Nagpur: The Maharashtra State Common Entrance Test (CET) Cell recorded an overall attendance of 89.48% on the opening day of the MBA/MMS CET 2026, with 47,079 candidates appearing out of 52,612 scheduled across the state.The entrance examination for admission to Master of Business Administration (MBA) and Master of Management (MMS) Studies courses for the 2026-27 academic year began on Monday and was conducted in two sessions — morning and afternoon — through a computer-based format across 36 districts. Officials said both sessions concluded smoothly.In the morning session, 23,101 of 26,076 registered candidates appeared, marking an attendance of 88.59%, while 2,975 remained absent. The session was held from 9am to 11.30am across 175 centres.The afternoon session recorded a higher turnout of 90.36%, with 23,978 candidates present out of 26,536, while 2,558 were absent. This session was conducted between 2pm and 4.30pm at 179 centres statewide. A total of 1,32,838 candidates registered for the first phase of the MBA/MMS CET this year. The examination is being conducted in batches over three days — April 6, 7 and 8.Officials reiterated that the process was executed seamlessly across all districts, with strict adherence to examination protocols. The MBA/MMS recorded a sharp rise in registrations this year, with a total of 1,81,426 candidates registering for the exams that would be conducted in two phases, reflecting growing demand for management education in the state.According to official data, 1,32,838 students registered for the first attempt, while 48,588 opted for the second attempt, taking the cumulative figure well above last year’s 1,57,281 registrations.The data from the CET Cell also highlights increasing inclusivity, with 8 transgender candidates, 482 orphan students and 487 persons with disabilities (PWD) registered for the examination this year.Over the past four years, registrations steadily climbed, rising from 1,30,927 in 2023-24 to 1,52,911 in 2024-25, and further to 1,57,281 in 2025-26, before reaching the current peak.Officials said the expanded participation underscores both the growing competitiveness of management admissions and the wider accessibility of the CET system across regions and social categories.The entrance test continues to serve as the primary gateway for admission to MBA and MMS programmes across Maharashtra, with its computer-based format aimed at ensuring transparency and uniformity in assessment.
