MH CET Law Eligibility,Exam Pattern and Selection

MH CET Law 2026

The Maharashtra Common Entrance Test for Law, popularly known as MH CET Law, is a state-level entrance exam conducted by the Maharashtra State CET Cell for admission into 3-year and 5-year LLB courses in law colleges across Maharashtra.

Courses Offered

  • 3-Year LLB
  • 5-Year Integrated LLB
  • BBA-LL. B., BLS-LL.B., B.A.-LL.B. etc.)

The following institutes are covered under the admission process for the LL.B. 5-Year Integrated Course through MH CET Law:

  1. Government colleges offering LL.B. 5-Year Integrated Course.
  2. Government-aided colleges (including aided minority institutions) offering LL.B. 5-Year Integrated Course.
  3. University departments offering LL.B. 5-Year Integrated Course.
  4. University-managed institutes offering LL.B. 5-Year Integrated Course.
  5. Unaided colleges (including minority institutions) offering LL.B. 5-Year Integrated Course covered under

Application form Opening Timeline

Application form opens in the first week of January and continues for a whole month, the first week of February

MH CET Law Exam Dates

CourseExam Date
3-Year LLBFirst week of April
5-Year LLBFirst week of -May-

Eligibility Criteria

Educational Qualification

Candidates must have passed Senior Secondary School (10+2) or equivalent examination from a recognized board or institution in India or abroad.

Eligible qualifications include:

  • 10+2 / HSC
  • 11+1 pattern
  • A-Level Senior Secondary qualification
  • Equivalent foreign qualification recognized by the respective government

Minimum Marks Required

CategoryMinimum Aggregate Marks
OPEN / SEBC / EWS / OMS (Outside Maharashtra)45%
SC/ST (Maharashtra State candidates)40%
VJNT / SBC / OBC (Maharashtra State candidates)42%

Distance/Open School Eligibility

  • Candidates who completed 10+2 through distance learning, correspondence, or open schooling are eligible.
  • Candidates who completed graduation through distance/correspondence mode are also eligible.

Important Condition

Candidates who passed 10+2 directly through an Open University system without basic qualification are not eligible.

Basic Qualification Requirement

For admission to the 5-Year LL.B. course:

  • Candidates must first pass Class 10 (SSC)
  • Followed by Class 12 (HSC/10+2)

Engineering Diploma Candidates

Candidates with a 3-Year Engineering Diploma in any faculty are also eligible for the LL.B. 5-Year course.

However, they must produce an equivalence certificate from the concerned Technical Board.

Appearing Candidates

Students appearing in the qualifying examination of the current academic year can also apply for MH CET Law.

At the time of admission, such candidates must submit:

  • Provisional certificate / passing certificate
  • Mark sheets of all attempts/parts of qualifying examination

Important Eligibility Clarifications for MH CET Law LL.B. 5-Year CET

As per the Government of Maharashtra Gazette Notification dated 08 October 2020, the following rules apply for LL.B. 5-Year CET admissions:

Eligible Candidates

Candidates who completed Class 10 and Class 12 through:

  • Regular schooling
  • Distance learning
  • Open schooling
  • Open mode
  • Form No. 17
  • National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS)

are eligible for LL.B. 5-Year CET, provided they follow the required education pattern.

Mandatory Education Pattern

Candidates must complete education in the following sequence:

Required Pattern

10th (SSC) → 12th (HSC)

There must be a minimum gap of two years between SSC and HSC.

Example

If a candidate passed SSC in March 2013, then HSC should not be passed before March 2015.

Open Schooling Candidates

Candidates who completed:

  • 10th
  • 12th

through Open/Distance mode are eligible only if they satisfy:

  • Proper 10+2 educational sequence
  • Minimum two-year gap condition

Candidates Not Eligible

The following candidates are not eligible for LL.B. 5-Year admission:

1. Non-Sequential Qualification

Candidates who passed:
12th before 10th

are not eligible.

2. No Basic Schooling

Candidates who completed X and XII through open/distance mode without studying from Classes 1 to 9 are not eligible.

3. Incorrect Information

Candidates submitting wrong or misleading information in the CET application form may face:

  • Admission cancellation
  • Penalty during verification process

Key Rule Summary

ConditionEligibility
10th followed by 12thEligible
Minimum 2-year gap between SSC & HSCMandatory
Open schooling candidatesEligible with valid sequence
12th passed before 10thNot Eligible
No schooling from Classes 1–9Not Eligible

Important Rules Regarding Aggregate Marks for MH CET Law

Meaning of Aggregate Marks

Aggregate marks mean the total marks obtained by the candidate in the qualifying examination on the basis of which the certificate, diploma, or degree is awarded by the Board or University.

