Can non-Maharashtra Domicile Students Appear for MHT CET Law?
Non-Maharashtra students can apply for MHT CET Law 2026 under the OMS quota. Know eligibility, seat share, cut-off difference, and rules.
Yes, absolutely! Non-Maharashtra domicile students can definitely appear for MHT CET Law 2026 for both 3-year and 5-year LLB programs. The State CET Cell welcomes aspiring candidates from across India to give this examination, with a catch, however, while appearing for the exam, seat allocation and reservation benefits will differ for candidates with a Maharashtra domicile. They will be kept under the "Outside Maharashtra State" (OMS) or "All India" quota, limited in number compared to the state quota. So yes, one can apply for and appear for the examination, but it is advisable to know the entire procedure regarding seat distribution and criteria before fillingout that form!
Eligibility Criteria for Non-Maharashtra Students
Particular educational and documentation requirements are to be fulfilled by Non-Maharashtra students to appear for MHT CET Law 2026. Here is the complete breakdown of what you have to fulfill based on the program you are applying for:
For the 5-Year Integrated LLB Program
Criteria | Requirements for OMS Students | Documents Needed | Important Notes |
Educational Qualification | Passed 12th standard or equivalent from any recognized board in India | 10th and 12th mark sheets and certificates | Any board accepted - CBSE, ICSE, State Boards, NIOS |
Minimum Percentage | 45% aggregate marks in 12th for General category, 40% for SC/ST/OBC | Mark sheets showing percentage clearly | Relaxation only for exam eligibility, NOT during counseling |
Subject Requirement | Any stream - Science, Commerce, or Arts accepted | 12th certificate showing stream | No specific subject combination mandatory |
Age Limit | No upper or lower age limit specified | Date of birth proof (10th certificate preferred) | Can apply at any age after completing 12th |
Nationality | Must be an Indian citizen only | Aadhaar card, PAN card, Passport, or Voter ID | NRI and OCI card holders NOT eligible |
Domicile Status | Must have valid domicile certificate from your home state (not Maharashtra) | Domicile certificate issued by competent authority of home state | Required to prove you're from outside Maharashtra |
Application Fee | ₹1,000 (same as Maharashtra students) | Online payment proof | No fee difference for OMS students |
Category Benefits | Reserved category benefits NOT available during counseling | You compete under General/Open category only | SC/ST/OBC certificates don't give reservation in seat allocation |
For the 3-Year LLB Program
Criteria | Requirements for OMS Students | Documents Needed | Important Notes |
Educational Qualification | Bachelor's degree in any discipline from UGC-recognized university anywhere in India | Graduation degree certificate and all semester/year mark sheets | Any stream acceptable - BA, BCom, BSc, BBA, B.Tech, etc. |
Minimum Percentage | 45% aggregate marks in graduation for General, 40% for SC/ST/OBC | Consolidated mark sheet showing clear percentage | Percentage relaxation only for appearing, not for seat allocation |
University Recognition | Degree must be from UGC-approved university (can be from any state) | University registration number and degree proof | Distance/correspondence degrees also valid if UGC-approved |
Final Year Students | Final year students can apply (results awaited) | Previous semester mark sheets and bonafide certificate | Must submit final marks during counseling |
Age Limit | No upper or lower age limit | Any valid age proof document | No age bar for applying |
Nationality | Must be Indian citizen with valid documents | Aadhaar, Passport, PAN, or Voter ID | Foreign nationals and NRIs not eligible under regular quota |
Domicile Status | Must have domicile certificate from state other than Maharashtra | Domicile certificate from home state | Cannot be Maharashtra domicile holder |
Migration Certificate | Required if changing state/university | Original migration certificate from previous university | Must be submitted during counseling |
Application Fee | ₹1,000 (same as MS students) | Online payment receipt | Fee is uniform regardless of state |
Category Benefits | NO reservation benefits in seat allocation | Will compete as General category regardless of caste | Even EWS benefits don't apply |
Important Points to Remember
Check here are the most crucial things non-Maharashtra students must understand before applying for MHT CET Law 2026:
1. Seat Allocation Reality: The Maharashtra students of government-aided colleges take away 85% of the seats, while the OMS students apply for 15%. In unaided private colleges, OMS students have 35% of the seats. This means if a college has 100 seats, 85 are for competition against Maharashtra students and 15 against other OMS students. Definitely tougher competition.
2. No Reservation Benefits: This is something very serious - even if you belong to SC, ST, OBC, or EWS in your home state, you do NOT receive any reservation benefits during MHT CET Law counseling. Like general category students, all out-of-Maharashtra students compete under the General/Open category, irrespective of their caste or economic status. So your state caste certificate, non-creamy layer certificate, or EWS certificate will not help you in seat allotment.
3. Higher Cut-Off Scores Required: Generally, the OMS students require 10-15 more marks than the students of Maharashtra for admission to the same college. In the case of top government colleges like GLC Mumbai or ILS Pune, a Maharashtra student would be able to secure a seat with 100-105 marks, while an OMS student would require 110-115 marks to secure the same college. And this gap, across all college categories, continues.
4. Fee Structure Considerations: In the case of the government colleges, the difference of fees for both categories was bracketed between ₹5,000 and ₹15,000 as their annual fees; however, it does not have any fee concessions for OMS students as in other reserved categories so, on top of this, accommodation (₹5,000-₹15,000 per month), food, transport, and additional amount of anything from ₹15,000 to ₹25,000 must be considered further in monthly expenses.
5. Document Requirements: Thus, original domicile certificate of the home state, migration certificate from the last institution, transfer certificate, and gap certificate, whenever applicable, and a complete set of educational documents will be required during the counseling stage. Make sure to carry all documents and get them attested, as any mismatch will lead to admission cancellation.
6. College Hostel Availability: Maharashtra domicile students get admission in priority in college hostels. It will be very difficult for an OMS student to get college accommodation because of this. You would be looking at private accommodation such as PG (₹8,000-₹15,000/month) or sharing flats (₹5,000-₹10,000 per person). So, in city pricing, include this additional expense that would fall into your budget planning.
7. Language Considerations: While the exam is in English, some colleges in Maharashtra offer their courses in the Marathi medium only. Therefore, you must check for the medium of instruction before selecting your college preferences during counseling. Besides, the courts here in Maharashtra often converse in Marathi; hence, knowing some basic Marathi will no doubt help you in your practice later on.
8. Strategic College Selection: For an OMS student, the main aim should be targeting private unaided colleges where seat availability is better (35% quota), and competition is less. Keep aside some 3-4 private colleges for safety, even if you score well. Do not put all your eggs in one basket in government colleges, as your chances there are very limited: 15% quota.
9. Counseling Timeline: The counseling takes place in July-August; by this time, you must be prepared to fly to Maharashtra for document verification and college reporting. The seat allotment is carried out in rounds, and you will need to report within 2-3 days of the allotment. Thus, this could create last-minute hassle; prepare travel and accommodation in advance.
10. Special Category Benefits: If you are a J&K migrant, you may get some special quota benefits; keep your migration certificate ready. The children of defense personnel may also get some consideration in some colleges. The NRI quota exists in private colleges, but with a much higher fee structure (₹3-5 lakhs per year).
Non-Maharashtra candidates can appear for MHT CET Law 2026 without any restrictions, but they are at tougher competition, with only 15% of seats in government colleges and no reservation benefits, irrespective of caste or economic status. OMS students need to maximize their scores (normally by 10-15 marks more) and try to emphasize private colleges, as there are better seat options available. If these hurdles seem easy and you can afford some extra living expenses in Maharashtra, the MHT CET Law should provide good opportunities for quality legal education!