MHT CET PCB Answer Key 2026 Released for Second Attempt — Objection Window Open Until May 25 at cetcell.mahacet.org
The Maharashtra State Common Entrance Test Cell has released the MHT CET PCB Answer Key 2026 for the Second Attempt examination — covering Physics, Chemistry, and Biology — and candidates who appeared in the MHT CET Second Attempt 2026 for the PCB paper can now download the PCB Answer Key PDF and their individual MHT CET PCB Response Sheet from the official portal cetcell.mahacet.org. The Maharashtra PCB CET Answer Key is the provisional key — and the MHT CET Objection Window for candidates who wish to challenge specific answers is now open, with a firm deadline of May 25, 2026. Candidates who believe any answer in the MHT CET PCB Exam provisional key is incorrect must submit a formal objection with documentary evidence at cetcell.mahacet.org before May 25 — no objections will be accepted after this date. The Maharashtra CET PCB 2026 provisional key, once reviewed by the subject expert committee following the objection period, will be used to generate the final answer key and ultimately the result for the Second Attempt PCB session. All MHT CET Latest Updates on the objection window, final key publication, and result timeline are tracked on this page.
Key Highlights
- MHT CET PCB Answer Key 2026 released — Second Attempt provisional key available at cetcell.mahacet.org
- PCB Answer Key PDF download — access via login with Application Number + Date of Birth
- MHT CET PCB Response Sheet also released simultaneously — compare your recorded answers against the key
- MHT CET Objection Window OPEN — deadline May 25, 2026 — no extensions
- Submit objections at cetcell.mahacet.org — per-question fee + academic reference mandatory
- MHT CET Second Attempt 2026 PCB — Biology stream for NEET-aspirant candidates appearing in MHT CET
- All MHT CET Latest Updates on final key, result date, and NEET-MHT CET combined counselling tracked here
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Why It Matters
The MHT CET PCB Answer Key 2026 for the Second Attempt is the critical document that enables every PCB candidate to calculate their preliminary score — the score that determines percentile, which in turn determines eligibility and competitiveness for Maharashtra's pharmacy, BAMS, BHMS, and allied health science admissions. For candidates who also appeared in NEET UG 2026, the Maharashtra CET PCB 2026 MHT CET score provides an alternative or supplementary credential for state-level health science admissions that do not require NEET scores. The MHT CET Objection Window deadline of May 25 is absolute — Biology, in particular, has historically had a higher frequency of successfully challenged questions in MHT CET compared to Physics and Chemistry, because the NCERT Biology text has specific phrasing that can differ from Maharashtra State Board text on certain conceptual points. Candidates who scored close to the boundary between percentile bands should prioritise a careful, question-by-question review of the MHT CET PCB Response Sheet against the provisional Maharashtra PCB CET Answer Key today. Download both documents at cetcell.mahacet.org now.
What Happened: MHT CET PCB Second Attempt Answer Key 2026 — Full Details
The Maharashtra State CET Cell has officially released the MHT CET PCB Answer Key 2026 for all question sets used in the Second Attempt PCB examination — covering Physics (50 questions), Chemistry (50 questions), and Biology (100 questions) across all shift and variant question papers. The PCB Answer Key PDF is available at cetcell.mahacet.org in the candidates section — candidates must log in with their Application Number and Date of Birth to access both their individual MHT CET PCB Response Sheet (showing exactly which answers were recorded by the system during their examination) and the provisional Maharashtra PCB CET Answer Key for their specific question set variant.
The MHT CET Second Attempt 2026 PCB session was conducted for candidates who registered for the second sitting of the Maharashtra Common Entrance Test — the PCB (Physics, Chemistry, Biology) paper specifically designed for students pursuing health science programmes including Pharmacy (BPharm), Ayurveda (BAMS), Homeopathy (BHMS), Physiotherapy, and other allied health courses. The MHT CET PCB Exam Second Attempt gives candidates who appeared in the First Attempt another opportunity to improve their percentile — the best of the two attempt scores is typically used for final counselling percentile calculation, though candidates should confirm the latest policy at cetcell.mahacet.org.
