CET Cell Launches New Portal, Tightens Rules For NRI And Foreign Student Admissions In Maharashtra
MHT CET 2025 CAP Round 4: 68,640 Students Allotted Seats, 95,000 Vacancies Remain
Mumbai | July 28, 2025 — The Maharashtra State Common Entrance Test (CET) Cell has introduced a revised and more transparent admission process for international category students under NRI and supernumerary quotas for the academic year 2025–26. The move follows an amendment to the definition of Non-Resident Indian (NRI) status, effective June 25, as per a new ordinance.
As part of the reform, the CET Cell on July 25 launched a dedicated online portal — https://fn.mahacet.org — to streamline and centralise applications for NRIs, Overseas Citizens of India (OCIs), Persons of Indian Origin (PIOs), Children of Indian Workers in Gulf Countries (CIWGC), and Foreign Nationals (FNS) seeking admission to technical, medical, fine arts, and higher education programs across Maharashtra.
Under the revised definition of NRI, candidates must be born outside India and have parents who currently reside abroad. Additionally, individuals considered “not ordinarily resident” under the Income Tax Act or those holding an NRI certificate issued by an Indian Mission abroad will also fall under this category.
“All colleges and universities offering seats under international quotas must adhere to the new guidelines without exception,” said Jayant Patil, Officer on Special Duty (OSD), CET Cell.
Each institute will receive unique login credentials to access student applications, verify eligibility, and publish merit-based selection lists. Admissions will be finalised only after payment of the admission fee in USD, physical verification of original documents, and official confirmation through the portal.
The CET Cell will also issue Provisional Eligibility Certificates (PECs) to help applicants secure student visas. Final admissions, however, are contingent upon document verification by the admitting institute.
To prevent misuse, the CET Cell has now discontinued past practices where students falsely claimed eligibility by showing relatives abroad as dependents. “In earlier years, candidates with poor CET scores would gain admission into premier institutions like COEP through the ‘Foreign National’ category. This loophole has now been closed permanently,” added Patil.
For registration, candidates must pay a non-refundable fee of $50, followed by an additional $1,150 to confirm admission upon receiving an offer. Candidates can receive multiple offers but are allowed to confirm only one seat, and failure to pay fees within deadlines will lead to automatic cancellation.
Colleges have also been instructed to assist international students with immigration formalities, upload medical records, residential proof, and accommodation details within 14 days of joining.
The updated framework aims to bring greater transparency, authenticity, and compliance in the admission of international students, ensuring merit-based selections and eliminating unfair advantages.
