Maharashtra NEET UG 2026 – Round 2 Private University Update: Extended Deadlines, Seat Matrix & Strategic College Selection

The State Common Entrance Test Cell, Maharashtra, has released an important update for the NEET UG 2026 Round 2 counselling process for MBBS and BDS courses. In this latest revision, three new private universities have been added to the Round 2 counselling seat matrix, increasing the number of available options for medical aspirants across the state. This change is especially useful for students who are aiming for better opportunities in private medical colleges with improved infrastructure and facilities. It also helps candidates who were not allotted seats in Round 1 or those who are planning to upgrade their current choices.

To accommodate these new additions, the CET Cell has extended the Round 2 choice filling deadline until 12 September 2026, 10:00 AM. This extension gives students extra time to carefully review the newly added universities and make necessary changes in their preference list. Candidates are advised to check all updated information, reorder their choices if required, and complete the submission before the portal closes. This update directly impacts admission planning, so timely and careful action is very important for securing a better medical seat.

Overview

Every academic year, medical admissions in Maharashtra are conducted under the Maharashtra State CET Cell through a centralized single-window counselling system. Government medical colleges and established private institutes affiliated with MUHS form the main seat matrix, while self-financed colleges and private universities also add significant seats after approval from NMC and DCI.

For the 2026–27 session, the addition of three new private universities in Round 2 has created fresh opportunities for aspirants. Students who were previously close to the cutoff now have a wider range of MBBS and BDS seats to consider and aim for. This update improves competition, increases opportunities, and helps students plan better choices during counselling for admission process in the current academic year across Maharashtra state effectively and efficiently overall now.

Key Highlights

To help you navigate the timeline at a glance without missing any critical deadlines, here is a structured summary of the revised Round 2 counselling parameters:

Detailed Analysis: What Does This Inclusion Mean for Aspirants?

The addition of new universities midway through Round 2 alters the competitive dynamics of Maharashtra medical counselling in three primary ways:

A. Cutoff Shift and Increased Probability

When new seats are added in Round 2, the counselling system adjusts cutoffs in similar private colleges. This usually lowers the cutoff slightly, giving more students a better chance. Candidates who missed admission in Round 1 by around 5–15 marks now have a significantly improved probability of getting an MBBS or BDS seat in the newly added private universities. This makes Round 2 more competitive but also more opportunity-filled for borderline candidates.

B. Strategic Re-ordering of Options

If you already submitted your preference list before Notice No. 15, it will not automatically include the newly added colleges. Students must manually unlock or edit their choices, review the order carefully, insert the new private university codes at suitable positions, and then re-lock the form before 10:00 AM on 12 September 2026 to ensure they are considered in Round 2 allotment for better admission chances now.

C. Financial & Fee Structure Consideration

Private Universities operate under different fee rules compared to standard MUHS-affiliated private colleges. While many state private colleges offer partial fee concessions for reserved categories such as EWS, OBC, VJ/NT under government schemes, private universities generally follow uniform fee structures for open and institutional seats. Aspirants should carefully check and compare fee details of each university before placing them in top preference order during counselling process.

Step-by-Step Guide: How to Update Your Preference Form

Follow these simple steps to ensure your choice filling is completed accurately:

Access the Official Portal: Navigate to medical2026.mahacet.org and log in using your NEET Application Number, Password, and Security PIN.

Review Seat Matrix: Open the official PU.pdf file to check college codes, seat distribution between State Quota and Institutional/NRI Quota, and location details for the three private universities.

Unlock Preference Form: Click on the Fill/Edit Preference Form option. If your form was previously locked, use the unlock feature provided by CET Cell for this extended window.

Insert College Codes: Place the newly added university codes in correct order based on your NEET score, budget preference, and distance or location preference.

Verify Order: Ensure you do not rank expensive or unsuitable options higher than your preferred government or established private colleges.

Lock and Print: Once verified click Lock Preferences. Download and save the system generated acknowledgement slip with final timestamp for your records.

Candidates should complete all steps carefully before deadline to avoid mistakes. Keep checking official portal for updates regarding allotment and admission schedule. This ensures smooth counselling process and increases chances of securing better medical seat options in Round 2 admission process overall for students now only.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Conclusion

The inclusion of three new private universities in Round 2 of Maharashtra NEET UG 2026 counselling is a positive step that increases the total number of MBBS and BDS seats and creates better opportunities for medical aspirants. It especially benefits students who were previously close to the cutoff, as they now have more options to secure admission.

However, candidates must act without delay. The choice filling window has been extended only until 12 September 2026 at 10:00 AM, so careful and quick decision-making is very important. Students should review all new options properly, update their preferences if needed, and lock their final choices before the deadline. This timely action can make a big difference in securing a better medical seat and improving admission chances in the ongoing counselling process.