The Maharashtra Directorate of Technical Education (DTE) has released the provisional list of vacant seats for CAP (Central Admission Process) Round 4. According to the list, almost 50% seats are available for allocation in the subsequent round. Out of approximately 1.5 lakh seats throughout Maharashtra, over 60,000 seats are yet to be filled in Round 4.

D.S. Meshram, Joint Director, DTE, said, “Every year we see about 35% seats go vacant in Maharashtra. This year, though we are hoping to fill up more seats, at least 40,000 seats can be expected to remain vacant.” This, he says, is owing to the lack of demand for certain courses or colleges. “Some colleges in remote areas are less desirable by students and hence, they always see a surplus in seats. Students usually do not fill in these colleges in their option forms,” he added.

Candidates have time until July 28, 5pm, to refill the fresh option form. This time, students who haven’t appeared for MHT-CET, but have given JEE Mains, will also be eligible for allotment through their JEE Mains score. A week ago, JEE students received an SMS informing them that their allocation in the first three rounds of CAP have been cancelled as they had not appeared for MHT-CET. Read here. These candidates will now be allotted seats based on the choices filled in the fresh option form, irrespective of whether they have given the MHT-CET or not, confirmed Meshram.

The purpose of asking candidates to refill their option forms is to factor in any betterment in candidate’s HSC scores after re-evaluation. The re-evaluation scores were released after Round 2 of the allocation process was complete. In the earlier option form, students filled their choices based on their old scores.

Further, the DTE is also considering organising a special round after Round 4 allocations. This special round will only allocate seats vacant in government colleges and aided courses. Private colleges have been given the freedom to conduct individual allocation of vacant seats after Round 4.