Maharashtra lowers BSc Nursing qualifying percentile to zero, extends admission deadline to Nov 15

Maharashtra has relaxed the eligibility criteria for admission to the BSc Nursing course, bringing relief to students seeking a seat. The qualifying percentile has been reduced to zero. Candidates who appeared in the Maharashtra Nursing Common Entrance Test (CET) can now be considered eligible for admission even if they scored a zero percentile.

The decision follows approval from the Indian Nursing Council (INC). The council agreed to relax the qualifying criteria and also extended the admission deadline to November 15, 2026.

The relaxation comes as a large number of BSc Nursing seats are lying vacant across Maharashtra. The state government recently converted eight General Nursing and Midwifery (GNM) colleges into degree-level nursing colleges to increase the number of nursing seats. The intake capacity of five nursing colleges attached to medical colleges was also raised. Together, the two steps added about 1,000 seats to the state's BSc Nursing programme.

However, it is reported that even after the increase in seats began over the past few months, many students were unaware of the new openings. As a result, seats remained vacant in many nursing colleges.

On the deadline, the Medical Education and Drugs Department wrote to the Indian Nursing Council on October 12, 2026, requesting a relaxation of the eligibility criteria and an extension of the admission schedule. The INC considered the request. Citing a Bombay High Court Aurangabad Bench ruling in a writ petition, it approved the relaxation and extended the deadline to November 15.

The council has also made clear that the concession is for one time only and applies only to Maharashtra. Other states or Union Territories cannot use it as a basis for similar extensions. No further extension will be granted beyond the revised deadline.

Students who earlier could not take admission because of the minimum percentile requirement are expected to get another chance. With the qualifying percentile at zero, more candidates who took the CET will be able to compete for the available seats.

The decision should help nursing colleges fill their vacant seats and give those seeking BSc Nursing admission more options. Students have been advised to keep checking the official website of the Maharashtra State CET Cell for the revised admission schedule and further instructions. The final admission deadline is November 15, 2026.