If the board calculates results using the “Best of Five” subjects, candidates can enter those marks while filling the application form.

Rules for CBSE, ICSE, IGCSE, IB and Grade-Based Boards

Candidates awarded:

  • Grades
  • GP
  • CGPA

instead of marks must convert their grades into percentage using the official formula provided by their Board/Institution.

This applies to boards such as:

  • Central Board of Secondary Education
  • Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations
  • IGCSE
  • IB Boards

Documents Required for Grade Conversion

Candidates must provide:

  • Official grade-to-percentage conversion formula
  • Equivalent marks statement certified by:
    • Board
    • School
    • College
    • Or self-certified by the candidate

These documents must be uploaded during the CAP admission process.

Failure to upload the conversion proof may result in rejection during admission verification.

Rounding-Off Rule for Percentage

The percentage will be calculated up to two decimal places.

Important:

Minimum qualifying marks cannot be rounded up.

Examples

CategoryRequired MarksInvalid Rounded Marks
OPEN / EWS / SEBC / OMS45%44.50%–44.99% cannot become 45%
OBC / SBC / VJNT / NT Categories42%41.50%–41.99% cannot become 42%
SC / ST40%39.50%–39.99% cannot become 40%

Bombay High Court Decision

The rounding-off rule has been upheld by the Hon’ble Bombay High Court in WP No. 2719 of 2019 and 2720 of 2019 dated 16 November 2019.

Important Note for NRI / OCI / PIO / Foreign Candidates

Candidates belonging to:

  • NRI
  • OCI
  • PIO
  • Foreign National Students (FNS)
  • CIWGC (Children of Indian Workers in Gulf Countries)

are not required to appear for MH CET Law CET examination if they meet the academic eligibility criteria.

Candidature Types for MH CET Law LL.B. 5-Year Course

Candidates applying for the LL.B. 5-Year Integrated Course must satisfy both:

  • Eligibility criteria
  • Applicable candidature type rules

1. Maharashtra State Candidature Types

Type-A

Candidates are eligible under Type-A if:

  • They passed SSC and HSC (or equivalent) from a recognized institution in Maharashtra or outside Maharashtra, and
  • They are either:
    • Domiciled in Maharashtra, or
    • Born in Maharashtra

Type-B

Candidates qualify under Type-B if:

  • They satisfy the educational condition of Type-A, but
  • Are not born/domiciled in Maharashtra,
  • However, either father or mother possesses Maharashtra domicile certificate.

Type-C

Candidates qualify under Type-C if:

  • They satisfy the educational requirement of Type-A, but
  • Do not satisfy Type-A or Type-B domicile conditions,
  • And either parent is an employee of:
    • Government of India, or
    • Government of India undertaking,
  • Posted and joined duty in Maharashtra before the CAP application deadline.

Type-D

Candidates qualify under Type-D if:

  • They satisfy the educational requirement of Type-A,
  • But do not satisfy Type-A, B, or C,
  • And either parent is:
    • Employee or retired employee of Government of Maharashtra, or
    • Maharashtra Government undertaking.

Type-E

Candidates qualify under Type-E if:

  • They passed SSC/HSC from:
    • Maharashtra, or
    • Disputed Maharashtra-Karnataka border area,
  • They reside in the disputed border area,
  • And their mother tongue is Marathi.

2. All India Candidature (OMS – Outside Maharashtra State)

Indian national candidates who:

  • Belong to another state,
  • Possess domicile certificate or birth certificate from another state,

are treated as OMS (Outside Maharashtra State) candidates.

OMS candidates must apply under the Open Category.

OMS Candidates Include

Category 1

Candidates who:

  • Completed SSC/HSC outside Maharashtra,
  • Were born outside Maharashtra,
  • And possess birth/domicile certificate from another state.

Category 2

Candidates who:

  • Completed SSC/HSC in Maharashtra,
  • But are not born in Maharashtra,
  • And do not possess Maharashtra domicile/birth certificate.

3. Minority Candidature

Maharashtra domicile candidates belonging to:

  • Linguistic minority communities, or
  • Religious minority communities

recognized by Maharashtra Government can apply under Minority Candidature.

Conditions for Minority Candidates

Candidates must:

  • Complete SSC & HSC from Maharashtra,
  • Possess Maharashtra domicile certificate.

