Maharashtra NEET Counselling 2026: Complete Process, Eligibility, Rules, Fees, Reservation & Admission Guide

Maharashtra NEET Counselling 2026 is the state-level admission process conducted by the State Common Entrance Test Cell Maharashtra for candidates seeking admission to undergraduate medical and dental courses such as MBBS and BDS in government, private, aided, and minority institutions across Maharashtra. The counselling process is applicable to candidates who have qualified the NEET UG 2026, which is the mandatory entrance examination for medical admissions in India.

The Maharashtra NEET UG counselling is conducted in online mode and involves multiple stages, including registration, document upload, payment of counselling fees, publication of the state merit list, choice filling, seat allotment, and reporting to the allotted college. The counselling is primarily responsible for filling 85% of state quota seats, while the remaining 15% All India Quota (AIQ) seats are filled separately through the Medical Counselling Committee.

Through this counselling process, admissions are offered in a wide range of medical courses, including MBBS, BDS, BAMS, BHMS, BUMS, and other allied health science programs. Maharashtra has a large number of medical colleges, including government institutions with relatively low fees and private colleges with higher fee structures, making it an important state for NEET-qualified candidates across India.

The counselling process in Maharashtra is known for its structured system, which includes category-wise reservations, constitutional reservation policies, and specific rules such as domicile requirements for state quota seats. Candidates must carefully follow each step of the process, as errors in registration, document verification, or choice filling can directly impact seat allotment.

Maharashtra NEET Counselling 2026 Overview

Particulars	Details
Counselling Authority	State CET Cell Maharashtra
Entrance Exam	NEET UG 2026
Courses	MBBS, BDS, BAMS, BHMS, BUMS, BPTH
Mode of Counselling	Online
State Quota	85%
All India Quota (AIQ)	15% (through MCC)
Official Website	cetcell.mahacet.org

Maharashtra NEET Counselling Eligibility Criteria

To participate in Maharashtra NEET Counselling:

• Must qualify NEET UG 2026
• Must be Indian Citizen
• Must have passed 10+2 with PCB
• Must meet minimum qualifying marks (as per NEET cutoff)
• Maharashtra domicile required for state quota seats
• Non-domicile candidates can apply for Institutional/NRI quota

Nativity & Domicile Criteria for Maharashtra NEET Counselling 2026

To claim eligibility under the Maharashtra State Quota, candidates must fulfill specific nativity and domicile conditions as defined by the State Common Entrance Test Cell Maharashtra. These rules are strictly verified during counselling and document verification.

Basic Domicile Requirement

• The candidate must have completed Class 10 (SSC) and Class 12 (HSC) from the state of Maharashtra
• The candidate must be a domicile of Maharashtra
• OR must have resided in Maharashtra for a minimum of 10 years

👉 Failing to meet these conditions means the candidate cannot claim state quota benefits

Domicile Certificate Requirement

• A valid Domicile Certificate is mandatory
• It must be issued by:
  • District Magistrate
  • Metropolitan Magistrate
  • Competent Authority

👉 Without a valid domicile certificate, the candidate will not be considered under Maharashtra state quota

Eligibility for Hilly Area Reservation

To claim Hilly Area Quota, the candidate must satisfy ALL conditions:

• Must have passed SSC (10th) or HSC (12th) from a school/junior college
• The institution must be located in:
  • Hilly area of parent’s domicile
  • OR taluka of parent’s domicile

Documents Required for Hilly Area Quota

• Parent’s Domicile Certificate is mandatory
• Must clearly support the claim of hilly area eligibility

Important Restriction for Outside-State Candidates

• Candidates who completed SSC or HSC from institutions outside Maharashtra:
  • Will NOT be considered domicile candidates
  • Will NOT be eligible for state quota seats
  • Will NOT be eligible for admission in health science courses under state quota

OCI / NRI / Other State Candidates

• Eligible ONLY for:
  • Institutional quota
  • NRI quota seats
• NOT eligible for:
  • State quota seats
  • Reserved category benefits

Important Counselling Insight (Very Crucial)

• Maharashtra is very strict with domicile verification
• Even small document mismatch can:
  • Reject your claim
  • Shift you to Open/Other category
• Many students lose seats due to:
  • Invalid domicile
  • Wrong certificate authority

👉 Always verify documents BEFORE counselling starts.

