229 MU Colleges Face Admission Ban Over NAAC, Committee Lapses!

In a decisive move aimed at enforcing quality standards in higher education, Mumbai University (MU) has barred 229 affiliated colleges from admitting students for the current academic year due to non-compliance with mandatory accreditation and governance norms.

Out of the total, 156 colleges have failed to secure or renew their accreditation from the National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC), while 73 others have not constituted a College Development Committee (CDC) — a basic governance requirement.

Faced with this action, several colleges have appealed to the university for more time to meet the criteria. Many are urging MU to extend the deadline until the end of the year, citing major delays caused by NAAC’s structural overhaul. As of July 1, 2024, NAAC has temporarily stopped accepting applications, transitioning to a new binary accreditation framework that evaluates institutions using maturity-based graded levels. This shift, while designed to raise academic standards, has left numerous colleges unprepared and stuck in procedural bottlenecks.

The fallout is already being felt on the ground. Thousands of aspiring students are now left in limbo, unable to enroll in their chosen institutions. Additionally, colleges without new first-year batches face disruptions in staffing plans, with many faculty members at risk of being placed on hold until normal operations resume.

Despite the growing concerns, the university remains firm. MU has issued multiple circulars and reminders over the past year, warning colleges to adhere to guidelines and secure valid accreditation. Officials stress that the move is not punitive but essential to maintain academic integrity across the university’s vast network of affiliated institutions.

This development underscores a broader shift in India’s higher education policy — where timely compliance with accreditation standards is increasingly non-negotiable. As the NAAC introduces more rigorous evaluation systems, institutions must evolve or risk exclusion from the academic mainstream.

With the admission season underway, the spotlight is now firmly on these 229 colleges as they scramble to meet regulatory benchmarks and restore their eligibility.

Stay tuned for more updates on Higher Education Accreditation!

Source: [Times of India]