OMS candidates cannot claim Minority quota.

4. NRI Candidature

Candidates qualifying as NRI under the Maharashtra Act are eligible under NRI category.

Important

  • NRI candidates are exempted from MH CET Law CET.
  • They can directly register for CAP after CET results.

NRI candidates must register as Foreign Candidates on the official CET portal.

5. Foreign Student / OCI / PIO Candidature

The following candidates are eligible under this category:

  • Foreign Nationals
  • OCI (Overseas Citizen of India)
  • PIO (Person of Indian Origin)

Important for OCI/PIO/Foreign Candidates

  • They are exempted from CET examination.
  • They can directly apply for CAP after CET results.
  • Registration must be completed through the Foreign Candidate portal.

Jammu & Kashmir Migrant Candidature

The following candidates are eligible under Jammu & Kashmir Migrant category:

Eligible Candidates

(a) Displaced Families

Children of citizens displaced from:

  • Jammu & Kashmir to any part of India, or
  • Unsafe border areas to safer places within Jammu & Kashmir

due to terrorist activities since 1990.

(b) Children of Government Officers

Children of:

  • IAS officers
  • IPS officers
  • IFS officers
  • Military personnel
  • Paramilitary force staff

who were transferred to Jammu & Kashmir to combat terrorism and joined duty before the last date of application.

(c) Children of J&K Police Personnel

Children of officers and staff of Jammu & Kashmir Police engaged in anti-terror operations.

Validity Certificate & Non-Creamy Layer Rules

Candidates belonging to Maharashtra reserved categories must submit proper certificates during CAP process.

Required Certificates

CategoryRequired Documents
SC/STCaste Certificate + Caste/Tribe Validity Certificate
DT/VJ, NT, OBC, SEBC, SBCCaste Certificate + Validity Certificate + Non-Creamy Layer Certificate
EWSEWS Eligibility Certificate

Important Conditions

  • Non-Creamy Layer Certificate must be valid up to 31 March 2026.
  • Certificates must be uploaded during CAP application process.
  • Reserved category candidates from other states must apply under Open Category.

Important Warning

Candidates should apply under reserved category only if they possess:

  • Valid caste certificate
  • Validity certificate
  • Non-creamy layer certificate (if applicable)

Otherwise, they should apply under Open Category.

Age Criteria for LL.B. 5-Year CET

Currently, there is no upper age limit for admission to MH CET Law 5-Year LL.B. course.

However, the matter is pending before:

  • Hon’ble Supreme Court of India
  • Bombay High Court

Admissions will be subject to final court decisions.

Proposed Age Limit (If Implemented)

CategoryMaximum Age
Open / EWS20 years
SC/ST (Maharashtra candidates)22 years

Age will be calculated as on 1 July

MAH LL.B. 5-Year CET Exam Mode

The MH CET Law examination will be conducted:

  • In Online Mode only
  • In multiple sessions if required
  • At selected centres in Maharashtra and other states

Important Exam Instructions

  • Candidates must appear only in the allotted session and centre.
  • No request for:
    • Centre change
    • Venue change
    • Session change

will be accepted.

MH CET Law 5-Year LL.B. CET Application Fees

The application fee once paid is:

  • Non-refundable
  • Non-transferable

under any circumstances.

CET Fee Structure

CategoryApplication Fee
Open Category candidates from Maharashtra State₹ 1,000
OMS (Outside Maharashtra State) / All India candidates₹ 1,000
J&K Migrant candidates₹ 1,000
SC / ST / VJ-DT / NT-A / NT-B / NT-C / NT-D / SEBC / EWS / OBC / SBC candidates from Maharashtra State₹ 800
Orphan candidates from Maharashtra State₹ 800
Transgender candidates from Maharashtra State₹ 800
PwD candidates from Maharashtra State₹ 800

Important Note for Reserved Category Candidates

Candidates claiming reservation benefits under Maharashtra categories must possess:

  • Valid caste certificate
  • Valid caste validity certificate
  • Valid non-creamy layer certificate (where applicable)

The Non-Creamy Layer Certificate must remain valid up to 31 March 2026.

Without valid documents, candidates must apply under Open Category.

How to Apply for MH CET Law 5-Year LL.B. CET

Candidates can apply online for the MAH LL.B. 5-Year CET by following the steps below.

Step 1: Visit Official Website

Go to the official CET Cell portal:

Maharashtra CET Cell Official Website

Click on “APPLY ONLINE”.

