Maharashtra to conduct second CET for BBA, BCA admissions after low turnout

Maharashtra’s Higher and Technical Education Minister Chandrakant Patil on June 6 announced the decision to conduct a second Common Entrance Test (CET) for undergraduate admissions in response to low student participation and stringent eligibility criteria affecting BBA and BCA courses for the 2025-26 academic year.

The announcement came after a meeting attended by Medical Education Minister Hasan Mushrif, representatives from the Shivaji University Development Front, and college principals’ associations.

During the discussion, it was highlighted that many students missed the first CET and faced the risk of losing admission opportunities altogether.

Consequently, Patil directed the Directorate of Higher and Technical Education to organize another CET round to ensure that no eligible candidates are left out.

A formal notification is expected within two days.

Patil also addressed wider structural issues, promising that the state government would urge the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) to lower affiliation fees and security deposits, which many institutions and students find burdensome.

“Our aim is to ensure that no student loses a chance at higher education due to technicalities or financial obstacles. We have taken serious note of the issues raised about the BBA and BCA admission process,” Patil said.

“Therefore, I have instructed officials to conduct another round of CET so that all willing students can apply. Furthermore, we will be recommending to the AICTE that the affiliation fees and caution deposit norms be relaxed to make education more accessible and affordable,” Patil added.

Among those present were Shivaji University Development Front vice-president Bhaiyya Mane, principal D R More, advocate Dhairyashil Patil, principal Dr V M Patil, higher education secretary Venugopal Reddy, director Shailendra Deolankar, technical education director Vinod Mohitkar, and joint director Prakash Bachhav.

They collectively emphasized the urgent need for reforms to support students across Maharashtra.

Pune-based aspiring student Prajakta Jadhav said, “I had planned to pursue a BCA degree this year, but I missed the earlier CET because the schedule was unclear and I couldn’t gather all the required documents in time due to financial issues.”

“The strict conditions and lack of proper communication left many of us feeling helpless. I was really worried I would lose an entire academic year. Now that the government has announced a second CET, it feels like a second chance. I hope they also reduce the fees and make the process easier, especially for students like me from rural and economically weaker backgrounds,” Jadhav added.