The Maharashtra State CET Cell has issued Notice No. 12 for NEET UG 2026, addressed to all candidates currently filling their MBBS/BDS preference (choice) forms in the ongoing Centralized Admission Process (CAP). The notice explains that NTA had withheld the NEET UG results of some candidates, but the Bombay High Court and Delhi High Court have ordered that these candidates' results be declared and that they be allowed to join the ongoing counselling round. This means the Final Merit List already published may change once these candidates are added, and CET Cell will publish a Revised Final Merit List. The notice also lays out detailed rules for filling, editing and locking the college/course preference form. This is an operational update, not a new application or result — it affects everyone currently in CAP choice filling.
Choice filling for this CAP round stays open till 29 August 2026, 5:30 pm, and candidates can keep editing their locked preference form (using an OTP) during this window — including after a Revised Final Merit List is published — so check back before the deadline even if you have already locked your choices.
Why the merit list may change: the court order
NTA had withheld the NEET UG 2026 results of a group of candidates. Some of these candidates approached the Bombay High Court and the Delhi High Court. Both courts have now directed that the results of these petitioner candidates be declared and that they be allowed to take part in the counselling process that is already underway.
The courts have directed that the results be shared by 27 August 2026. Once Maharashtra CET Cell receives this result data, it will add these candidates into the counselling process as directed by the courts. Because these candidates will now have valid NEET scores and ranks, their entry can change the ranking of everyone in the Final Merit List. CET Cell will publish this Revised Final Merit List on its website.
If you are already participating in CAP, you do not need to do anything about this court matter yourself — it is simply a reason the merit list you see today may be updated before allotment. Watch the website for the Revised Final Merit List announcement.
Choice-filling deadline and editing rules
The preference (choice) form for colleges and quotas can be edited multiple times within the scheduled window, which runs up to 29 August 2026, 5:30 pm. To unlock an already-locked form for editing, candidates need an OTP sent to their registered mobile number and email ID.
Because the Revised Final Merit List may be published during this same window, candidates are specifically told they can edit their choices again after the revised list comes out, if they wish to change their preference order.
Only the last saved or last locked set of preferences at the end of the window will be used for seat allotment. If a candidate never locks the form, whatever preferences were last entered will be auto-saved when the window closes — after that, no further changes are allowed.
Rules for filling your preference form correctly
The notice lists specific instructions candidates must follow while filling MBBS/BDS choices. Getting any of these wrong will not be corrected by CET Cell later, so read each point carefully.
- You may fill a minimum of 1 college choice and a maximum of all available colleges.
- Private colleges have two separate quotas — State Quota and Institute Quota — and these have different fee structures. Make sure you select the correct quota for each college choice.
- Some colleges run both MBBS and BDS courses. Always double-check that you have selected the correct course before submitting the form.
- Arrange your choices strictly in order of preference — put the college and quota you want most at the top, followed by your next preference, and so on.
- After filling all your preferred choices, lock the preference form.
- A locked form can still be unlocked and edited multiple times within the scheduled window, using an OTP sent to your registered mobile and email.
- The very last saved or locked set of choices at the end of the window is what will be used for allotment — earlier versions do not count.
⚠️ Traps that can cost you a seat or extra fees
Two mistakes flagged in this notice are common and costly: selecting the wrong quota, and selecting the wrong course.
- Wrong quota selection: State Quota and Institute Quota at the same private college can have very different fees. If you select the wrong one, you could be allotted a seat with fee terms you did not intend to accept.
- Wrong course selection: at colleges offering both MBBS and BDS, choosing the wrong course by mistake means you could be allotted a seat in a course you never wanted.
- Missing the deadline: if you do not lock your form, only your last-filled entries are auto-saved at 5:30 pm on 29 August 2026 — after that, absolutely no changes are possible.
- Sharing your login: CET Cell has explicitly stated it will not be responsible for any wrong choices filled if you share your login credentials with anyone else, including agents or relatives filling the form on your behalf.
Practical tips to avoid last-minute problems
The notice itself advises candidates to complete the choice-filling process well ahead of the deadline, rather than waiting for the last day. Internet issues, server load, or other technical glitches close to the deadline are common during CAP rounds and will not be treated as grounds for reopening the form.
- Finalise your college/quota/course order in writing (on paper) before you log in, so you fill quickly and correctly.
- Verify quota (State/Institute) and course (MBBS/BDS) for every single choice before locking.
- Keep your registered mobile number and email accessible, since editing after locking requires an OTP sent to both.
- Do not wait for the Revised Final Merit List announcement to start filling — start early and revise later if needed.
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See My CollegesFrequently asked questions
Will the Final Merit List definitely change?
It may. The notice says that once results of the court-directed candidates are shared with CET Cell (courts have directed this be done by 27 August 2026) and these candidates are added to the process, the merit list will be revised. CET Cell will publish this Revised Final Merit List on its website.
Do I need to do anything because of the court case?
No specific action is required from existing candidates regarding the court case itself. It only means the merit list you are currently seeing could be updated. Keep checking the CET Cell website for the Revised Final Merit List.
Can I change my choices after I have already locked my preference form?
Yes. You can unlock a locked form using an OTP sent to your registered mobile and email, and edit your preferences again — as many times as you need — until the window closes on 29 August 2026, 5:30 pm.
What happens if I never lock my form?
If you fill choices but never lock the form, whatever you last entered will be auto-saved when the schedule ends. After that point, no further changes will be allowed, so it is safer to lock and re-edit rather than leave it unlocked.
Why does the quota I select matter so much?
At private colleges, State Quota and Institute Quota seats have different fee structures. If you select the wrong quota for a college in your preference list, you could end up allotted a seat with fee terms you did not intend.
What if a college offers both MBBS and BDS — how do I avoid picking the wrong one?
Carefully check the course name shown against each choice before adding it to your list, and verify again before final submission. The notice specifically warns that some colleges run both courses and mistakes here are common.
Is there a minimum or maximum number of choices I must fill?
You must fill a minimum of one college choice. There is no fixed maximum — you may fill as many colleges (and quotas) as are available, up to all of them.
What if someone else fills my choices using my login?
CET Cell has stated it will not be responsible for wrong or unintended choices filled through your login, whether by you or someone else you shared your credentials with. Keep your login private and fill the form yourself.
If you are participating in this CAP round, finalise and lock your MBBS/BDS preference order well before 29 August 2026, 5:30 pm, and double-check the quota and course for every college on your list. Keep an eye on the Maharashtra CET Cell website for the Revised Final Merit List, and remember you can still edit your locked choices using OTP before the window closes if the revision changes your strategy.
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