In a major move to uphold educational standards, the University
of Mumbai is set to impose fines of ₹10,000 each on 156 affiliated
colleges for failing to comply with NAAC (National Assessment and
Accreditation Council) accreditation norms.
🔍 Accreditation Evasion
Under Scrutiny
The Management Council (MC) of the university
recently passed a resolution directing the College Affiliation and
Development Department to review these colleges, most of which are private,
unaided institutions. Approximately 65 of these colleges are based
in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region.
The review aims to determine why these colleges have either:
- Not
applied for NAAC accreditation, or
- Failed
to reapply after previous accreditation expired.
The department has been asked to submit a detailed report
by April 20.
🚫 Penalties May Escalate
Colleges that do not respond satisfactorily or fail
to begin the accreditation process may face strict consequences,
including:
- Being
barred from admitting students for the upcoming academic year (June
2025)
- Suspension
of student pre-admission and registration processes
The university also plans to publish a list of these
institutions on its official website to maintain transparency.
📉 Why Colleges Avoid
Accreditation
Sources suggest that some colleges lack the
infrastructure to meet NAAC benchmarks and intentionally avoid applying
to protect their enrolment numbers. By not participating, they aim to
avoid receiving a low NAAC score, which could hurt their reputation and
student intake.
However, the university emphasizes that NAAC accreditation
is essential for:
- Maintaining
educational quality
- Unlocking
access to government schemes, grants, and student
scholarships
🎯 State Deadline and
Initiatives
The Maharashtra state government had set March 2024
as the deadline for all colleges to complete their NAAC process. In support,
the government launched the ‘Paris Sparsh’ scheme to facilitate faster
accreditation.
University officials, including Vice-Chancellor Professor
Ravindra Kulkarni, reiterated that NAAC accreditation is vital under
the New Education Policy (NEP) 2020, reflecting both academic and
infrastructural strength.
80 More Colleges to Be Fined for Skipping CDC Formation
In a related issue, 80 colleges are also facing a ₹10,000
fine each for not forming a mandatory College Development Committee
(CDC). As per the Maharashtra Public Universities Act, 2016, each
affiliated college must constitute a CDC, which is responsible for:
- Advising
on academic and administrative matters
- Drafting
development plans
- Managing
academic calendars and budgets
- Overseeing
matters such as course introductions and campus safety
✅ Conclusion
The University of Mumbai’s latest crackdown underscores its
commitment to raising educational standards and aligning with national
policy reforms. With NAAC accreditation now a non-negotiable requirement,
colleges are expected to take swift action or face significant academic and
administrative setbacks.