Mumbai: One of Bandra’s oldest institutions, R D National College, along with K C Law College, Thadomal Shahani Engineering College, K M Kundnani College of Pharmacy and MMK College, will no longer be affiliated with Mumbai University and will instead come under the ambit of HSNC University. The expansion plan of one of the city’s first cluster universities, currently comprising H R College, K C College and Bombay Teachers’ Training College in Churchgate and Colaba, was approved by the Maharashtra cabinet on Tuesday.Students taking admission to these five institutions from the current academic year of 2026-27 will be enrolled under Hyderabad (Sind) National Collegiate (HSNC) University. While admissions to the traditional degree colleges have already begun, the centralised admission process (CAP) for the professional colleges is yet to commence. TOI had reported on the university’s plan to expand last year.Hemlata Bagla, vice-chancellor of HSNC University, said they will soon commence the process of onboarding the newly approved constituent colleges under the cluster university framework.“The proposal envisages the inclusion of these colleges from the current academic year. The constituent colleges have already been apprised of the proposal; however, we have advised all principals to conduct orientation programmes for students and parents to facilitate a smooth transition. While admissions to professional programmes will continue through the state CET Cell, as per existing norms, the university may also conduct its own CET for admissions to selected programmes. We are currently awaiting the govt’s official notification, following which detailed admission guidelines and procedures will be communicated to students and stakeholders,” said Bagla.As these colleges are progressively integrated as constituent institutions of HSNC University, students currently enrolled in the second, third and fourth years under the Mumbai University system will continue their studies under the existing academic framework. The transition will be implemented in a phased manner over the coming years to ensure that no student is adversely affected. A detailed roadmap regarding the transition process will be finalised and notified after the govt issues the formal notification.Neha Jagtiani, principal of R D National College, which is also the first college of the HSNC Board, said they are awaiting the govt resolution, and that nearly two-thirds of the admissions in most courses are already over under Mumbai University.A state govt representative said the permission has been granted to the university to onboard these colleges from the academic year 2026-27, and colleges can conduct an orientation for the students before onboarding them.HSNC University started with 58 programmes, which have nearly doubled in the last five years. The university is also planning to start schools of quantum computing and technology, nuclear science and technology, and cyber security systems going forward.Dr Homi Bhabha State University (HBSU), another city-based cluster, which started with four constituent colleges, brought the Institute of Forensic Science and Sydenham Institute of Management Studies and Research under its wing. HBSU and all its constituents are govt institutes.
