MH-SET, CTET Exam Dates Overlap; Aspirants Appeal for Change
Reported by Shoaib Tadvi
Pune, 17th July 2026: Thousands of teaching aspirants across Maharashtra have expressed concern after the Maharashtra State Eligibility Test (MH-SET) was rescheduled to September 6, 2026, the same day as the Central Teacher Eligibility Test (CTET) conducted by CBSE. The date clash has left candidates who had registered for both examinations facing the difficult choice of appearing for only one.
The 41st Maharashtra State Eligibility Test (MH-SET), conducted by the MH-SET Cell at Savitribai Phule Pune University (SPPU) for determining eligibility for Assistant Professor posts in Maharashtra and Goa, was initially scheduled for July 26, 2026. However, the university later announced that the examination would be shifted to September 6. According to SPPU, the decision was taken to avoid a clash with multiple Maharashtra Public Service Commission (MPSC) recruitment examinations scheduled on July 26 and to address logistical challenges arising from the Ashadhi Wari pilgrimage.
While many candidates welcomed the postponement from July, the revised date has now created a fresh problem because it coincides with the CTET examination, an important national-level eligibility test for aspiring school teachers.
Several aspirants say they have spent months preparing for both examinations, as each opens different career opportunities in the education sector. The overlap now means they may have to forgo one examination despite investing considerable time, effort, and money in preparation and registration.
Mohammed Salim M. Shaikh, father of an MH-SET and CTET aspirant, said:
“My daughter has been preparing for both the MH-SET and CTET examinations for several months with dedication and hard work. The sudden rescheduling of the MH-SET to the same date as CTET has put thousands of students in a difficult situation. Aspirants should not be forced to sacrifice one career opportunity because of a scheduling conflict. We sincerely appeal to the Maharashtra SET Cell and SPPU to reconsider the examination date in the interest of students.”
Safiya Shaikh, an MH-SET and CTET aspirant from Pune, said:
“Like many other candidates, I have invested months in preparing for both the MH-SET and CTET examinations. Since both exams are now scheduled on the same day, I am being forced to choose one over the other. This is extremely disappointing, as both examinations are equally important for my career. I request the authorities to revise the MH-SET examination date so that students do not lose a valuable opportunity due to this avoidable clash.”
Candidates are now urging the MH-SET Cell, Savitribai Phule Pune University, and the concerned authorities to review the revised schedule and consider an alternative examination date. They believe such a move would ensure that deserving aspirants are not deprived of either opportunity due to a scheduling conflict.
The MH-SET Cell has already indicated that September 6 was announced as the proposed examination date and that the final examination schedule would be notified separately after reviewing any academic or administrative issues. Aspirants are hoping their concerns regarding the clash with CTET will be taken into consideration before the final schedule is confirmed.
