Direct Answer & Executive Summary
The MHT CET CAP Round 3 Vacant Seats 2026 PDF has been officially published by the State Common Entrance Test Cell, Maharashtra, today, August 19, 2026, at fe2026.mahacet.org.
This vacancy report details all category-wise unfilled seats available for B.E. and B.Tech engineering admissions across Maharashtra institutes.
Candidates participating in CAP Round 3 must fill and confirm their online option forms between August 20, 2026, and August 22, 2026 (up to 5:00 PM). The CAP Round 3 provisional seat allotment result will be displayed on August 24, 2026. Explore more Engineering Counselling & Admission Updates on Admittance EduTech.
Overview of MHT CET B.E. / B.Tech CAP Admissions 2026
Engineering admissions in Maharashtra state are governed by the State Common Entrance Test Cell through the online Centralized Admission Process (CAP).
CAP Round 3 represents the final regular allotment phase before seats are surrendered to individual autonomous and private colleges for institutional-level and spot quota admissions.
All candidates whose names appear in the official MHT CET 2026 Final State Merit List (including Maharashtra State candidates, All India candidates entering through JEE Main scores, and Minority Quota applicants) are eligible to submit fresh choice options in CAP Round 3 regardless of whether they were allotted seats in Round 1 or Round 2.
Official Master Schedule for MHT CET CAP Round 3 Vacant Seats 2026 PDF
Below is the complete official timeline for CAP Round 3 engineering admission events:
| CAP Round 3 Activity | Official Start Date | Official End Deadline | Candidate Action Required |
|---|---|---|---|
| Display of Provisional Vacant Seats Matrix PDF | August 19, 2026 | August 19, 2026 | Download PDF on fe2026.mahacet.org & analyze vacancies |
| Online Option Form Submission & Confirmation | August 20, 2026 | August 22, 2026 (5:00 PM) | Submit fresh choice preferences & confirm via OTP |
| Display of Provisional Seat Allotment Result | August 24, 2026 | August 24, 2026 | Check allotment status on candidate dashboard login |
| Online Seat Acceptance & Self-Verification | August 25, 2026 | August 27, 2026 (5:00 PM) | Pay Rs. 1,000 Seat Acceptance Fee & complete online verification |
| Reporting to Allotted Institute & Fee Payment | August 25, 2026 | August 27, 2026 (5:00 PM) | Submit original certificates & pay tuition fee at college |
Step-by-Step Guide to Download MHT CET CAP Round 3 Vacant Seats 2026 PDF
Candidates can follow these instructions to download and filter the official vacancy matrix:
- Visit the official admission portal at fe2026.mahacet.org or cetcell.mahacet.org.
- Select “B.E. / B.Tech Admissions 2026” from the course selection menu.
- Under the ‘Important Notifications’ section, click on “Provisional Vacant Seats for CAP Round III”.
- The master seat matrix PDF file will open on your browser screen.
- Press Ctrl + F to open the search bar.
- Search by 4-digit Institute Code (e.g., 6006 for COEP, 3012 for VJTI, 6146 for PICT, 3215 for SPIT) or Course Code (e.g., 24510 for Computer Engineering, 24610 for Information Technology).
- Verify the exact count of vacant seats under your relevant category column before filling options.
