Maharashtra NEET UG 2026 CAP Round 2: Caste Certificate Extension & Merit List Revision

Maharashtra's State CET Cell has issued a major update for NEET UG 2026 CAP Round 2 counselling. Candidates from reserved categories (SC, VJ, DT, NT, OBC, SBC) who did not submit their Caste Validity Certificate (CVC) by the original registration deadline have been given a three-month extension to do so. As a result, the final merit list dated 28 August 2026 is being revised to reflect these candidates under their correct reserved category instead of the Open Category. The preference-filing deadline for CAP Round 2 has been extended to 11 September 2026 at 3:00 PM to allow all eligible candidates to submit or edit their college and course choices based on the revised merit list.

What is this notice about?

This notice corrects an eligibility issue that affected reserved-category candidates in Maharashtra's NEET UG 2026 counselling. During the initial registration for CAP Round 1 and CAP Round 2, candidates from reserved categories (Scheduled Caste, Vimukta Jati, De-notified Tribes, Nomadic Tribes, OBC, and Special Backward Classes) who had not yet obtained their Caste Validity Certificate were automatically placed in the Open Category. This meant they competed for Open seats, not reserved seats, even though they were entitled to reserved-category status.

Some of these candidates then failed to meet the eligibility cutoff for Open Category seats and were declared ineligible. The Maharashtra government has now recognized this as unfair and has issued a circular (dated 4 September 2026) granting a three-month extension for caste certificate submission. The CET Cell is using this extension to revise the merit list and allow eligible candidates to be reconsidered under their correct reserved category.

Who is eligible for this relief?

This relief applies only to candidates belonging to the following reserved categories: Scheduled Caste (SC), Vimukta Jati (VJ), De-notified Tribes (DT), Nomadic Tribes (NT), Other Backward Classes (OBC), and Special Backward Classes (SBC). Candidates from the Open Category and those from OBC/SBC who did submit their caste certificate on time are not affected by this notice.

Critically, the relief is available only if you meet ONE specific condition: you must have submitted proof or a receipt of your application for obtaining the Caste Validity Certificate at the time of registration. This means you must have started the caste certificate process before or during registration, even if you had not received the final certificate. If you did not submit any proof of application during registration, you cannot use this relief.

• Scheduled Caste (SC)
• Vimukta Jati (VJ)
• De-notified Tribes (DT)
• Nomadic Tribes (NT)
• Other Backward Classes (OBC)
• Special Backward Classes (SBC)

The critical condition: proof of application at registration

This is the most important trap in this notice. You cannot simply claim you belong to a reserved category and expect to be reconsidered. You must have submitted documentary proof—a receipt, acknowledgment, or application number—showing that you had applied for your Caste Validity Certificate before or during the registration period. This proof must have been uploaded or submitted to the CET Cell at the time you registered.

If you did not submit this proof during registration, you cannot now claim the relief, even if you have since obtained your caste certificate. The CET Cell will only reconsider candidates who have this proof on file. If you are unsure whether your proof was recorded, contact the CET Cell immediately at the contact details provided in this notice.

What happens to the merit list?

The final merit list that was published on 28 August 2026 is being revised. Candidates who are now eligible for reconsideration under their reserved category will be repositioned in the revised merit list. This means the cutoff scores for reserved-category seats may change, and the ranking of candidates within each category may shift.

The revised merit list will be published on the official website www.mahacet.org. You must check this revised list to see your new position and eligibility status. Your rank and seat allocation may be different from what was shown in the original merit list.

Important dates and deadlines

The preference-filing deadline for CAP Round 2 has been extended to accommodate the merit list revision. All candidates—whether newly eligible or already registered—must submit or edit their preferences by the new deadline.

The three-month extension for submitting your actual Caste Validity Certificate begins from 4 September 2026 (the date of the government circular). This means you have until approximately 4 December 2026 to produce the final certificate. However, do not wait until the last day; submit it as soon as possible to avoid delays or rejection.

• Preference filing deadline: 11 September 2026 at 3:00 PM
• Caste certificate submission deadline: 3 months from 4 September 2026 (approximately 4 December 2026)
• Revised merit list publication: to be announced on www.mahacet.org

How to check if you are eligible for reconsideration

First, verify that you belong to one of the six reserved categories listed above (SC, VJ, DT, NT, OBC, SBC). Second, confirm that you submitted proof of a caste certificate application during the registration period. If both conditions are met, you are eligible for reconsideration under your reserved category.

Once the revised merit list is published, log in to your CET Cell account on www.mahacet.org and check your new rank and category status. If you were previously shown as Open Category or ineligible, you should now see your correct reserved-category status. If you do not see a change, contact the CET Cell immediately.

• Check that you belong to SC, VJ, DT, NT, OBC, or SBC
• Confirm you submitted proof of caste certificate application during registration
• Log in to www.mahacet.org after the revised merit list is published
• Verify your new category and rank in the revised list
• Contact CET Cell if your status has not changed

What to do if you are newly eligible: submitting or editing preferences

If the revised merit list shows you are now eligible under your reserved category, you must submit or edit your preferences for colleges and courses by 11 September 2026 at 3:00 PM. Even if you submitted preferences before, you should review and possibly change them now, because your new rank and category may open access to different colleges or seats.

