The Maharashtra Common Entrance Test (CET) has witnessed a significant increase in registrations for the academic year 2026-27, with nearly 4 lakh more candidates participating compared to the previous year. According to the State Common Entrance Test Cell, a total of 18.22 lakh students registered for the CET, with 16.29 lakh actually appearing for the various examinations conducted between March 24 and May 20. This marks an increase from 12.46 lakh candidates in the 2025-26 academic year. The examinations were held at 340 centres across all 36 districts of Maharashtra, with an overall attendance rate of 89.89%. The MHT-CET PCM group led the turnout with 8.01 lakh students registered and 7.39 lakh appearing. Other notable groups included the PCB with 4 lakh registrations and the MBA-MMS CET with 1.86 lakh. These three groups together accounted for over 76% of total registrations, highlighting the strong demand for engineering, medical, and management courses in the state.