Mumbai: Maharashtra’s public universities will have to contend with a new layer of oversight. The state govt has provided for establishment of a council whose directions on academic matters will be binding on them. The move, part of amendments made recently to Maharashtra Public Universities Act, 2016, could significantly alter how academic decisions are taken across the state’s higher education institutions.The state govt will determine Maharashtra State Academic and Research Council’s (MahaSarc) composition, functions, duties and procedures. The legislation does not specify who will sit on the council or how its members will be selected. These details will be prescribed separately by the state, according to a govt resolution.Govt has also taken over the chancellor’s authority to select public sector undertakings (PSUs) for executing university construction projects. Under the existing arrangement, the chancellor selected an agency from a panel of three experienced PSUs prepared by the university with the prior approval of its management council. The new amended Section 100 replaces the chancellor with the state govt as the selecting authority.Maharashtra Public Universities (Second Amendment) Act, 2026, published in the govt gazette on Nov 6, provides for establishment of MahaSarc. While the council will advise Maharashtra State Commission for Higher Education and Development on academic and research policy, it will also have powers to issue directions that universities must follow.MahaSarc’s directives on academic matters will be binding on the academic council, faculty members and boards of studies of universities, said officials. These bodies traditionally play a central role in deciding curricula, academic programmes and other educational matters.A senior official from the higher and technical education department said, “This is a strategic overhaul of the academic governance system in the state in line with NEP (National Education Policy). MahaSarc is designed to foster innovation, allow for mobility and improve quality in higher education, while also responding to national academic benchmarks.”The amendments also redistribute certain administrative powers. Under Section 13, the authority to remove a pro-vice-chancellor on the recommendation of the vice-chancellor will shift from the chancellor to the university’s management council.The legislation also seeks to address vacancies in key academic positions. Vice-chancellors will now be empowered to appoint qualified persons as officiating deans for up to six months when the post falls vacant or its incumbent is unable to discharge duties.“The changes introduce a more centralised framework for academic direction and shift some administrative powers between university authorities and govt,” said a Mumbai University dean. “While the stated objective is to improve academic standards, research and implementation of educational reforms, the crucial question will be how the new council exercises its powers.”
