The University of Mumbai (MU) on Friday reinstated the first-year undergraduate admission process for 229 affiliated and autonomous colleges for the 2025-26 academic year, following a six-month extension granted by the Maharashtra government for compliance with mandatory National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) accreditation requirements. 

This decision comes a day after Maharashtra’s Higher and Technical Education Minister, Chandrakant Patil, announced the extension on Thursday, providing relief to colleges previously barred from admitting students due to non-compliance.

On May 7, MU had suspended the admission process for these 229 colleges, citing their failure to obtain or renew accreditation from NAAC or the National Board of Accreditation (NBA), as well as their non-compliance with governance norms, including the establishment of the mandatory College Development Committee (CDC) as required under the Maharashtra Public Universities Act, 2016. The suspension had caused significant concern among colleges and prospective students, prompting swift action from the state government.

According to a MU Circular, the university has now reinstated the admission processes for these colleges, subject to strict “conditions outlined in a government letter from the Director of Higher Education, Pune, dated May 22”. 

Colleges benefiting from this extension must submit a formal undertaking on a Rs500 non-judicial stamp paper to the University’s College Affiliation and Development Department by 5:30 PM on May 27. 

The undertaking requires principals to commit to applying for NAAC accreditation immediately upon the reopening of the application window and to complete the accreditation process within six months. Failure to comply will result in the colleges bearing full responsibility for any further suspension of admissions, with the university reserving the right to take stringent action.

The undertaking format, provided in the circular, mandates that principals affirm their institution’s intent to participate in the 2025-26 admission process, complete the NAAC accreditation within the stipulated time frame, and submit proof of compliance to MU. The document must include the college’s seal, the principal’s signature, and be witnessed by two individuals.

For students, MU has introduced measures to ensure a smooth admission process. Those who have already submitted admission forms but wish to apply to additional colleges may generate a new application form using an alternate email ID. Additionally, students who have not yet generated their Academic Bank of Credits ID (ABC-ID) are required to do so within 15 days and update their admission profiles accordingly. 

Colleges are instructed to grant provisional admissions to students pending the generation of their ABC-IDs, with the joint responsibility of students and colleges to ensure compliance within the 15-day period.