Glossary

All India Council for Technical Education — the national body that approves engineering, management, and technical colleges.

An aided college receives government funding (usually lower fees); an unaided (private) college runs on its own funds (usually higher fees).

The Class 11-12 Arts stream (History, Geography, Political Science, Economics, Sociology, languages) leading to BA, law, journalism and civil-services careers.

A college that sets its own syllabus and exams while still being affiliated to a university. Often a sign of higher academic flexibility.

Bachelor of Engineering / Bachelor of Technology — a 4-year engineering degree.

Bachelor of Education — required to become a school teacher, taken after a Bachelor's degree.

Bachelor of Pharmacy — a degree to work in medicines and the pharmaceutical industry.

Bachelor of Ayurvedic Medicine and Surgery — a degree in Ayurveda.

Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Marathwada University, Aurangabad — the main university for the Aurangabad/Marathwada region.

Bachelor of Business Administration — an undergraduate management degree.

Bachelor of Computer Applications — an undergraduate degree in software and computer applications.

Bachelor of Dental Surgery — the degree to become a dentist.

Bachelor of Homeopathic Medicine and Surgery — a degree in Homeopathy.

Physics, Chemistry, Biology — the Biology group of the Science stream in Class 11-12 that leads to medical, dental, pharmacy and nursing courses. In Maharashtra this is the 'Science (PCB)' group.

The admission test for BITS Pilani, Goa, and Hyderabad campuses.

Chartered Accountant — a top finance/accounting qualification from ICAI, earned through stages: CA Foundation, CA Intermediate, articleship, and the CA Final exam.

Centralized Admission Process — Maharashtra's online counselling system that allocates college seats based on merit and preferences.

Common Law Admission Test — for admission to integrated law programmes at National Law Universities.

The Class 11-12 Commerce stream (Accountancy, Economics, Organisation of Commerce, Book-Keeping) leading to B.Com, BBA, CA and business careers. 'CEC' is the older Andhra/Telangana name for this stream.

Company Secretary — a corporate-law and governance qualification from ICSI.

Diploma in Education — a 2-year course to become a primary school teacher.

Directorate of Technical Education — the Maharashtra state body that manages technical college admissions (CAP rounds).

Directorate of Vocational Education & Training, Maharashtra — the state body that runs ITI admissions and vocational training.

The engineering/agriculture/medical CET of Andhra Pradesh & Telangana. Maharashtra students use MHT-CET instead — EAMCET is listed here only for reference.

Higher Secondary Certificate — the Class 12 (Std XII) board exam in Maharashtra, conducted by the MSBSHSE.

Cost & Management Accountancy — a costing and management-accounting qualification from ICAI.

The 11th and 12th classes (also called Junior College or 10+2). Completing it is required for most degree courses.

Industrial Training Institute — offers 1-2 year hands-on trade courses (electrician, fitter, welder, etc.) for quick employment.

Joint Entrance Examination — the national exam for admission to engineering colleges. JEE Main is for NITs/IIITs; JEE Advanced is for IITs.

Direct admission into the 2nd year of an engineering degree for students who have completed a relevant polytechnic diploma.

Bachelor of Law — the degree required to become a lawyer.

The Maharashtra Direct Benefit Transfer portal used to apply for student scholarships and fee concessions (e.g. EBC and post-matric scholarships).

Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery — the main 5-year degree to become a doctor.

Minimum Competency Vocational Course — the vocational stream at HSC (Class 11-12) level in Maharashtra, combining academic and job-skill subjects.

Maharashtra Common Entrance Test — the state-level entrance for B.E./B.Tech, B.Pharm and agriculture admissions in Maharashtra, conducted by the State CET Cell and used for the DTE CAP rounds.

Physics, Chemistry, Maths — the Maths group of the Science stream in Class 11-12 that leads to engineering, architecture and technical degrees. In Maharashtra this is the 'Science (PCM)' group.

Maharashtra University of Health Sciences, Nashik — the state university that affiliates medical, dental, ayurveda, homeopathy and nursing colleges in Maharashtra.

National Aptitude Test in Architecture — required for admission to 5-year B.Arch courses.

National Defence Academy exam, conducted by UPSC, for entry into the Army, Navy, and Air Force after 12th.

National Eligibility cum Entrance Test — the single national exam required for almost all MBBS/BDS medical admissions.

Healthcare support courses (lab technology, X-ray, dialysis, etc.) that prepare you to work in hospitals and clinics.

A 3-year technical diploma after 10th. Graduates get job-ready skills and can join engineering degrees directly in the 2nd year (lateral entry).

Savitribai Phule Pune University — the main affiliating university for the Pune region.

Secondary School Certificate — the Class 10 (Std X) board exam in Maharashtra, conducted by the MSBSHSE.

University Grants Commission — the national body that recognizes universities and degree-granting institutions.