Maharashtra NEET UG 2026 Merit List: State Merit List PDF, SML Rank, CAP Round 1 Allotment & Cut Off Marks

State Common Entrance Test Cell, Maharashtra published the Maharashtra NEET UG 2026 Merit List on cetcell.mahacet.org, covering 85% State Quota MBBS and BDS seats. Notice this essential rule: Maharashtra state counselling uses your State Merit List (SML) rank, not your All India Rank, to allocate colleges. Mix these two up, and your entire CAP Round 1 strategy goes wrong.

गुणवत्ता यादी (Merit List) आणि नीट यूजी मेरिट लिस्ट यात गोंधळ करू नका — इथे प्रत्येक विद्यार्थ्याला एक वेगळा SML क्रमांक मिळतो, जो त्यांच्या AIR पेक्षा वेगळा असतो.

Maharashtra NEET UG 2026 Merit List — Overview

Two portals, one merit list. cetcell.mahacet.org handles the broader CET Cell process; medical2026.mahacet.org is where the actual PDF and SML lookup live this cycle.

State Merit List (SML) Rank vs All India Rank (AIR) — Why the Difference Matters

Or rather, looking at the CAP Round 1 preference form — every seat listed there gets matched against your SML number, never your AIR. That single fact changes how you should read your own rank.

Maharashtra NEET UG 2026 Merit List — How SML Rank Gets Assigned

Here's how the next counselling steps work: State CET Cell takes your NEET UG score, checks Maharashtra domicile status, applies your category reservation, and recalculates a fresh ranking specific to the 85% State Quota pool. Two students with the same AIR can end up with very different SML numbers once domicile and category adjustments apply.

CAP Round 1 Seat Allotment — Timeline & Choice Filling Rules

If your SML rank's published, check your category quota immediately, then move to choice filling. CAP Round 1 opens a fixed window for locking college and course preferences — miss the deadline, and you drop straight to Round 2 with a thinner seat pool. Choices, once locked past the edit window, cannot be reordered.

How to Download the Maharashtra NEET UG 2026 State Merit List PDF

1. Visit cetcell.mahacet.org or medical2026.mahacet.org.
2. Click "State Merit List — MBBS/BDS 2026."
3. Select Group A (MBBS/BDS) merit list PDF.
4. Open the file and use Ctrl+F to search your application ID or name.
5. Note your SML number and category rank.
6. Download and save the PDF for CAP Round 1 reference.

Server load spikes hard right after release — early morning access tends to work better than peak evening hours.

Category-Wise Cut Off Marks 2026 — 85% State Quota

Quick note: exact category cut-off scores weren't independently confirmed at the time of writing. State CET Cell embeds them within the same merit list PDF rather than a separate cut-off sheet — treat any number from unofficial groups as unverified until cross-checked there.

Caste Validity Certificate (CVC) — Mandatory for SEBC/OBC/SC/ST Candidates

SEBC, OBC, SC, and ST candidates must carry a valid Caste Validity Certificate issued by the competent scrutiny committee — not just a caste certificate. Many aspirants confuse the two, and it's a common rejection reason at document verification. Applications without a valid CVC in these categories risk losing reserved-category benefit entirely during seat confirmation.

Three Things to Know Before CAP Round 1

One: Your SML rank, not your AIR, decides which colleges appear reachable in Maharashtra's counselling system, and confusing the two often leads students to fill wildly unrealistic choice lists.

Two: Caste Validity Certificate requirements apply specifically to SEBC/OBC/SC/ST candidates claiming reservation benefit, and a delay in securing this document before choice locking can cost a seat that would otherwise have been confirmed.

Three: This merit list and its CAP schedule cover Group A (MBBS/BDS) only — Group B disciplines under AYUSH (BAMS/BHMS) follow a separate schedule announced independently by the State CET Cell.

Important Links

Scope note: this article covers Group A (MBBS/BDS) 85% State Quota admissions only; Group B AYUSH (BAMS/BHMS) schedule is notified separately. Source: State Common Entrance Test Cell, Maharashtra official notification, August 2026.