The MHT CET Objection Window is now open with the May 25 deadline — objections must be submitted through the online portal at cetcell.mahacet.org with a specific academic reference supporting each challenged answer. The subject expert committee reviews all submitted objections after the window closes — accepted corrections are reflected in the final answer key, which is then used for score computation. All MHT CET Latest Updates on the final key publication date and the Second Attempt PCB result timeline will be published on this page.
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Key Details — MHT CET PCB Answer Key 2026 Second Attempt
| Particulars | Details |
|---|---|
| Exam | MHT CET 2026 — PCB Second Attempt (Physics, Chemistry, Biology) |
| Conducting Body | Maharashtra State Common Entrance Test Cell |
| MHT CET PCB Answer Key 2026 Status | RELEASED — Provisional Key Available at cetcell.mahacet.org |
| Official Portal | cetcell.mahacet.org |
| Login Credentials | Application Number + Date of Birth |
| Paper Covered | PCB — Physics (50Q · 100 marks) · Chemistry (50Q · 100 marks) · Biology (100Q · 200 marks) = 400 total |
| Negative Marking | –0.5 marks for each incorrect answer · 0 for unattempted |
| MHT CET Objection Window Deadline | MAY 25, 2026 — Absolute. No Extensions. |
| Objection Requirement | Academic Reference Mandatory (Textbook · Author · Edition · Chapter · Page Number) |
| Objection Fee | Per-question Fee — Non-refundable — Payable at cetcell.mahacet.org |
| Best-of-Attempts Policy | Confirm current policy at cetcell.mahacet.org — higher percentile across attempts typically used for counselling |
| Final Answer Key | Published After Objection Review — Before Result Declaration |
How to Download MHT CET PCB Answer Key 2026 & Calculate Your Score
- Visit cetcell.mahacet.org and navigate to the PCB Second Attempt Answer Key / Response Sheet section
- Log in using your Application Number and Date of Birth — then download both your individual MHT CET PCB Response Sheet (your recorded answers) and the PCB Answer Key PDF for your specific Question Set Code
- Critical step — match your Question Set Code: The MHT CET PCB Exam uses multiple question set variants across shifts. Your Question Set Code is printed on your response sheet header — use the Maharashtra PCB CET Answer Key variant that matches your code exactly. Using the wrong variant gives meaningless results
- Score calculation — MHT CET PCB marking scheme: Physics (50 questions × 2 marks each = 100 max), Chemistry (50 questions × 2 marks each = 100 max), Biology (100 questions × 2 marks each = 200 max), Total = 400 marks maximum. Negative marking: –0.5 marks per incorrect response; 0 for unattempted. Go question by question comparing response sheet against Maharashtra PCB CET Answer Key
- Calculate separate subject totals (Physics, Chemistry, Biology) and the overall PCB total — your percentile is computed from the total PCB score using a normalisation formula across all students and sessions
- Identify any questions where the provisional MHT CET PCB Answer Key 2026 differs from your expected answer — flag these for objection research
- Submit objections at cetcell.mahacet.org before May 25 — with full academic reference for each challenged question
⚠️ May 25 Objection Deadline — No Extensions: The MHT CET Objection Window closes May 25, 2026. This is an absolute deadline at cetcell.mahacet.org. If you believe any answer in the provisional MHT CET PCB Answer Key 2026 is incorrect, submit your objection with academic reference TODAY — not on May 25. Portal traffic on the deadline day creates technical risks for last-minute submissions.
