Maha: Direct Second-Year B.Pharm Admissions via Diploma Route Surge 60% in 2 Years, Reach 14,010 in 2025-26
Mumbai: Maharashtra is witnessing a sharp rise in Direct Second-Year (lateral entry) admissions to Bachelor of Pharmacy (B.Pharm) degree courses through the diploma pathway, indicating a growing preference for this alternative route over the conventional Class 11-12 CET-based process.
According to data from the Maharashtra Common Entrance Test (CET) Cell, admissions through this pathway have shown a consistent upward trend. In the academic year 2023–24, a total of 8,713 students secured B.Pharm seats via the diploma-to-degree transition. This figure increased to 12,816 in 2024–25 and has already reached 14,010 applications for the ongoing 2025–26 cycle, reports The Indian Express.
The lateral entry system allows students who have completed the three-year Diploma in Pharmacy (D.Pharm) course to gain direct admission into the second year of the B.Pharm program, effectively saving one academic year and bypassing the regular first-year CET-based intake.
Stakeholders and students have attributed this shift to recurring delays in the commencement of regular B.Pharm admissions, which have led to academic disruptions. Aspirants noted that timely progression through the diploma-led route allows them to compete for placements in reputed colleges without waiting for delayed admission cycles, reports The Indian Express.
Also Read: Pharmacy Institutions Failing to Submit Data by Aug 31 to Lose 2025-26 Approval: PCI
