Maharashtra CET 2026: NRI Quota Admissions Drop 92% After Stricter Eligibility Rules

Admissions under the NRI Quota through Maharashtra’s Common Entrance Test (CET) have recorded a steep drop in the 2025-26 academic year. According to data from the Maharashtra CET Cell, admissions dropped by over 92% compared to the previous academic session after the state government tightened eligibility rules. The total number of admission under the NRI quota across 8 major professional courses fell from 454 to just 34 in 2025-26. Officials believe that the drastic change of reduction highlights earlier misuse of the quota system by ineligible applicants.
The sharpest decline was reported in Bachelor of Engineering and BTech programmes. Admissions in this category fell dramatically from 424 students in 2024 to 25 to just 27 in 2025 to 26. Other courses also witnessed a decline. LLB admissions dropped from 20 to 5. Meanwhile MBA/MMS admissions remained minimal, with just one candidate admitted in both years. Interestingly, B.Ed admissions saw a slight change, increasing from zero to one admission.

Why the numbers dropped so sharply

The Maharashtra government revised the eligibility criteria for NRI Quote admissions to curb misuse of the system. Under the updates rules, Only genuine NRIs, their children, or candidates with legally appointed NRI guardians are eligible for admission under this category. Previously students could secure seats through sponsorships from extended relatives. Authorities said this loophole led to widespread irregularities and unfair use of high free quota seats in private institutions.

Policy impact and concerns

The CET Cell stated that the new rules aim to improve transparency and ensure that reserved NRI Seats are allotted to only deserving candidates. However, the sudden drop in admissions has also raised concerns among private institutions about vacant seats and possible revenue losses.