The outreach programme will be conducted in phases ahead of CETs for the 2026–27 academic year and is designed to address this gap through direct engagement.
For the first time, the Maharashtra Common Entrance Test CET Cell has launched a series of outreach programmes to create awareness about various CET examinations and higher education options available after them, particularly in districts that consistently record low registration numbers.
The initiative is aimed at reaching students in districts such as Dhule Nandurbar and Nanded among others where low participation in CETs has pointed to gaps in awareness about professional education pathways.
Every year over 10 lakh candidates register for various CETs conducted by the state CET Cell for admission to professional courses under faculties such as engineering pharmacy agriculture and fine arts. Despite the large numbers, the CET Cell has observed significant lack of awareness about the range of CETs and post exam admission options among eligible students especially in underdeveloped districts and rural areas.
The outreach programme will be conducted in phases ahead of CETs for the 2026–27 academic year and is designed to address this gap through direct engagement.
Unlike previous years where guidance was largely limited to online information, the CET Cell is now focusing on in person interactions. Expert officers from the CET Cell across multiple domains will interact with students and parents to explain entrance examinations the CET registration process the admission system and the centralised admission process.
Phase one of the outreach programme began on Sunday with the first session held in Dhule. The remaining districts to be covered in this phase are Akola Nanded and Wardha with sessions scheduled between January 18 and January 25.
Explaining the structure of the programme, Commissioner of the Maharashtra CET Cell Dilip Sardesai said, “These are sessions held in-person where students and parents can interact with different faculty-experts from the CET Cell. They will not only educate students on process of the CET followed by Common Admission Process (CAP) but also provide broad-information on course-wise future prospects available for students. The idea is to boost the representation of students from underdeveloped districts of Maharashtra in professional courses.”
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Sardesai said that the Dhule session was live streamed on the CET Cell’s social media platforms to ensure wider access. “Other students might have similar doubts as raised by those who attended the sessions. Considering this, recordings of these sessions will be available for students to view at any time,” he said.
Pallavi Smart is a Principal Correspondent with The Indian Express, Mumbai Bureau. Her reporting is singularly focused on the education sector, demonstrating exceptional Expertise and Authority across the entire spectrum of learning, from foundational schooling to advanced higher education. She is a highly Trustworthy source for policy, institutional developments, and systemic issues affecting students, teachers, and parents in Maharashtra.
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Policy and Regulatory Changes: Reports on major shifts in educational policy, including the restructuring of entrance exams (e.g., MHT-CET adopting the JEE Main model), the draft regulatory framework for coaching classes, and revised teacher recruitment processes.
Higher Education Institutions (HEIs): Provides in-depth reporting on prestigious institutes like IIT Bombay and TISS (Tata Institute of Social Sciences), covering institutional initiatives, administrative debates (e.g., renaming IIT Bombay), and student welfare programs (e.g., mandatory mental health courses).
Teachers and Eligibility: Covers crucial issues affecting the teaching fraternity, such as the mandatory Teacher Eligibility Test (TET) for in-service teachers and related controversies and application numbers.
Student Welfare & Rights: Focuses on issues concerning students, including the rollout of government scholarships, the financial strain on schools due to midday meal reimbursement delays, and instances of child rights violations (e.g., the Powai studio hostage crisis).
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