Maharashtra Medical Admissions: Institutional Rounds Abolished

In a significant policy shift, Maharashtra has eliminated institutional rounds for undergraduate medical and dental admissions in private institutions. All seat allotments will now be exclusively handled through the centralized Common Admission Process (CAP) managed by the State Common Entrance Test (CET) Cell. This reform concludes the previous system where private colleges conducted their own rounds for vacant seats, a practice frequently criticized for its lack of transparency and potential for excessive fees.

To combat seat blocking, a new penalty has been implemented. Candidates who are allotted a seat in the final round and subsequently fail to join will be disqualified from undergraduate medical and dental admissions in Maharashtra for the next two academic years. This measure is intended to ensure that seats are filled through the official channels and to discourage colleges from holding back seats for institutional rounds. The existing provision for a 'free exit' after the first CAP round remains, but relinquishing seats after the third round will make candidates ineligible for subsequent rounds.