Mumbai: In a major update to Maharashtra's pharmacy admissions, over 6,100 students have been allotted Bachelor of Pharmacy (B.Pharm) (BPharm) seats in the third round of the centralized admission process after 38 newly approved pharmacy colleges were added to the list this year. The inclusion of new institutes has increased the total seat capacity to nearly 56,000 across 447 colleges, according to data shared by the State Common Entrance Test (CET) Cell. As per a recent media report in the Times of India, officials confirmed that the addition of around 2,000 new seats has provided much-needed relief to hundreds of aspirants who were unable to secure admission in earlier rounds. So far, a total of 24,186 students have been allotted seats across the first three rounds, while nearly 14,000 seats remain vacant for the upcoming phases. The move follows the Pharmacy Council of India’s (PCI) recent approval of new institutions, some of which had faced delays in recognition and were unable to participate in the initial admission rounds. This delay had left approximately 850 seats unfilled earlier. The CET Cell stated that with all recognized colleges now included, students will have wider options and improved access to institutions in rural and semi-urban regions. A senior CET Cell official stated that the integration of new colleges will ensure fairer distribution of seats. “This inclusion allows students who missed earlier opportunities to find placements in suitable institutions without losing the academic year,” the official stated. However, several academic heads have expressed concern that the extended admission schedule could delay the start of regular classes. “This year’s prolonged process has affected the academic calendar, but it’s encouraging that more students can now secure seats,” Dr Sandeep Patil, principal of a Nashik-based pharmacy college toldTimes of India. As per the CET Cell’s updated schedule, the fourth round of BPharm admissions will be conducted from November 1 to 10, followed by the institutional round from November 11 to 21. Colleges have been instructed to complete document verification and admission confirmation within the set timeline to avoid further disruptions. The inclusion of newly recognized colleges marks a major expansion in Maharashtra’s pharmacy education sector, ensuring that every eligible aspirant receives an opportunity in the 2025–26 academic year.