The Maharashtra government has constituted a five-member committee to examine whether Class 12 Higher Secondary Certificate marks should be given weightage along with MHT CET scores while preparing merit lists for undergraduate engineering and pharmacy admissions. The proposal could affect the admission process for BTech and BPharm courses in Maharashtra, but the final policy has not yet been decided.
The committee was formed following a proposal from the Maharashtra State Common Entrance Test Cell. Its main responsibility will be to examine how Class 12 board examination performance and MHT CET percentile scores can be combined to prepare merit lists for degree-level professional courses. The panel has been asked to submit a detailed report with recommendations to the state government within 15 days.
According to reports on the government order, the committee will determine the appropriate weightage that should be assigned to Class 12 examination marks and MHT CET performance. It will also recommend the ratio between the two components for preparing the final merit list. This means that the exact percentage or formula to be used has not yet been finalised.
The proposed change is significant because MHT CET performance currently plays a central role in the admission process for undergraduate professional courses in Maharashtra. Under the proposal being examined, Class 12 performance could also become a component of the merit calculation for BTech and BPharm admissions.
The committee will also consider the timing of implementation. This is important because students preparing for Maharashtra HSC examinations and MHT CET would need sufficient time to plan their preparation if both examinations are to have a direct impact on the admission merit list. The panel has therefore been asked to examine how and when the proposed system can be introduced.
The five-member panel includes the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Mumbai, who will serve as chairperson. The panel also includes the Vice-Chancellor of Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar Technological University, Lonere, the Vice-Chancellor of COEP Technological University, Pune, and the directors of the Directorate of Higher Education and Directorate of Technical Education. The Director of Technical Education will serve as the member-secretary.
The committee's task is not limited to deciding the weightage of the two examinations. It will also examine how the proposed merit-list system can be implemented in a transparent and objective manner. The government has indicated that the admission framework should provide a clear basis for assessing candidates who have different performance levels in their board examinations and entrance tests.
The proposal comes after concerns were raised about the conduct and reliability of the MHT CET examination. Maharashtra authorities have recently taken steps to investigate complaints related to certain examination centres. The state government has also ordered forensic audits of centres against which complaints were received. These developments have added attention to the wider discussion around the MHT CET admission process.
However, reports about alleged irregularities should not be treated as established findings against all candidates or the entire examination system. Investigations and audits are separate from the committee's policy exercise on the use of Class 12 marks. The proposed change is being examined as a possible way of balancing board examination performance with entrance-test performance.
A senior official cited by Hindustan Times said the objective was to maintain a balance between Class 12 results and CET performance and make the merit-ranking process more transparent and equitable. The State CET Cell had reportedly proposed a review of the admission criteria because Class 12 board marks currently do not form a direct part of the merit calculation for these admissions.
For students planning to appear for MHT CET 2027, it is important to note that the proposed system is not yet a confirmed admission rule. The committee must first submit its recommendations, after which the state government will have to take a decision on the framework. Until an official admission notification is issued, students should continue to follow the existing official eligibility and examination instructions.
The Maharashtra State Board has also announced the HSC examination schedule for 2027. The Class 12 HSC examinations are scheduled to be conducted from February 8 to March 16, 2027. The SSC examinations are scheduled from February 15 to March 11, 2027. These dates are relevant to students preparing for both the board examinations and MHT CET, particularly if Class 12 marks are eventually included in the admission merit calculation.
The committee's recommendations will therefore be closely watched by engineering and pharmacy aspirants across Maharashtra. If the government accepts a system combining HSC marks and MHT CET percentile scores, the admission process could change for future BTech and BPharm applicants. The final weightage, implementation year and detailed methodology will depend on the recommendations of the committee and the subsequent decision of the Maharashtra government.
For now, students should not assume that a particular Class 12 percentage or MHT CET score combination will determine their 2027 admission. The proposed ratio between the two examinations has not been announced. Candidates should wait for the official notification from the Maharashtra State CET Cell and other competent authorities before making decisions based on the proposed system.
The development is expected to remain an important education policy issue as Maharashtra prepares for the 2027 admission cycle. The committee's 15-day deadline means that its recommendations are expected to provide greater clarity on whether Class 12 performance will become part of the merit calculation, how much weightage it may receive and when the revised system could be implemented.