Maharashtra NEET Counselling 2026 Important Dates

Event	Tentative Dates
Registration	July 2026
Merit List	July/August
Round 1	August
Round 2	September
Mop-Up	October
Stray Round	October

Who Controls Maharashtra Medical Admissions & How the System Works

The entire counselling system is managed centrally by the CET Cell. Unlike many states, Maharashtra has a well-structured but slightly complex system because it includes:

• Government colleges
• Private colleges
• Minority colleges
• Deemed universities (separate via MCC but still relevant for choice strategy)

Admissions are divided into:

• 85% State Quota Seats → Through Maharashtra counselling
• 15% All India Quota (AIQ) → Through Medical Counselling Committee

Courses Covered Under Maharashtra NEET Counselling

Maharashtra counselling is not limited to MBBS. It includes multiple medical streams:

• MBBS (Bachelor of Medicine & Surgery)
• BDS (Dental)
• BAMS (Ayurveda)
• BHMS (Homeopathy)
• BUMS (Unani)
• BPTH (Physiotherapy)
• BASLP and other paramedical courses

👉 Many students ignore this — but backup courses can save your year.

Seat distribution and reservation policy in Maharashtra NEET counselling

The seat distribution and reservation policy is an important part of the counselling process. There are lakhs of students participating in the Maharashtra counselling NEET UG for the allocation of the seats in the top medical and dental colleges; they must know about how the seats are allocated for the clarification of their chances of admission. Refer to the points mentioned below about the seat distribution under the Maharashtra Counselling.

• 85% State quota seats in government colleges in Maharashtra
• 100% seats in private colleges and deemed universities under the state quota
• The remaining 15% of government College seats are under AIQ.

Category	Reservation (%)
SC	13%
ST	7%
OBC	19%
EWS	10%
NT-A	3%
NT-B	2.5%
NT-C	3.5%
NT-D	2%
PwD (Horizontal)	5%
Female Candidates	30% (within each category)

Note – Candidates must have proper certification for reserved category consideration.

Horizontal Reservation:

• PwD – 5%
• Female quota
• Defence quota

Maharashtra NEET Counselling Process (Complete Step-by-Step)

The Maharashtra NEET Counselling 2026 follows a clear step-by-step method. Each step must be completed carefully:

1. Online Registration

• Visit the official CET Cell portal: cetcell.mahacet.org
• Click on the “Apply Online for NEET-UG 2026” link
• Fill in:
  • Personal details
  • Academic details
  • NEET details (Roll Number, Application Number, Name, Date of Birth)
• Verify mobile number and email ID using OTP
• Create a secure password
• Accept the declaration and submit the application form
• Pay the non-refundable registration fee online

Maharashtra NEET Counselling Registration Fee

Category	Fee	Mode of Payment
General	₹1,000	Credit Card / Debit Card / Net Banking / UPI
Reserved Category	₹500	Credit Card / Debit Card / Net Banking / UPI
NRI / OCI	₹5,000	Credit Card / Debit Card / Net Banking / UPI

👉 This is the most critical step — incorrect details can lead to rejection later.

2. Document Upload

• Upload scanned copies of all required documents
• Documents must be in PDF format
• Ensure:
  • Correct file size
  • Proper clarity
  • Valid documents

Document	Format	Maximum Size
Passport-size Photograph	JPEG	Max 100 KB
Signature	JPEG	Max 100 KB
NEET 2025 Scorecard	PDF / JPEG	Max 300 KB
Class 10th Marksheet	PDF / JPEG	Max 300 KB
Class 12th Marksheet	PDF / JPEG	Max 300 KB
Domicile Certificate	PDF / JPEG	Max 300 KB
Caste Certificate (if applicable)	PDF / JPEG	Max 300 KB
Non-Creamy Layer Certificate	PDF / JPEG	Max 300 KB
PwD Certificate (if applicable)	PDF / JPEG	Max 300 KB

3. Document Verification

• The CET Cell verifies all uploaded documents and details
• After successful verification:
  • Candidates receive an acknowledgement
  • A “Document Verification Code” is generated

👉 This code is essential for further steps like choice filling.

4. State Merit List Publication

• A provisional state merit list is released on the CET Cell portal
• Prepared based on:
  • NEET UG 2026 rank
  • Eligibility criteria

👉 Only candidates included in the Maharashtra merit list are eligible for counselling.

5. Choice Filling and Locking

• Candidates log in using:
  • Application Number
  • Password
  • Document Verification Code
• Select preferred:
  • Colleges
  • Courses (MBBS, BDS, BAMS, etc.)
• Arrange choices in order of priority
• Once choices are locked:
  • They are considered for all subsequent rounds
  • No changes allowed after locking

👉 This step decides your college — not just your rank.

6. Seat Allotment

• Seats are allotted based on:
  • NEET rank
  • Category
  • Choices filled
  • Seat availability
• Seat allotment results are published on the CET Cell website

Filling of Status Retention Form Submission (Important Guidelines)

The Status Retention Form is an important provision in Maharashtra NEET Counselling that allows candidates to decide whether they want to continue in further rounds or retain their currently allotted seat.

