Nearly 40k registered for first-ever CET for admission to professional courses BBA, BCA, BMS so far

The registration process, which was scheduled to end on April 11, is now extended. Stating that total of 36,894 candidates have registered for it until now, commissioner of the Maharashtra CET Cell, Mahendra Warbhuvan said, “The number of registration indicates there is awareness among aspirants regarding requirement of CET for admission to these courses in academic year 2024-25. Moreover, the registration window is now extended till April 18.”

According to colleges, however, there is no awareness among aspirants about CET causing serious admission concerns. President of Maharashtra Unaided Educational Institutes Association, Sudhakar Jadhavar said, “These are very popular professional courses among students. Every year, colleges across Maharashtra confirm approximately five lakh admissions in these courses combined. Those who have registered for the CET until now are nowhere close to this which clearly indicates that nobody knows about the change.”

The association, which is opposing the decision to bring these courses under AICTE’s purview, has already moved the Bombay High Court against it. According to the association, these professional UG courses are run by traditional colleges. Most of them will have to shut them down as it is not possible to meet AICTE mandate to obtain approval to run these courses which includes separate infrastructure including manpower. “While the matter is sub judice, this year we are given permission to run the courses as it is. But in Maharashtra, CET is made mandatory for admission to these courses without creating awareness among aspirants. Students do not know of CET, let alone any information on curriculum to study for the test,” said Jadhavar, adding that the registration until now may only be from urban areas.

Jadhavar also said that the decision to bring these courses under AICTE has been contested in some other states too, following similar concerns, and a separate hearing is expected in the Supreme Court in this regard.

CET mandatory for integrated MBA/MCA courses

The CET intended for admission to these UG-level professional courses is now extended to admission to integrated Post Graduate (PG) level courses in Maharashtra.

A notification issued by the Maharashtra CET Cell, states, “Entrance examination for admission to professional courses in BCA/BBA/BMS/BBM through CET Cell for the academic year 2024-25 will be held at the various examination centres within and outside Maharashtra state. This CET is compulsory for candidates desiring to get admission to MBA integrated and MCA integrated courses for academic year 2024-25.

Syllabus and information brochure for MBA Integrated and MCA Integrated will be the same as for BCA/BBA/BMS/BBM CET 2024 examination and it has been made available on the official website of the CET Cell.”

Integrated MBA (Masters of Business Administration) and MCA (Masters of Computer Application) courses are those wherein a candidate takes admission to relevant UG courses and proceeds to master level course in the same institute without having to undergo another cycle of admission.