Maharashtra plans to permit private universities to offer medical education courses

An official from the state’s higher and technical education department explained, “The said proposal will be about bringing an amendment to the Maharashtra Private Universities Act, which helps the higher and technical education department to set up and govern private universities offering higher education courses. This is because without the amendment, private universities cannot be permitted to offer medical education programs which are covered under the medical education department.” The official said that the process will now begin but will certainly be expedited. The amendment bill is likely to be presented in the winter session of the Maharashtra Assembly.

As per prevailing practice, medical education in Maharashtra has been under the purview of Maharashtra University of Health Sciences (MUHS), which is governed by the state medical education department. Even as there are various private colleges offering medical education programmes, they are all affiliated to MUHS, headquartered in Nashik.

Private universities, which are governed by the higher and technical education department, are allowed to offer all other courses of higher education. This impending move, which is going to bring private universities under the medical education department, is envisioned to bring innovative and new-age courses in medical education.

After the MAHED meeting, the state’s higher and technical education department also declared that 593 new colleges are set to come up in Maharashtra within the next five years.

“In the state, specific location points are designated for starting colleges in the jurisdiction of non-agricultural universities. In the 2024–2029 five-year plan, 2,819 locations were approved by MAHED. Among these, 739 colleges received Letters of Intent, out of which 593 were granted final approval,” said a note released by the department.

Fadnavis also suggested development of an ‘auto system’ of scholarship distribution—similar to the salary disbursement system for government employees—to ensure timely disbursement of scholarships to students in the state.

The CM also emphasised the need to bring necessary changes in social work colleges, keeping in mind social responsibility. Universities are given three months to form committees and draft a plan to approve new social work colleges under a permanently unaided model.