To edit your preferences, log in to your CET Cell account using your registration number and password. The system will allow you to unlock your previous preferences, modify them, and resubmit. You can change the order of colleges, add or remove courses, or change from MBBS to BDS or vice versa. Once you resubmit, your new preferences will be locked until the next round (if any).

• Log in to www.mahacet.org with your registration number and password
• Click on the preferences section for CAP Round 2
• Unlock your previous preferences (if you had submitted any)
• Edit the order of colleges and courses as desired
• Resubmit your preferences before 3:00 PM on 11 September 2026
• Do not wait until the last minute—submit early to avoid technical issues

What you must do to retain your eligibility: submitting the caste certificate

Being reconsidered under your reserved category is conditional. You must submit your actual Caste Validity Certificate within three months from 4 September 2026. This is not optional. If you do not submit the certificate by the deadline, your eligibility will be cancelled, and you may lose your seat or be moved to the Open Category.

The certificate must be issued by the competent authority in your state (usually the District Collector, Taluka Officer, or designated government office). It must clearly state your name, caste, and category (SC, VJ, DT, NT, OBC, or SBC). Certificates issued before the deadline will be accepted; certificates issued after the deadline will not be accepted, even if you applied on time.

Submit the certificate to the CET Cell as instructed on the official website. Keep a copy for your records. If you have already obtained the certificate, submit it immediately—do not wait.

• Obtain your Caste Validity Certificate from the competent authority (District Collector, Taluka Officer, etc.)
• Ensure the certificate clearly states your name, caste, and category
• Submit the certificate to the CET Cell by approximately 4 December 2026
• Keep a copy of the certificate for your records
• Do not submit certificates issued after the deadline
• Failure to submit will result in cancellation of your reserved-category eligibility

What if you already submitted your caste certificate on time?

If you submitted your Caste Validity Certificate during the original registration period and were already considered under your reserved category, this notice does not directly affect you. However, you should still check the revised merit list to see if your rank has changed due to the repositioning of other candidates.

Your preferences remain valid, but you may wish to review them in light of the revised merit list. You can unlock and edit your preferences until 11 September 2026 at 3:00 PM if you want to make changes.

Common mistakes that will get your application rejected

Do not assume that simply belonging to a reserved category is enough. You must have submitted proof of a caste certificate application during registration. If you did not, you cannot use this relief, no matter how valid your caste certificate is now.

Do not submit a caste certificate issued before the date you applied for it. The certificate must be issued on or after the date you submitted your application for it. Backdated certificates will be rejected.

Do not miss the preference-filing deadline of 11 September 2026 at 3:00 PM. If you do not submit or edit your preferences by this time, you will not be considered for CAP Round 2, even if you are eligible.

Do not miss the caste certificate submission deadline (approximately 4 December 2026). If you submit the certificate after this date, it will not be accepted, and your eligibility will be cancelled.

Do not submit a certificate that does not clearly state your caste and category. Vague or incomplete certificates will be rejected. Ensure the certificate explicitly mentions whether you are SC, VJ, DT, NT, OBC, or SBC.

• Proof of application during registration is mandatory—do not assume it was recorded
• Caste certificate must be issued on or after the date of your application
• Do not miss the preference-filing deadline: 11 September 2026, 3:00 PM
• Do not miss the caste certificate submission deadline: approximately 4 December 2026
• Certificate must clearly state your caste and category (SC, VJ, DT, NT, OBC, or SBC)
• Do not submit incomplete or vague certificates

Where to find more information and contact details

All updates, notifications, and further instructions will be posted on the official website www.mahacet.org. Check this website regularly for the revised merit list, any changes to deadlines, and step-by-step instructions for submitting preferences and certificates.

The CET Cell is located at: 8th Floor, New Excelsior Building, A.K. Nayak Road, Fort, Mumbai 400 001. Telephone: 022-22016157/53/59. Email: cetcell@mahacet.org. You can also visit the website for online support or FAQs.

• Official website: www.mahacet.org
• Address: 8th Floor, New Excelsior Building, A.K. Nayak Road, Fort, Mumbai 400 001
• Telephone: 022-22016157/53/59
• Email: cetcell@mahacet.org

Frequently asked questions

If you belong to SC, VJ, DT, NT, OBC, or SBC and submitted proof of a caste certificate application during registration, check the revised merit list on www.mahacet.org as soon as it is published. Review your new rank and category status. By 11 September 2026 at 3:00 PM, log in and submit or edit your preferences for colleges and courses. Most importantly, obtain and submit your actual Caste Validity Certificate to the CET Cell by approximately 4 December 2026—failure to do so will cancel your reserved-category eligibility. For any questions, contact the CET Cell at 022-22016157/53/59 or cetcell@mahacet.org.