The Maharashtra government has introduced major reforms in the engineering admission process for 2025 to ensure greater transparency and fairness. These changes impact both the centralized admission process (CAP) and the management quota, aiming to reduce irregularities and improve access for deserving students.
🔹 Four CAP Rounds Instead of Three
One of the biggest updates is the increase in CAP rounds from three to four. This additional round offers more opportunities for students to secure admissions through the centralized online system, reducing the pressure to rely on management quota admissions prematurely.
🔹 Mandatory Seat Confirmation at Each Stage
- Round 1: If a student gets their first preference, they must confirm it.
- Round 2: Seat must be confirmed if allotted within top 3 preferences.
- Round 3: Confirmation mandatory for allotments in top 6 preferences.
- Round 4: Every allotted seat must be accepted. No further float options.
This step-by-step seat-freezing mechanism ensures that seats do not remain blocked unnecessarily and are made available to other students quickly.
🔹 Institutional and Management Quota Admissions Made Transparent
The state has also taken steps to bring transparency to institutional (20%) and management quota admissions. Now, these admissions will also be conducted through an online system. Colleges must publish the merit list, follow strict guidelines, and ensure fair selection of candidates.
To control commercialization, fee limits have been introduced — management quota seats can be priced up to 3 times the regular fee, and NRI seats up to 5 times.
🔹 Eligibility and Admission Rules
Students applying for engineering courses must have scored a minimum of 50% marks in Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics (PCM), with a relaxation to 45% for reserved category students. For diploma to degree (lateral entry), a 60% score is required.
🔹 Purpose Behind the Reforms
These measures have been implemented to curb malpractices such as seat blocking and under-the-table admissions in the management quota. The new system ensures that students have more opportunities through merit, and that colleges follow a transparent and accountable admission process.
✅ What Students Should Do
- Check the official MAHACET portal regularly for CAP schedule.
- Fill out the preference form carefully and understand the seat confirmation rules.
- If unable to apply directly to colleges for management quota, use the online system as an alternative route.
- Ensure all documents and eligibility criteria are met before each CAP round.
With these reforms, Maharashtra’s engineering admissions process is set to become more student-friendly, merit-based, and transparent. Students are encouraged to participate actively in all CAP rounds and make informed decisions at every stage.