Mumbai: Following a wave of suspicions over Common Entrance Test (CET) results and centre-specific anomalies, the Maharashtra government has announced that from next academic year, no CET examination centres will be located outside the state.
The move comes after four students from a single centre in Patna, Bihar, scored 100 percentile in the five-year LLB CET this year, sparking concerns over the integrity of the exam process. The development has prompted the state higher and technical education department to initiate an investigation into possible irregularities.
Speaking to reporters on Thursday, Higher and Technical Education Minister Chandrakant Patil said, “It is highly unusual for four top scorers to emerge from one centre. We are taking this seriously and have decided to investigate the matter thoroughly. Going forward, we will restrict all CET examinations to within Maharashtra to prevent such discrepancies.”
This is the second major controversy in recent months related to CET. Earlier this year, Mumbai Police’s crime branch arrested a group involved in manipulating MBA-CET scores. The accused allegedly promised admission to reputed institutes, including Jamnalal Bajaj Institute of Management Studies, for amounts ranging between ₹11 lakh and ₹20 lakh. As part of the scheme, aspirants were advised to select exam centres in Bhandara, Gondia, Yavatmal, and Jalna, where the scam reportedly operated.
Minister Patil added, “The MBA-CET scam earlier this year had already raised red flags. When we noticed the latest pattern in the law entrance test, especially from the Bihar centre, we decided immediate corrective action was needed. CET is the gateway to professional education in Maharashtra, and we are committed to protecting its credibility.”
This year, the five-year LLB CET saw participation from over 27,000 students. The four students who topped—Vishesh Kumar Pathak, Himanshu Jaiswal, Prakhar Jyoti, and Sanskriti Saundarya—appeared from the Bihar centre, which was the only test venue set up outside Maharashtra based on the minimum candidate requirement of 25 applicants.
A senior official from the higher education department clarified, “The Bihar centre had venue officers from Maharashtra deputed to oversee the process. The toppers appeared in two separate sessions, and all exam protocols were reportedly followed. Nonetheless, we are leaving nothing to chance.”
Officials stated that while the move may cause some inconvenience, it is a necessary step to ensure exam transparency and prevent manipulation.
