2 weeks ago
Maharashtra Forms Six-Member Panel to Review Private University Rules
The Maharashtra government wants to make sure private universities are good places for students to learn.
It has chosen six people to form a special committee.
This committee will check the rules for starting new private universities.
They will look at things like buildings, libraries, labs, hostels and sports facilities.
They will also check if universities have good teachers and fair admission processes.
The committee will look at how much money universities charge students.
Some universities charge very high fees, even more than one lakh rupees a year.
The government is worried that some universities have land but not enough money to run properly.
The committee will give its report in two months.
The government may then change the rules to protect students and improve quality.
The Maharashtra government has constituted a six-member committee to review criteria for establishing private universities amid concerns over quality, fees and infrastructure.
The panel is headed by Dr Bhushan Patwardhan, Vice-Chancellor of Deccan College Post-Graduate and Research Institute, Pune, and former Vice-Chairman of the UGC.
The committee will examine academic standards, NAAC, NBA and NIRF rankings, infrastructure, admissions, reservation and fee fixation, and staff recruitment practices.
Officials said some private universities lack adequate financial resources despite having land, and some charge annual fees exceeding Rs 1 lakh for commerce and science courses.
The panel will submit its report within two months and may recommend amendments to the Maharashtra Private Universities (Establishment and Regulation) Act, 2023 and Rules, 2024.
- Who
- The Maharashtra government and a six-member committee headed by Dr Bhushan Patwardhan, with members including former Savitribai Phule University vice-chancellor Dr Nitin Karmalkar and state education department officials.
- What
- A review of the criteria and regulatory framework for establishing and running private universities, covering academic standards, infrastructure, fees, admissions and recruitment.
- Where
- Maharashtra, India.
- When
- The committee was recently constituted and has been asked to submit its report within two months.
- Why
- Concerns over academic standards, financial viability, infrastructure, unreasonable fees and oversight of private universities, including minority institutions.
Government regulation
Private university autonomy
Oversight of minority universities
Government regulation
The government is concerned about minority universities' willingness to accept government regulation and oversight and wants the committee to examine the issue.
Private university autonomy
Minority universities appear reluctant to accept government regulation and oversight of their operations.
Fees and financial viability
Government regulation
The government says some private universities charge unreasonable fees, with annual fees crossing Rs 1 lakh, and wants to protect students' interests.
Private university autonomy
Private universities are required to be fully self-financed, and some institutions have land but lack adequate financial resources to develop and operate a university.
Key facts
- Committee size
- Six members
- Committee head
- Dr Bhushan Patwardhan, VC of Deccan College, Pune, and former UGC Vice-Chairman
- Report deadline
- Within two months
- Legislation under review
- Maharashtra Private Universities (Establishment and Regulation) Act, 2023 and Rules, 2024
- Fee concern
- Annual fees crossing Rs 1 lakh for commerce and science courses at some private universities
- Review areas
- Land, buildings, labs, libraries, digital facilities, hostels, sports infrastructure, accessibility, NAAC/NBA/NIRF rankings, admissions, reservation, recruitment
- Regulatory benchmarks
- UGC Act, UGC regulations, National Education Policy (NEP) 2020
Quotes
Higher and Technical Education Department Officer
Senior officer from Maharashtra’s Higher and Technical Education Department
“"When we allowed foreign universities in the state, we allowed only those universities which were of the best standard and shortlisted by the UGC."”
freepressjournal.in
Sources
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