Extra Time for Aspirants: Maharashtra Extends LLB Option Form Deadline to August 9

MUMBAI — Law aspirants across Maharashtra received significant relief on Friday as the State Common Entrance Test (CET) Cell officially extended the deadline for filling and locking web option forms for both the three-year and five-year integrated LLB courses to August 9, 2026. The extension applies to the Centralised Admission Process (CAP) Round 1, giving candidates additional time to finalize their college choices on the official portals (llb3cap26.mahacet.org and llb5cap26.mahacet.org). According to state educational authorities, the timeline modification was enacted to accommodate newly approved law institutions and expand choices for qualifying students.

Background and Inclusion of New Law Colleges

The deadline revision follows widespread concerns raised by students and academic institutions regarding limited college options during the initial rollout of the CAP round. According to official administrative releases, subsequent approvals issued by regulatory bodies—including the Bar Council of India (BCI)—prompted the addition of 78 extra law colleges into the state counselling stream.

For the three-year LLB program, approved institutions expanded from 93 to 134, introducing 2,250 additional seats to bring total capacity to 12,355. Simultaneously, the five-year integrated LLB program grew from 56 to 93 approved colleges, incorporating 1,350 new seats for a revised total of 7,305 seats. Prominent institutions, such as Nagpur University's century-old Dr. Ambedkar School of Law, successfully secured late BCI clearances and integrated into the portal listings.

Revised Allotment Schedules and Reporting Timelines

With the option form window now stretching until the August 9 deadline, subsequent milestones in the admission calendar have been recalibrated. State authorities confirmed that the Round 1 seat allocation results for the three-year LLB program will be published on August 12, 2026, while the five-year integrated LLB allotment list will follow on August 13, 2026.

Accepted candidates for the three-year course must report to their assigned campuses for document verification and admission confirmation between August 13 and August 18, excluding August 15 in observance of Independence Day. Five-year LLB candidates have a designated reporting window from August 14 to August 19, also bypassing the national holiday. Applicants failing to lock their option preferences prior to the August 9 cutoff risk exclusion from the initial round of seat allocations.

Quote Section

"The last date to fill and lock their college preferences has been extended till August 9, 2026... Candidates are advised to regularly visit the CAP portal for newly added colleges and fill the option form for subsequent rounds."

— According to official notifications released by the State CET Cell, Maharashtra.

Why It Matters

The deadline extension ensures equitable access for thousands of law aspirants who faced uncertainty due to pending regulatory approvals. By integrating thousands of fresh seats across dozens of newly cleared institutions, the revised process protects student merit while optimizing seat distribution across Maharashtra's legal education network.

Key Facts at a Glance

• Revised Option Form Deadline: Extended to August 9, 2026.

• Expanded Capacity: Addition of 78 new law colleges and 3,600 total seats across streams.

• Round 1 Allotment Dates: August 12 (3-year LLB) and August 13 (5-year LLB).

• Reporting Window: August 13–18 for 3-year courses and August 14–19 for 5-year courses (excluding August 15).

FAQ Section

Who is eligible to fill out the option form before the August 9 deadline?

Only candidates whose names appear in the final merit lists for the respective three-year and five-year LLB programs are permitted to fill out and lock their college option forms.

Can I modify my college preferences after adding newly approved institutions?

Yes. The State CET Cell has enabled candidates to log into their CAP portal accounts to update and re-lock their college option forms to include newly added institutions.

When will the Round 1 seat allotment results be announced?

The Round 1 seat allotment results will be declared on August 12, 2026, for the three-year LLB course, and on August 13, 2026, for the five-year integrated LLB course.

Are admissions open on Independence Day?

No. Document verification and physical reporting at allotted colleges are suspended on August 15 in observance of Independence Day.

Source: State CET Cell Maharashtra, Maharashtra 3-Year LLB CAP, Maharashtra 5-Year LLB CAP, The Times of India