Maharashtra Sees Sharp Rise in Direct Second Year Engineering, Pharmacy Admissions

Direct second year admissions in engineering and pharmacy see record demand in Maharashtra.

Maharashtra is witnessing a notable surge in direct second year admissions for engineering and pharmacy degree programmes, as growing numbers of students opt to bypass the traditional Class 11–12 science stream and entrance examinations.

Students completing a three-year diploma in engineering or pharmacy after Class 10 are eligible to secure admission directly into the second year of corresponding degree courses. Data from the Maharashtra Common Entrance Test (CET) Cell reveals a steady rise in demand over the past three years.

In engineering, 34,716 students enrolled through this route in 2023-24, increasing to 41,894 in 2024-25. For the academic year 2025-26, applications have already crossed 58,220, marking a significant jump. A similar trend is seen in pharmacy, where admissions rose from 8,713 in 2023-24 to 12,816 in 2024-25, with 14,010 applications already received for 2025-26.

Students say this pathway is attractive because it avoids delays in degree admissions and provides opportunities to compete for seats in better colleges. “Pharmacy degree admissions never start on time. The delay results in major academic loss,” said one applicant. Another added, “With direct second year admissions, there is room to secure admission in good colleges despite growing competition.”

Experts also note academic flexibility as a factor. “It is definitely an easier route for students, especially those who are weak in Mathematics,” said Gopakumar Thampi, principal of Thadomal Shahani Engineering College. He highlighted that while the option has long existed, intake for direct second year admissions was reduced from 20 percent of total seats to 10 percent about five years ago, limiting opportunities despite rising demand.

The data highlights shifting student preferences in Maharashtra’s higher education landscape, with diploma-to-degree pathways becoming increasingly popular for faster academic progression and reduced dependence on entrance exams.