Step 2: New Registration

  • Click on “Click here for New Registration”
  • Enter:
    • Name
    • Mobile Number
    • Email ID

After registration:

  • A Provisional Registration Number
  • Password

will be generated and sent through SMS and email.

Step 3: Fill Application Form

  • Enter personal details
  • Educational qualifications
  • Category and candidature details
  • Communication information

Use “SAVE & NEXT” option to save progress.

Step 4: Verify Details Carefully

Before final submission:

  • Check spelling of name
  • Verify SSC/HSC details
  • Confirm category information

No changes will be allowed after clicking FINAL SUBMIT.

Step 5: Upload Photograph & Signature

Photograph Specifications

RequirementDetails
TypeRecent passport-size color photo
BackgroundWhite/light colored
File Size20KB–50KB
FormatJPG/JPEG
Preferred Dimensions200 × 230 pixels

Signature Specifications

RequirementDetails
InkBlack ink on white paper
File Size10KB–20KB
FormatJPG/JPEG
Preferred Dimensions140 × 60 pixels

Important Instructions

  • Signature in CAPITAL letters is not accepted.
  • Candidate’s face must be clearly visible.
  • Wrong photo/signature upload may lead to rejection.

Step 6: Preview Application Form

Click Preview Tab and carefully verify:

  • Uploaded photograph
  • Signature
  • Personal information
  • Educational details

Then click FINAL SUBMIT ONLY.

Step 7: Pay Application Fee

Payment can be made using:

  • Debit Card
  • Credit Card
  • Internet Banking
  • UPI/IMPS
  • Mobile Wallets

Important

Do not refresh or press back during payment processing.

Step 8: Download Receipt & Application Form

After successful payment:

  • Download e-Receipt
  • Download submitted application form

Keep:

  • Application form
  • Fee receipt
  • Hall ticket

safe for admission process.

Hall Ticket Download Process

Candidates can download hall ticket from:

MH CET Hall Ticket Portal

using:

  • Registration Number
  • Password/Date of Birth

Documents Required at Exam Centre

Carry:

  1. Hall Ticket with photograph pasted
  2. Original Photo ID proof

Examples:

  • Aadhaar Card
  • PAN Card
  • Passport
  • Driving License
  • Voter ID

Important Instructions

  • Use same photograph on hall ticket as uploaded in application form.
  • Candidates with unclear photo/signature may not be allowed to appear.
  • Preserve hard and soft copies of:
    • Application form
    • Fee receipt
    • Hall ticket

These documents are mandatory during CAP admission process.

Quick Checklist Before Final Submission

✅ Correct Name & DOB
✅ Valid Mobile Number & Email
✅ Proper Category Selection
✅ Correct Photo & Signature Upload
✅ Successful Fee Payment

Important Updates for 2026

  • Registration deadlines were extended for both 3-year and 5-year LLB courses.
  • APAAR ID became mandatory for some registrations.
  • Answer key for 3-year LLB was released in May 2026.

MH CET Law 5-Year LL.B. CET 2025 Syllabus & Marking Scheme

The MAH LL.B. 5-Year CET 2025 examination will consist of one online paper divided into five sections.

Exam Pattern

Sr. No.SectionNo. of QuestionsMarks per QuestionTotal Marks
1Legal Aptitude & Legal Reasoning40140
2General Knowledge & Current Affairs30130
3Logical & Analytical Reasoning40140
4English30130
5Mathematical Aptitude10110
 Total1501 Mark Each150 Marks

Detailed Syllabus of MH CET Law 5-Year LL.B. CET

The MAH LL.B. 5-Year CET is conducted in online mode and tests candidates on legal aptitude, reasoning, general awareness, English, and mathematics.

Section-wise Syllabus

1. Legal Aptitude & Legal Reasoning

This section evaluates:

  • Interest in studying law
  • Legal aptitude
  • Problem-solving skills

Questions are based on:

  • Legal propositions
  • Principles of law
  • Facts and situations
  • Logical conclusions

Candidates must assume the legal propositions provided in questions are true and answer accordingly.

