranking that gives you a clear picture of where you stand, so you can start planning your college and branch preferences even before the final numbers are confirmed.
MHT CET 2026 Merit List: Key Dates
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Provisional Merit List Release | July 22, 2026 |
| Grievance/Objection Submission Window | July 23 – 25, 2026 |
| Final Merit List Release | July 27, 2026 |
| Option Entry (Choice Filling) | Begins after final list |
Important note: This schedule has already shifted twice this admission cycle — first from July 15 to July 19, then to July 22. Candidates should treat cetcell.mahacet.org as the only reliable source and avoid depending on unofficial dates circulating on social media or third-party forums.
How to Check the MHT CET Provisional Merit List 2026
Checking your rank takes less than five minutes if you have your login details ready. Here’s the exact process:
- Go to the official website — cetcell.mahacet.org.
- Look for the CAP portal link on the homepage (for BE/BTech admissions).
- Click on the tab labeled “Provisional Merit List”.
- Enter your Application ID and Date of Birth to log in — no separate registration is needed for this step.
- Your rank card will display on screen with your percentile, category, and merit position.
- Download and save the PDF immediately, since portals often slow down under heavy traffic on release day.
Pro tip: Keep a screenshot as backup along with the PDF download. Government portals frequently experience downtime in the first few hours after a major release, so having a saved copy protects you if the site goes down again when you need to reference your rank.
What Information the Merit List Contains
Your entry on the provisional merit list will typically show:
- Candidate name and application number
- Category (Open, OBC, SC, ST, EWS, etc.)
- MHT CET normalized percentile score
- Subject-wise scores (Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics/Biology)
- State merit rank and category-wise rank
- Candidature type (Maharashtra State, All India, J&K Migrant, etc.)
Review every field carefully. A mismatch in category, name spelling, or percentile can affect your seat allotment down the line, and this is exactly what the objection window exists to fix.
How MHT CET Rank Is Calculated (Tie-Breaking Rules)
MHT CET uses normalized percentile scores, not raw marks, because the exam runs across multiple shifts with different difficulty levels. When two or more candidates land on the same percentile, the CET Cell applies this tie-breaking sequence, in order:
- Higher marks in the Mathematics section of MHT CET
- If still tied, higher marks in Physics
- If still tied, higher marks in Chemistry
- If unresolved, higher combined percentage in PCM at the qualifying board (12th) exam
- As a final tiebreaker, higher percentage in Mathematics at the 10+2 level
Understanding this hierarchy matters if you’re on the border of a rank cutoff — it explains why two students with the same percentile can still get different final ranks.
Eligibility for CAP Counselling
Not every MHT CET test-taker is automatically eligible for the merit list and CAP rounds. You need to have:
- Registered for CAP counselling and completed the registration within the deadline (July 19, 2026, for this cycle)
- Completed document verification by the specified cutoff (July 20, 2026)
- Cleared the qualifying 10+2 examination with Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics (or Biology, depending on the course)
- Valid Maharashtra domicile status or All-India candidature, if applying outside the state quota
If you registered for CAP but skipped document verification, your name will not appear on the merit list — this is one of the most common reasons students are surprised to find themselves missing from the rankings.
Documents You’ll Need
Keep both originals and photocopies of the following ready well in advance, since document mismatches are a leading cause of admission delays:
- MHT CET 2026 scorecard
- Class 10 (SSC) and Class 12 (HSC) marksheets and passing certificates
- School Leaving Certificate
- Domicile certificate (or proof of Maharashtra residency)
- Nationality/citizenship certificate
- Category, caste validity, or EWS/NCL certificate (if applicable)
- Aadhaar card and recent passport-size photographs
- Gap certificate, if you have a break in education
Getting caste validity or income certificates issued can take two to four weeks through government offices, so don’t wait until the CAP round is announced to start this process.
Step-by-Step: From Merit List to Seat Allotment
- Check your provisional rank on July 22 using your application ID and DOB.
