The Maharashtra Common Entrance Test (MHT-CET) for the 2026-27 academic year commenced today, with a record 4.79 lakh students registered for the first phase, running from April 11 to April 20, 2026. This year marks the introduction of a dual-attempt system, allowing students to take the exam twice, with the higher score being used for admissions. The first phase will be held in 198 centres across all 36 districts in Maharashtra, with the second attempt scheduled for May 14-16, 2026. This change follows directives from Chandrakant Patil, Maharashtra's higher and technical education minister, aiming to align the state examination with national formats like the Joint Entrance Examination (Main). The total number of registrations has surged from 4,64,262 last year to 4,79,332 for the first attempt, reflecting a growing interest in technical education in the state. The increase in participation is significant, with total registrations for both attempts reaching 7,75,885 students, nearly doubling from 3,13,731 in the previous year. The dual-attempt format is expected to alleviate exam pressure while intensifying competition among candidates.