MHTCET

Based on what you've shared:

MHT CET PCB: 89.5 percentile 

MHT CET PCM: 61 percentile 

You are interested in both Biotechnology/Bioinformatics and CSE/IT/AI-ML.

My recommendation

I would suggest you choose B.Tech Biotechnology or Bioinformatics rather than taking CSE/IT/AI-ML in a low-tier college.

Here's why:

With 61 percentile in PCM, getting a good CSE/IT/AI-ML seat through MHT CET is difficult. You may have to settle for a lower-ranked college, where placements are often limited. Top engineering colleges generally require much higher percentiles for CSE-related branches. 

With 89.5 percentile in PCB, you have a much better chance of getting into a good Biotechnology or Bioinformatics program. 

Career opportunities

If you choose Biotechnology/Bioinformatics:

Bioinformatics Scientist

Genomics Analyst

Clinical Data Analyst

Pharmaceutical Research

Drug Discovery

AI in Healthcare

Higher studies (M.Tech/MS/PhD) in India or abroad

If you choose CSE:

Choose it only if you are getting it in a reputed college. A strong college and learning environment matter a lot in software careers.

If you are equally interested in both

Bioinformatics is a great middle ground because it combines:

Biology

Programming

Artificial Intelligence

Data Science

If you enjoy both biology and coding, Bioinformatics can give you opportunities in healthcare technology, genomics, and AI-driven medical research.

Good colleges you can consider

With your PCB percentile, you should explore:

SASTRA University (Bioinformatics)

MIT World Peace University (Biotechnology)

DY Patil University (Biotechnology)

Symbiosis School of Biological Sciences

Other Maharashtra colleges offering Biotechnology/Bioinformatics through MHT CET or institute-level admissions.

Final advice

Since your PCM percentile (61) is much lower than your PCB percentile (89.5), I would not recommend joining a low-tier CSE college just for the branch name. A good Biotechnology/Bioinformatics programme from a better institution is likely to provide stronger long-term opportunities, especially if you're open to higher studies or interdisciplinary careers.

The marks required in MHT CET depend on the college, category, and exam difficulty. Based on recent admission trends, these are good target scores:

Branch

Approx. MHT CET Marks (out of 200)

Expected Percentile

Computer Science Engineering (CSE)

145–165+

99–99.7+

Artificial Intelligence (AI/AIML)

140–160+

98.5–99.5+

Mechanical Engineering

100–130+

92–97.5

For the top Maharashtra engineering colleges such as VJTI, COEP, and SPIT:

CSE: Aim for 99.5+ percentile (roughly 160+ marks in many exam shifts).

AI/AIML: Aim for 99+ percentile (around 145–160 marks).

Mechanical: Around 97–99 percentile is often competitive, depending on the college and category. 

Yes, there are many more options that most of the students do not realise. Though students didn't clear the MHT-CET entrance exam, they can apply for BTech courses in Maharashtra JEE Main scores, which are accepted by both govt. and private colleges. There are many private and deemed universities also where direct admission is granted based on Class 12 marks or by conducting own entrance exam. There are also many colleges with admission under management quota, in which the students are selected based on academic record and personal interview rounds. Of course for the better government colleges having best MHT-CET or JEE Main scores are highly recommended.