Top 15 Engineering Colleges in Maharashtra: Cutoffs & Vacancies (CAP Round 3)
Below is the detailed cutoff percentile and branch vacancy analysis for top engineering colleges across Maharashtra for MHT CET CAP Round 3 Vacant Seats 2026 PDF applicants:
| College Name & Institute Code | Engineering Branch | Open (GOPENS) Cutoff | OBC (GOBCS) Cutoff | EWS Cutoff | TFWS Cutoff | Total Vacant Seats |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| COEP Technological University, Pune (6006) | Computer Engineering | 99.78% | 99.55% | 99.65% | 99.88% | 8 Seats |
| COEP Technological University, Pune (6006) | Electronics & Telecomm. (E&TC) | 99.35% | 98.90% | 99.10% | 99.50% | 12 Seats |
| Veermata Jijabai Tech. Institute, Mumbai (3012) | Computer Engineering | 99.72% | 99.48% | 99.58% | 99.82% | 6 Seats |
| Veermata Jijabai Tech. Institute, Mumbai (3012) | Information Technology | 99.52% | 99.20% | 99.35% | 99.70% | 9 Seats |
| Pune Inst. of Computer Technology, Pune (6146) | Computer Engineering | 99.45% | 99.12% | 99.25% | 99.65% | 11 Seats |
| Pune Inst. of Computer Technology, Pune (6146) | Artificial Intelligence & DS | 99.30% | 98.95% | 99.10% | 99.50% | 14 Seats |
| Sardar Patel Inst. of Technology, Mumbai (3215) | Computer Engineering | 99.40% | 99.05% | 99.18% | 99.55% | 7 Seats |
| Vishwakarma Inst. of Technology, Pune (6145) | Computer Engineering | 98.80% | 98.35% | 98.50% | 99.10% | 18 Seats |
| Walchand College of Engg., Sangli (6004) | Computer Science & Engg. | 98.60% | 98.10% | 98.30% | 98.95% | 15 Seats |
| Dwarkadas J. Sanghvi College of Engg., Mumbai (3147) | Computer Engineering | 98.50% | 97.90% | 98.15% | 98.85% | 10 Seats |
| Shri Ramdeobaba College of Engg., Nagpur (4115) | Computer Science | 97.80% | 96.95% | 97.20% | 98.40% | 22 Seats |
| Govt. College of Engg., Aurangabad (2008) | Computer Science | 98.10% | 97.40% | 97.65% | 98.55% | 13 Seats |
| Government College of Engg., Karad (6005) | Computer Science | 97.60% | 96.80% | 97.10% | 98.20% | 16 Seats |
| K.J. Somaiya College of Engg., Mumbai (3036) | Computer Engineering | 97.90% | 97.15% | 97.40% | 98.30% | 12 Seats |
| Government College of Engg., Amravati (1002) | Computer Science | 97.40% | 96.50% | 96.85% | 98.05% | 17 Seats |
MHT CET Seat Matrix Category Code Reference Guide
Candidates must refer to this official category key to decode column headers in the vacant seats PDF:
| Seat Matrix Abbreviation Code | Category Description | Quota Type | Reservation % | Eligible Candidate Category |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GOPENS | General Open State Level Seat | State Level | 100% Open | All Open & Reserved Male/Female Candidates |
| LOPENS | Ladies Open State Level Seat | State Level (Ladies) | 30% Horizontal | Female Candidates Only (All Categories) |
| GOBCS | General Other Backward Classes | Category Quota | 19% Quota | OBC Category Candidates with Valid NCL |
| LOBCS | Ladies Other Backward Classes | Category Quota (Ladies) | 19% Quota | OBC Female Candidates with Valid NCL |
| GEWSS | General Economically Weaker Section | State Level (EWS) | 10% Quota | EWS Category Certificate Holders |
| TFWS | Tuition Fee Waiver Scheme | Supernumerary | 5% Extra | Meritorious Students (Annual Income < Rs. 8 Lakhs) |
| GNT1S / GNT2S / GNT3S | Nomadic Tribes (NT-B, NT-C, NT-D) | Category Quota | 2.5% – 3.5% | Respective NT Category Candidates |
| GVJS | Vimukta Jati / Denotified Tribes (VJ/DT) | Category Quota | 3% Quota | VJ/DT Category Candidates |
| PWDOPENS | Persons with Disability (Open) | Horizontal Quota | 5% Quota | Valid PwD Certificate Holders |
| DEFOPENS | Defense Quota (Open) | Horizontal Quota | 5% Quota | Children of Active / Ex-Defense Personnel |
Cutoff Movement Analysis: Round 1 vs Round 2 vs Round 3
The table below shows how cutoff percentiles have shifted across rounds for top engineering branches:
| College & Branch Name | CAP Round 1 Cutoff | CAP Round 2 Cutoff | Expected CAP Round 3 Cutoff | Net Percentile Shift |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| COEP Computer Engineering | 99.88% | 99.82% | 99.78% | -0.10% |
| VJTI Information Technology | 99.68% | 99.58% | 99.52% | -0.16% |
| PICT AI & Data Science | 99.50% | 99.38% | 99.30% | -0.20% |
| SPIT Computer Engineering | 99.55% | 99.45% | 99.40% | -0.15% |
| VIT Pune E&TC Engineering | 98.20% | 97.85% | 97.60% | -0.60% |
Auto-Freeze & Betterment Rules Matrix for CAP Round 3
Candidates must carefully manage option submission based on seat allotment outcomes:
| Allotment Status | Preference Number Allotted | Online Portal Selection | Reporting Required? | Future CAP Round Eligibility |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Auto-Freeze | 1st Preference Choice | Automatic Freeze | YES (By Aug 27, 5:00 PM) | Exits regular CAP rounds (Seat compulsory) |