- Raise objections, if any, between July 23 and 25 — this could be a wrong category tag, a scoring error, or a document discrepancy.
- Final merit list is published on July 27, and this version is locked — no further edits are accepted.
- Option entry (choice filling) opens next, where you list your preferred colleges and branches in order of priority.
- Seat allotment happens round-wise (typically four CAP rounds), based on your rank, category, and choices filled.
- Confirm your seat online by paying the confirmation fee and reporting to the allotted institute within the given window.
Tips to Prepare While You Wait
- Shortlist colleges now. Use last year’s cutoff ranks (available on most college websites and counselling portals) to build a realistic list of 15–20 college-branch combinations before option entry opens.
- Rank your preferences by branch first, college second, if you’re flexible on location but firm on your field of interest — or the reverse, depending on your priority.
- Set a reminder for the objection window. Even small errors, like an incorrect category, are easier to fix during these three days than after the final list locks.
- Practice on the CAP portal’s mock choice-filling tool, if the CET Cell provides one, so you’re not fumbling with the interface when it matters.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Waiting until the last day to raise an objection — servers get overloaded, and late submissions may not be processed in time.
- Trusting unofficial merit list links shared on WhatsApp or Telegram — the CET Cell has explicitly warned candidates to use only cetcell.mahacet.org for all counselling activity.
- Not verifying category and candidature type on the merit list before choice filling begins.
- Skipping document verification, assuming it’s optional — it isn’t, and it directly determines merit list inclusion.
- Ignoring subject-wise scores — since tie-breaking depends on Maths, Physics, and Chemistry marks individually, not just your overall percentile.
Latest Updates and Trends
This year’s cycle has been marked by repeated postponements — the provisional merit list date moved from July 15 to July 19, and finally to July 22, 2026, alongside an extension of CAP registration and document verification deadlines to accommodate the delay. The CET Cell has also issued fresh advisories reminding candidates to rely only on the official portal, following concerns about unauthorized third-party websites claiming to host merit list downloads. Separate merit lists continue to be prepared for MHT CET and JEE Main candidates, reflecting the dual-entry pathway many Maharashtra engineering colleges now accept.
Key Takeaways
- The MHT CET 2026 provisional merit list releases on July 22, 2026, at cetcell.mahacet.org.
- Login requires only your Application ID and Date of Birth — no separate registration.
- You get a three-day window (July 23–25) to raise objections before the final list locks on July 27, 2026.
- Rank ties are broken using Maths, then Physics, then Chemistry marks, followed by board exam scores.
- Keep all admission documents — scorecards, marksheets, domicile, and category certificates — ready in advance to avoid delays.
Conclusion
The provisional merit list is your first real checkpoint in the MHT CET admission journey — not the finish line, but the moment your engineering college dreams start becoming concrete numbers. Use the objection window wisely, keep your documents organized, and start shortlisting colleges now so you’re ready the second option entry opens. A few hours of preparation this week can save you real stress during the CAP rounds ahead.
FAQs
1. When will the MHT CET provisional merit list 2026 be released? The provisional merit list is scheduled for release on July 22, 2026, on cetcell.mahacet.org.
2. How do I check my MHT CET 2026 rank? Visit cetcell.mahacet.org, click the Provisional Merit List link, and log in using your Application ID and Date of Birth.
3. What is the last date to raise objections against the provisional merit list? Candidates can submit grievances between July 23 and July 25, 2026.
4. When will the final MHT CET merit list be released? The final, binding merit list is expected on July 27, 2026.
5. Is login required to download the MHT CET merit list PDF? Yes, you need your Application ID and Date of Birth to view and download your rank card.
6. What happens if my name is missing from the merit list? It usually means your CAP registration or document verification was incomplete. Contact your nearest Facilitation Centre or check your CAP registration status immediately.
7. How is the MHT CET rank calculated if two candidates have the same percentile? Ties are broken first by Mathematics marks, then Physics, then Chemistry, and finally by qualifying board exam percentages.