Maharashtra Announces Plan to Establish 1,499 New Colleges in 5 Years

Maharashtra government has now decided to establish 1,499 new colleges over the next five years. This announcement comes after a meeting of the Maharashtra State Commission for Higher Education and Development (MAHED) under the chairmanship of state Chief Minister Eknath Shinde. The meeting took place at the Sahyadri Guest House. The decision was made based on recommendations from universities in the state.

🕜1.45pm | 30-8-2023 📍 Mumbai | दु. १.४५ वा. | ३०-८-२०२३ 📍मुंबई.

🔸 Meeting with Maharashtra State Commission for Higher Education and Development (MAHED)
🔸 महाराष्ट्र राज्य उच्च शिक्षण व विकास आयोग (माहेड) समवेत बैठक@mieknathshinde #mumbai #maharashtra pic.twitter.com/3vIJKX8SbI

— Devendra Fadnavis (@Dev_Fadnavis) August 30, 2023

Previously, the five-year plan between 2019 to 2024, only 593 new institutions were approved. For this, 3913 locations were proposed. MAHED shortlisted 2819 proposals from them, which were later shortlisted to 1049. After the selection of location, the formal application process had begun.

महाराष्ट्रात 1499 ठिकाणी सुरू होणार महाविद्यालय!

आज सह्याद्री अतिथीगृह येथे मुख्यमंत्री एकनाथ शिंदे जी यांच्या अध्यक्षतेखाली आयोजित महाराष्ट्र राज्य उच्च शिक्षण व विकास आयोगाच्या (माहेड) बैठकीला उपस्थित होतो. या बैठकीत मंत्री चंद्रकांतदादा पाटील, मंत्री मंगलप्रभात लोढा जी… pic.twitter.com/s19Tq1yJbL

— Devendra Fadnavis (@Dev_Fadnavis) August 30, 2023

Mumbai University also submitted a proposal for expansion. This proposal was in line with the NEP 2020 (National Education Policy 2020). The university's blueprint prioritised skill education. It also identified areas within its administrative districts for the establishment of women's and night colleges, along with satellite centres.

Under Mumbai University's plan, traditional colleges in arts, sciences, and commerce will not be established. Instead, the focus is on catering to the specific needs of women, students from underprivileged backgrounds, and tribal communities. 

It is noteworthy that Mumbai University's share of new colleges is lower than that of other institutions. It has less than 10 allocations for the first year of the five-year plan.

Additionally, in accordance with the Maharashtra Public Universities Act, non-agricultural universities have been requested to submit expansion proposals as well. 

The decision-making process for these proposals involved several key figures. This included Chief Minister Shinde, Higher Education Minister Patil, Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Minister of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship Mangal Prabhat Lodha, and Principal Education Secretary Vikas Chandra Rastogi.