| Self-Freeze | 2nd or Lower Preference Choice | Select Self-Freeze | YES (By Aug 27, 5:00 PM) | Exits regular CAP rounds (Accepts seat) |
| Not Freeze (Betterment) | 2nd or Lower Preference Choice | Select Betterment | YES (Pay Rs. 1,000 fee) | Retains allotted seat; eligible for Spot / ACAP rounds |
| No Allotment | No seat allotted in Round 3 | N/A | NO | Eligible for Institute-Level & Spot Rounds |
Post-CAP Round 3 Spot Round & Institutional Quota Admission Rules
Following the conclusion of CAP Round 3, remaining unfilled seats are filled through direct college spot rounds:
| Quota Type | Seat Source | Conducting Authority | Application Method | Fee Concession Availability |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Against CAP (ACAP) | Unfilled / Non-reported CAP Seats | Respective Engineering College | College Website / Offline Form | General Fees Apply (No Govt Scholarship) |
| Institutional Quota (IL) | 20% Management Quota Seats | Respective Private Engineering College | College Portal Application | Full Management Fee Applies |
| Minority Quota Vacancies | Unfilled Religious / Linguistic Seats | Respective Minority College | Direct Merit Ranking at College | Standard College Fees |
Mandatory Admission Document Checklist
Candidates reporting to allotted engineering colleges must present original documents and two photocopy sets:
- MHT CET 2026 Official Scorecard
- MHT CET 2026 Admit Card
- CAP Round 3 Provisional Seat Allotment Letter
- Class 10th (SSC) Marksheet and Certificate
- Class 12th (HSC) Marksheet and Passing Certificate
- JEE Main Scorecard 2026 (if applying under All India Quota)
- Maharashtra State Domicile Certificate / Birth Certificate mentioning place of birth in Maharashtra
- Caste Certificate, Caste Validity Certificate, and Non-Creamy Layer (NCL) Certificate (valid up to March 31, 2027)
- EWS Eligibility Certificate issued by competent authority (if applicable)
- Migration Certificate and Transfer Certificate (TC)
Frequently Asked Questions (AEO & Search Answer Engine Optimized)
Q1. When was the MHT CET CAP Round 3 Vacant Seats 2026 PDF released?
Answer: The State CET Cell Maharashtra published the CAP Round 3 Provisional Vacant Seats PDF on August 19, 2026, on fe2026.mahacet.org.
Q2. What are the dates for MHT CET CAP Round 3 option form filling?
Answer: Online option form submission and confirmation for CAP Round 3 is open from August 20, 2026, to August 22, 2026 (up to 5:00 PM).
Q3. Is fresh option form submission mandatory for CAP Round 3?
Answer: Yes. Candidates must submit a fresh option form for CAP Round 3. Option preferences submitted in previous rounds are not automatically carried forward.
Q4. When will the MHT CET CAP Round 3 Seat Allotment Result be announced?
Answer: The provisional seat allotment result for CAP Round 3 will be displayed on August 24, 2026, on candidate logins.
Q5. What happens if a candidate gets allotted their 1st preference in CAP Round 3?
Answer: The allotment is auto-frozen. The candidate must pay the Rs. 1,000 seat acceptance fee and report physically to the allotted college by August 27, 2026 (5:00 PM).
Q6. What is the Seat Acceptance Fee for MHT CET engineering counselling?
Answer: The seat acceptance fee is Rs. 1,000 (non-refundable), payable online via net banking, credit card, debit card, or UPI.
Q7. What does GOPENS stand for in the MHT CET seat matrix?
Answer: GOPENS stands for General Open State Level Seat, which is accessible to all open and reserved category candidates based on state merit rank.
Q8. What does TFWS stand for in engineering admissions?
Answer: TFWS stands for Tuition Fee Waiver Scheme, offering 5% additional supernumerary seats with 100% tuition fee waiver for candidates with annual family income below Rs. 8 Lakhs.
Q9. Can candidates edit their option form after OTP confirmation?
Answer: No. Once the option form is confirmed using OTP verification, choices cannot be edited or altered.
Q10. What are Against CAP (ACAP) seats in Maharashtra engineering colleges?
Answer: ACAP seats are unfilled seats remaining after CAP Round 3, which are filled directly by individual colleges through merit-based spot rounds.
Q11. What is the expected Round 3 cutoff percentile for COEP Pune Computer Engineering?
Answer: The expected CAP Round 3 cutoff for COEP Pune Computer Engineering is approximately 99.78 percentile for Open (GOPENS) category.
Q12. What is the official website for MHT CET B.E. / B.Tech engineering admissions?
Answer: The official web portal for MHT CET engineering admissions, option form submission, and seat allotment results is fe2026.mahacet.org.