Short answer
In the Centralized Admission Process (CAP), you register online with the State CET Cell, upload your documents and get them verified, and then appear in a merit list. Before each round you fill an option form of institutes and courses; seats are allotted by merit, and you accept your seat online or at a reporting centre before confirming admission at the institute.
Based on the State CET Cell's Information Brochure for 2026–27 admissions (dated 02.07.2026) and MBA/MMS Admission Notice No. 1 for 2026–27. The 2027–28 documents haven't been published yet — rules and dates can change, so check them when they are.
Who this applies to
Candidates seeking first-year MBA or Master of Management Studies (MMS) admission in Maharashtra through CAP
The rule, explained
Registration: fill and submit the online application form and upload the required documents. While filling the form, choose one document verification mode: E-Scrutiny, where your documents are verified online and you need not visit a centre, or Physical Scrutiny, where you visit the Facilitation Centre you selected with your documents.
Merit lists: a provisional merit list is displayed on the website. If anything in it is wrong, raise a grievance within the grievance period; no documents are accepted after the scheduled dates. The final merit list is then displayed. The merit list shows your relative position but does not guarantee admission.
Option form: before each round, the seat matrix is published. Fill your choices of institutes and courses in decreasing order of preference — up to 300 — and confirm the form through your login. Filling the option form is mandatory to take part in a round, and once confirmed it cannot be changed.
Allotment and acceptance: the provisional allotment for each round is displayed. To accept your seat, report to an Admission Reporting Centre (ARC) or do self-scrutiny of your uploaded documents online, and pay the seat acceptance fee. Only then report to the allotted institute to take admission.
Freezing a seat, betterment in later rounds and cancellation are explained in the question on options after allotment.
What the official document says
The candidate shall choose any one mode for document verification during online form filling.
State Common Entrance Test Cell, Maharashtra · Admission Notice for MBA/MMS for Academic Year 2026–27 (Notice No. 1, 02.07.2026), PDF page 1 (opens the official site)
Display of the Final Merit lists of Maharashtra State/All India Candidates on website. 20-07-2026
State Common Entrance Test Cell, Maharashtra · Admission Notice for MBA/MMS for Academic Year 2026–27 (Notice No. 1, 02.07.2026), PDF page 4 (opens the official site)
Candidates may fill in maximum 300 choices of Institutes and Courses in decreasing order of their preference
State Common Entrance Test Cell, Maharashtra · Information Brochure, Academic Year 2026–27, for admissions to Full Time Professional UG and PG Technical Courses (B.E./B.Tech., MBA/MMS and others) dated 02.07.2026, PDF page 76 (opens the official site)
Only after reporting to ARC or by self scrutiny of the document uploaded in online application system as per clause (i), the candidate should report to the allotted institute for seeking admission on the allotted seat as per final allotment in CAP rounds
State Common Entrance Test Cell, Maharashtra · Information Brochure, Academic Year 2026–27, for admissions to Full Time Professional UG and PG Technical Courses (B.E./B.Tech., MBA/MMS and others) dated 02.07.2026, PDF page 77 (opens the official site)