The State Common Entrance Test Cell, Maharashtra, will publish the official Final Merit List for Maharashtra State (MS) and All India (AI) candidates alongside the category-wise Seat Matrix for Centralised Admission Process (CAP) Round 1 on Thursday, September 3, 2026. Following the closure of the grievance redressal window, registered candidates seeking admission into 4-year Bachelor of Pharmacy (B.Pharm) and 6-year Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D) programmes can check their final merit ranks and prepare for web option entry on ph2026.mahacet.org.
Maharashtra B.Pharmacy CAP 2026 Key Dates & Official Schedule
Aspirants must note the revised admission calendar released by the State CET Cell:
- Conducting Authority: State Common Entrance Test Cell, Government of Maharashtra
- Official Admission Portal: ph2026.mahacet.org | cetcell.mahacet.org
- Display of Final Merit List & Seat Matrix: September 3, 2026
- CAP Round 1 Online Option Form Submission: September 5 to September 7, 2026
- Display of CAP Round 1 Provisional Seat Allotment: September 10, 2026
- Online Seat Acceptance (Freeze / Betterment): September 11 to September 14, 2026 (Up to 3:00 PM)
- Physical Reporting at Allotted Institute: September 11 to September 14, 2026 (Up to 5:00 PM)
- Commencement of Academic Activities: Mid-September 2026 across all affiliated pharmacy colleges.
Understanding State General Merit vs. All India Merit Ranks
The final merit list determines candidate eligibility across different quota categories:
- Maharashtra State (MS) General Merit Rank: Derived primarily from candidate percentile scores in the MHT CET 2026 (PCB or PCM group). Used for 85% state quota seats in government, aided, and private unaided colleges.
- All India Merit Rank: Derived from valid NEET UG 2026 percentiles (given first priority) followed by MHT CET 2026 scores. Used for 15% All India Quota seats across institutional programmes.
- Finality of Merit Ranks: The Final Merit List incorporates all verified online grievance corrections submitted up to August 31. No further changes in candidate details, caste categories, or marks will be permitted during the option entry phase.
CAP Round 1 Option Form Filling & Seat Matrix Strategy
Candidates should follow these strategic recommendations when submitting online college preferences:
- Analyze the Category-Wise Seat Matrix: Review the department-wise, college-wise, and category-wise seat distribution published on September 3 before entering choices.
- Strategic Preference Ordering: List target colleges and branches in strict descending order of preference. Keep high-cutoff dream colleges at the top, realistic choices in the middle, and safe backup colleges at the end.
- Tuition Fee Waiver Scheme (TFWS) Choices: Eligible candidates claiming TFWS (annual parental income below Rs. 8 Lakh) must enter separate TFWS choice codes to avail of full tuition fee waivers.
- Mandatory Locking: Ensure that the option form is verified and confirmed with the candidate's login password/OTP before September 7 (11:59 PM). Unconfirmed draft forms will not be processed for seat allotment.
Mandatory Original Documents Required for CAP Round 1 Seat Confirmation
Candidates must keep the following original documents ready for physical verification and seat acceptance:
- MHT CET 2026 Scorecard / NEET UG 2026 Scorecard.
- CAP Application Confirmation Letter / Final Merit Card.
- Class 10th (SSC) and Class 12th (HSC) Marksheets and Passing Certificates.
- Maharashtra State Domicile Certificate / Birth Certificate / School Leaving Certificate.
- Caste Certificate, Caste Validity Certificate, and Non-Creamy Layer (NCL) Certificate (valid up to March 31, 2027) for reserved categories.
- Economically Weaker Section (EWS) Certificate issued by the competent authority (if applicable).
- Physical Disability Certificate / Defense Category Certificate (if claiming special reservations).