Archive · 23 Sep 2026
Maharashtra Panel, CET Centre Expansion Ordered By Fadnavis
Maharashtra wants to make it easier for students to attend college.
The state will create a committee to study where new colleges are needed.
It will look at requests from universities, elected representatives and educational institutions.
The committee will send its findings to the state government.
More CET exam centres may also be opened closer to students’ homes.
Officials must make sure that more centres do not reduce exam security or fairness.
The government also reviewed its free higher education plan for girls.
Officials said the percentage of girls entering engineering increased from 32.72% to 37.27% between 2023-24 and 2026-27.
Maharashtra will form a sub-committee to review proposed locations for new colleges outside universities’ five-year plans.
The committee will examine locations eligible for universities’ 2027-28 annual plans and review requests from representatives and educational institutions.
Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis ordered an expansion of CET examination centres to bring them closer to students’ homes.
He said expansion must preserve examination security, transparency, supervision and stronger CET Cell monitoring.
Girls’ share of engineering admissions rose from 32.72% in 2023-24 to 37.27% in 2026-27, amid the state’s free higher education initiative.
- Who
- Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, the state government, universities and the CET Cell are involved.
- What
- The state will review locations for new colleges, expand CET centres and assess higher education admissions.
- When
- The directions were issued on Tuesday; the reviewed college proposals concern the 2027-28 annual plan, while admission data covers 2023-24 to 2026-27.
- Where
- The meeting was held at Mantralaya in Mumbai, Maharashtra.
- Why
- The measures aim to improve access to higher education and CET convenience while maintaining transparent, secure examinations.
- Meeting
- Maharashtra State Commission for Higher Education and Development meeting at Mantralaya
- New-college review
- A sub-committee will examine eligible locations outside universities’ existing five-year plans.
- Proposal period
- The locations were found eligible for inclusion in the 2027-28 annual plan.
- CET expansion
- More examination centres will be considered so students can access centres closer to home.
- CET safeguards
- Expansion must not compromise security, transparency or supervision.
- Engineering admissions
- Girls represented 32.72% of admissions in 2023-24 and 37.27% in 2026-27.
- Policy reviewed
- Officials assessed the state’s free higher education initiative for girls.