📷 Image: Wikimedia Commons / Ganesh Dhamodkar
Education
Maharashtra to approve new colleges beyond existing five‑year university plans, CET centres to expand
✍️ The Times of India
🗓 24 Sep 2026, 09:37 AM
👁 6
The state government announced plans to sanction additional colleges beyond the current university five‑year framework and to increase the number of Common Entrance Test centres.
Mumbai, September 24 (TOI) – The Maharashtra education department disclosed that it will sanction a series of new colleges that fall outside the existing university five‑year development plans. The move aims to address the growing demand for higher‑education seats in the state, especially in underserved districts.
Officials said the additional institutions will be approved through a separate funding stream, allowing faster implementation than the regular planning cycle. The initiative is expected to create several thousand new seats across arts, science and professional streams.
In tandem, the department will expand the network of Common Entrance Test (CET) centres to accommodate more aspirants. The increase in test centres is intended to reduce travel burdens for students from remote areas and to streamline the admission process for the newly approved colleges.
The education ministry has not disclosed the exact number of colleges or CET centres yet, but indicated that detailed proposals will be presented to the state cabinet in the coming weeks.
Officials said the additional institutions will be approved through a separate funding stream, allowing faster implementation than the regular planning cycle. The initiative is expected to create several thousand new seats across arts, science and professional streams.
In tandem, the department will expand the network of Common Entrance Test (CET) centres to accommodate more aspirants. The increase in test centres is intended to reduce travel burdens for students from remote areas and to streamline the admission process for the newly approved colleges.
The education ministry has not disclosed the exact number of colleges or CET centres yet, but indicated that detailed proposals will be presented to the state cabinet in the coming weeks.