State CETs (engineering, pharmacy, agriculture)

Run by

Each state's entrance authority, for example Maharashtra State CET Cell (MHT-CET), Karnataka Examinations Authority (KCET/UGCET), West Bengal Joint Entrance Examinations Board (WBJEE), JNTU Hyderabad for the Telangana Council of Higher Education (TG EAPCET), the AP State Council of Higher Education (AP EAPCET), and Kerala's Commissioner for Entrance Examinations (KEAM).

Admits you to

B.E./B.Tech, B.Pharm/Pharm.D and, in several states, agriculture, veterinary and allied courses at government, aided and private colleges in that state, mostly for state-quota seats. Medical (MBBS/BDS) state-quota seats go through NEET-UG, not these CETs.

Who can sit

Class 12 (or appearing) with Physics and Chemistry plus Mathematics (engineering) or Biology (pharmacy/agriculture streams), with a minimum aggregate set by each state. Most state-quota seats require state domicile or schooling in the state; some private seats are open to all-India candidates. Rules differ state by state.

Pattern

Varies. MHT-CET (Maharashtra): computer-based, PCM and PCB groups, each 180 minutes, no negative marking; students may take one or both groups, and in 2026 could take two attempts. TG EAPCET (Telangana): computer-based Engineering and Agriculture & Pharmacy streams. KCET, WBJEE, AP EAPCET and KEAM each publish their own pattern.

When

Mostly April–May, after Class 12 board exams, with state counselling (CAP rounds) from June to August.

Limits

Set by each state; most have no attempt limit, and some (like MHT-CET in 2026) allow two attempts in the same year.

Courses it leads to

• B.Tech / B.E.The four-year engineering degree, taught at IITs, NITs, IIITs, state government colleges and a very large number of private colleges.4 years
• B.PharmA four-year professional degree about medicines: how they are discovered, made, tested, stored, regulated and dispensed.4 years
• B.Sc (Hons) Agriculture and allied degreesFour-year professional degrees in the science of producing food and fibre: crops, soils, pests, plant breeding, horticulture, fisheries, forestry,…4 years