📋 Biology Objection Guide — How to Challenge PCB Answer Key Effectively Before May 25
Biology is the highest-weightage subject in the MHT CET PCB Exam (200 of 400 marks) and historically the subject with the highest rate of successfully challenged provisional answers in Maharashtra CET history. Here is how to approach Biology objections before the May 25 deadline:
Why Biology Questions Are Most Challengeable
The MHT CET PCB Exam Biology questions are drawn from both NCERT Biology (Class 11 and 12) and Maharashtra State Board Biology textbooks. These two sources occasionally have different phrasing, different classification schemes, or subtly different factual claims on the same topic. When a provisional key gives an answer based on one source while a valid answer can be derived from the other, the objection has a meaningful chance of acceptance — provided the candidate cites the specific textbook, edition, chapter, and page.
Most Objectionable Biology Topic Areas in MHT CET
- Plant Kingdom Classification: Classification schemes for algae, fungi, bryophytes, and pteridophytes differ between older and newer NCERT editions; any question where the "correct" answer depends on the classification level being referred to is worth checking against both the current NCERT and Maharashtra State Board text
- Animal Kingdom Classification: Phylum-level characteristics and examples; particularly questions about Porifera, Coelenterata, Platyhelminthes classifications where NCERT and State Board texts may use different nomenclature
- Genetics and Heredity: Specific terminology and definitions in Mendelian genetics and molecular biology — any question where the key shows one term but the question's phrasing implies another valid interpretation
- Ecology: Definitions of ecological terms (niche, habitat, population, community) where different authorities have slightly different definitions; food chain vs food web question types
- Human Physiology: Specific values (blood pH, hormone levels, enzyme activity conditions) that may differ between NCERT and State Board texts — these are straightforward to challenge with specific page citations
How to Submit a Winning Objection
- Identify the question and the provisional key answer that you believe is incorrect
- Find the specific textbook passage that supports your proposed correct answer — use: NCERT Biology Class 11 (latest edition), NCERT Biology Class 12 (latest edition), or Maharashtra State Board Biology text. Note: Textbook · Author(s) · Edition Year · Chapter number and name · Page number where your answer is supported
- Log in to cetcell.mahacet.org, navigate to the MHT CET Objection Window section, select the question, enter your proposed correct answer, enter the academic reference details, pay the per-question fee, and submit
- Save the objection confirmation number — this is your evidence of timely submission before May 25
- Submit all objections by May 23 at the latest — the final two days before the May 25 deadline will see peak portal traffic
What's Next — MHT CET PCB 2026 Timeline After May 25
After the MHT CET Objection Window closes on May 25, the Maharashtra State CET Cell's subject expert committee reviews all submitted objections across Physics, Chemistry, and Biology — accepting those with valid academic references and rejecting unsubstantiated challenges. The final MHT CET PCB Answer Key 2026 incorporating accepted corrections will be published at cetcell.mahacet.org before the result declaration. The Maharashtra CET PCB 2026 Second Attempt result — including subject-wise scores, total PCB score, and percentile — will be declared at cetcell.mahacet.org following final key publication. For candidates who also appeared in the First Attempt, the higher of the two attempt percentiles is used for counselling — confirm the exact policy for 2026 at cetcell.mahacet.org. The Maharashtra pharmacy, BAMS, BHMS, and allied health science CAP counselling process will begin after the combined result from both PCB attempts is declared. All MHT CET Latest Updates on the final key, result date, and counselling schedule will be published on this page.
📌 Expert Analysis
Maharashtra CET preparation experts tracking the MHT CET PCB Exam Second Attempt cycle identify two specific analysis tasks that candidates should complete within the next 24 to 48 hours — before the May 25 MHT CET Objection Window deadline creates time pressure. First: compare the Second Attempt score estimate (from the MHT CET PCB Answer Key 2026) against the First Attempt score — this comparison determines whether the Second Attempt improved the candidate's position and whether a higher percentile is likely. If the Second Attempt score is definitively higher, the candidate can proceed with counselling preparation based on the new estimate; if it is lower, the candidate should use the First Attempt percentile for counselling planning.