Topics Covered

  • Legal principles
  • Constitutional concepts
  • Rights & duties
  • Legal GK
  • Legal problem solving
  • Law-based reasoning

2. General Knowledge & Current Affairs

This section checks awareness of:

  • National events
  • International events
  • Recent developments

Topics Covered

  • Ancient History
  • Medieval History
  • Modern History
  • Geography
  • General Science
  • Economics
  • Civics
  • Current Affairs of past one year

3. Logical & Analytical Reasoning

This section tests:

  • Logical thinking
  • Analytical ability
  • Pattern recognition
  • Decision-making skills

Topics Covered

  • Analogies
  • Completing arguments
  • Logical conclusions
  • Relationships
  • Deductive reasoning
  • Principles & rules
  • Structure-based reasoning
  • Statements & assumptions

4. English

This section tests language proficiency and comprehension skills.

Topics Covered

Vocabulary

  • Synonyms
  • Antonyms
  • Analogies

Proficiency

  • Idioms & phrases
  • One-word substitution
  • Sentence improvement
  • Sentence rearrangement
  • Fill in the blanks

English Usage Errors

  • Common grammar errors
  • Spotting errors
  • Wrong word usage
  • Spelling mistakes

Reading Comprehension

  • Passage-based questions
  • Understanding meaning and tone

5. Mathematical Aptitude

This section tests numerical ability based on Class 10 level mathematics.

Topics Covered

  • Profit & Loss
  • Speed & Distance
  • Time & Work
  • Algebra
  • Average
  • Venn Diagram

Example formula:

Exam Pattern

SectionQuestionsMarks
GK & Current Affairs3030
Logical & Analytical Reasoning4040
English3030
Mathematical Aptitude1010
Total150150
Legal Aptitude & Legal Reasoning4040

Important Exam Features

FeatureDetails
Exam ModeOnline
Question TypeMCQs
Total Questions150
Total Marks150
Negative MarkingNo
Duration2 Hours (120 Minutes)
LanguagesEnglish & Marathi

Mock Test Facility

A mock test link will be provided to help candidates practice for the online CET examination.

Scribe

Guidelines for Persons with Disabilities (PwD) Using a Scribe in MH CET Law

Candidates with disabilities who require writing assistance during the MAH LL.B. 5-Year CET can use a scribe facility subject to the following rules and conditions.

General Rules for Using a Scribe

Who Can Use a Scribe?

The following candidates may use a scribe:

  • Visually impaired candidates
  • Candidates whose writing speed is permanently affected due to disability

Important Conditions

Candidate Must Arrange Own Scribe

  • The candidate must arrange the scribe personally.
  • All expenses related to the scribe must be borne by the candidate.

Scribe Cannot Be a Candidate of Same Exam

The scribe:

  • Must not be appearing for the same examination.

If this rule is violated:

  • Both candidate and scribe candidature will be cancelled.

One Scribe for One Candidate Only

A person acting as a scribe:

  • Cannot assist more than one candidate.

Academic Qualification of Scribe

  • The scribe can belong to any academic discipline.

Undertaking Requirement

Both:

  • Candidate
  • Scribe

must submit an undertaking confirming that:

  • Eligibility conditions are fulfilled
  • No false information has been provided

Providing false information may lead to cancellation of candidature.

Compensatory Time

Candidates using a scribe are entitled to extra time.

Extra Time Allowed

Candidates will receive:

For a 2-hour exam, eligible candidates generally receive:

  • 40 minutes additional time

Important Note

Candidates must select the compensatory time option while filling the online application form.

Requests made later may not be accepted.

Important Instructions for Scribes

  • The scribe must only write what the candidate dictates.
  • The scribe cannot answer questions independently.
  • Any unfair assistance may result in disqualification

Top Colleges Accepting MH CET Law Scores

Some popular law colleges accepting MH CET Law scores include:

  • Government Law College
  • ILS Law College
  • SVKM’s Pravin Gandhi College of Law
  • Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar College of Law
  • Rizvi Law College

Preparation Tips

  • Focus heavily on Legal Reasoning and Current Affairs.
  • Practice mock tests regularly.
  • Improve reading speed and English comprehension.
  • Revise static GK and legal terms daily.
  • Solve previous year question papers.

Students on Reddit mentioned that official mock tests were close to the real exam level.

FAQs

Is MH CET Law difficult?

The exam is considered moderate in difficulty compared to CLAT.

Is there negative marking?

No, there is no negative marking.

Which is better: CLAT or MH CET Law?

CLAT is accepted nationally, while MH CET Law is mainly for Maharashtra colleges. you have to decide your goal NLU or Good college in Maharashtra

Can students from other states apply?

Yes, candidates from all states can apply.

What is a good score in MH CET Law?

A score above 100 is generally considered competitive for top colleges.

When does counselling start?

The counselling starts generally in June after the result is out

.

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