Official Rules for Status Retention Form

• If a candidate has been allotted a seat and wishes to participate in the next or subsequent rounds, then:
  • ❌ They should NOT fill the Status Retention Form

• If a candidate has been allotted a seat and does NOT wish to participate in further rounds, then:
  • ✅ They should fill the Status Retention Form

The decision to fill the Status Retention Form is:

• Completely optional
• Based on the candidate’s choice

Practical Understanding (Very Important)

• Filling the form = Seat Freeze (Final Admission)
• Not filling the form = Eligible for Upgradation in next rounds

👉 This decision directly impacts your final college allotment.

7. Institute Reporting and Admission Confirmation

• Candidates must report to the allotted college within the given time
• Carry:
  • Original documents
  • Required photocopies
• Complete:
  • Document verification
  • Fee payment as per college

👉 Failure to report → seat cancellation

Also Check : Maharashtra NEET Seat Matrix

Documents Required for Maharashtra NEET Counselling

Basic Documents

• NEET Scorecard
• NEET Admit Card
• 10th & 12th Marksheet
• Domicile Certificate
• Aadhaar card
• Photos

Category Documents

• Caste Certificate
• Caste Validity Certificate
• Non-Creamy Layer
• EWS Certificate
• Certificate of the disputed area, mother tongue certificate, Class 10 or Class 12 from MKB area (if applicable)
• Certificate of parent domicile, Class 10 or Class 12, of the candidate from the hilly area (where applicable)

Additional

• Migration Certificate
• Medical Fitness Certificate

Also Check : Maharashtra NEET MBBS Closing Rank Last 3 Years

What Happens After Round 1 of Maharashtra NEET Counselling?

After the completion of Round 1 of Maharashtra NEET Counselling, candidates can fall into different scenarios depending on their seat allotment status and decision-making. Each scenario leads to a different path in the counselling process.

Scenario 1: Candidates Who Accept the Seat and Do NOT Want Upgradation

Some candidates are allotted a seat in Round 1 based on their preferences, which may include:

• Preferred college
• Desired course (MBBS, BDS, etc.)
• Suitable location

What Happens Next?

• The candidate chooses to accept the allotted seat without opting for upgradation
• Must complete admission formalities:
  • Report to the allotted college within the given time
  • Submit all required documents
  • Pay the prescribed college fees
  • Complete biometric and document verification

Same Will Happen With Round 2

Mop-Up Round Counselling in Maharashtra NEET Counselling 2026

After the completion of two or more Centralized Allotment Process (CAP) rounds, if seats remain vacant due to:

• Non-allotment
• Non-reporting of candidates

Then these vacant seats in:

• Government Colleges
• Corporation Colleges
• Private Aided Colleges
• Private Unaided Colleges
• Minority Colleges

👉 are filled through the Mop-Up Round Counselling conducted by the State Common Entrance Test Cell Maharashtra.

Eligible Candidates for Mop-Up Round Counselling

The following candidates are eligible to participate in the Mop-Up Round:

• Candidates not admitted in Round 1 or Round 2
• Candidates who are wait-listed
• Candidates whose choices were not available in Round 1 or Round 2
• Candidates who were allotted a seat in Round 1 or Round 2 but wish to upgrade their seat

Non-Eligible Candidates for Mop-Up Round Counselling

The following candidates are NOT eligible:

• Candidates who joined a seat up to Round 2 and submitted the Status Retention Form
• Candidates who joined a seat in Round 1 or Round 2
• Candidates who were allotted a seat in Round 3 of All India Quota (AIQ)

Stray Vacancy Round Counselling

After the completion of the Mop-Up Round, if seats still remain vacant, especially in:

• Private Unaided Colleges
• Private Minority Colleges

👉 These remaining seats are filled through the Stray Vacancy Round Counselling.

Also Check : Maharashtra NEET MBBS Fees

Can Candidates from Other States Apply for Maharashtra NEET Counselling?

Yes, but with limited eligibility.

• Maharashtra domicile candidates can apply for:
  • 85% State Quota seats (Government colleges)
  • Private college seats
• Non-domicile (other state) candidates can apply for:
  • Institutional quota seats in private colleges
  • NRI quota seats (with valid documents)

Important Points

• ❌ Not eligible for 85% state quota seats
• ❌ Cannot claim reservation benefits in Maharashtra
• ✅ Eligible for 15% All India Quota (AIQ) through the Medical Counselling Committee
• ✅ Can apply in Maharashtra only under private/NRI quota

Also Check : Cheapest Private MBBS Colleges

Maharashtra MBBS Participating College

This Section Provides detailed information about Maharashtra NEET UG 2026 Counselling Medical Colleges listed with their Annual Tuition Fees.

Maharashtra Government MBBS Colleges

Maharashtra Private MBBS Colleges

Also Check : Deemed University MBBS Fees

Frequently Asked Question About Maharashtra Counselling Process

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