Second: the Biology section — 100 questions, 200 marks, –0.5 per incorrect answer — deserves a particularly careful review of the provisional Maharashtra PCB CET Answer Key because it is the section where a single successfully accepted objection produces the largest score impact (2 marks recovered + 0.5 marks of avoided wrong-answer penalty = 2.5 mark swing per question). Candidates who are within 2 to 3 percentile points of a meaningful cutoff — say, the threshold for pharmacy government quota or BAMS state counselling eligibility — should treat the objection process as a potentially outcome-determining activity. Access your PCB Answer Key PDF and MHT CET PCB Response Sheet at cetcell.mahacet.org today. The May 25 deadline waits for no one.
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FAQs
Q1. Where can I download the MHT CET PCB Answer Key 2026 Second Attempt?
The MHT CET PCB Answer Key 2026 for the Second Attempt is available at cetcell.mahacet.org. Log in using your Application Number and Date of Birth, then navigate to the PCB Second Attempt section to download both your individual MHT CET PCB Response Sheet and the PCB Answer Key PDF. Ensure you download the answer key variant matching your Question Set Code — printed on your response sheet header — since multiple question set variants were used across shifts of the MHT CET Second Attempt 2026.
Q2. What is the MHT CET Objection Window deadline for PCB Second Attempt?
The MHT CET Objection Window for the Maharashtra CET PCB 2026 Second Attempt provisional key closes on May 25, 2026 — this is an absolute deadline with no extensions. Candidates who believe the provisional MHT CET PCB Answer Key 2026 contains errors must submit formal objections at cetcell.mahacet.org before May 25, with a specific academic reference (textbook, author, edition, chapter, page number) supporting each challenge. A per-question objection fee is payable and non-refundable. Submit by May 23 to avoid deadline-day portal congestion.
Q3. What is the marking scheme for MHT CET PCB Second Attempt 2026?
The MHT CET PCB Exam Second Attempt 2026 marking scheme: +2 marks for each correct answer across all subjects; –0.5 marks for each incorrect answer; 0 for unattempted questions. Subject totals: Physics 50 questions × 2 marks = 100 maximum; Chemistry 50 questions × 2 marks = 100 maximum; Biology 100 questions × 2 marks = 200 maximum; Total PCB maximum = 400 marks. The negative marking of –0.5 per incorrect answer means careless guessing reduces your score — calculate carefully using the Maharashtra PCB CET Answer Key with this formula applied question by question. Confirm the exact scheme at cetcell.mahacet.org in the official notification.
Q4. If my Second Attempt score is lower than my First Attempt, which score is used?
The Maharashtra State CET Cell's policy for candidates who appeared in both the First Attempt and MHT CET Second Attempt 2026 PCB is to use the higher percentile for counselling — providing a benefit-of-doubt to multi-attempt candidates. However, the exact 2026 policy must be confirmed at cetcell.mahacet.org as MHT CET policies can be updated cycle-to-cycle. Check the official Maharashtra CET PCB 2026 notification at the portal for the confirmed best-of-attempts policy before making counselling decisions based on either attempt's score. All MHT CET Latest Updates on the combined result announcement will be published on this page.
Q5. What programmes use MHT CET PCB scores for admission in Maharashtra?
The MHT CET PCB Exam score and percentile are used for Maharashtra state-level admissions to: BPharm (Bachelor of Pharmacy) at government, government-aided, and private pharmacy colleges; BAMS (Bachelor of Ayurvedic Medicine and Surgery); BHMS (Bachelor of Homeopathic Medicine and Surgery); BPTh (Physiotherapy); BOTh (Occupational Therapy); BASLP (Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology); and other allied health science programmes. MBBS and BDS admissions in Maharashtra use NEET UG scores — not MHT CET PCB scores. Confirm programme-specific admission criteria at the official counselling authority portal alongside cetcell.mahacet.org.
Explore More
Stay with College Nirnay for all MHT CET Latest Updates — including final MHT CET PCB Answer Key 2026 publication after May 25 objection review, Maharashtra CET PCB 2026 Second Attempt result date, and pharmacy/BAMS/BHMS CAP counselling schedule — as your definitive source for MHT CET PCB Exam and MHT CET Second Attempt 2026 coverage.
