Public University Act To Be Modified By Maharashtra Panel To Fall In Line With NEP 2020

Maharashtra: The Public Universities Act (2016) is set to be amended by the state government, following recommendations by the Higher Education Department, reported Indiatimes. Changes to the act will fall in line with the National Education Policy, according to a government resolution.

The 14-member panel, led by former UGC Chairman Sukhdeo Thorat, has been asked to implement the new provisions of the NEP, along with the best national and international practices, into the act. It has been directed to make “practical, physical and viable” recommendations, and submit the report within three months, said the notification.

“NEP recommends scrapping university affiliation system in phases and setting up of a multidisciplinary research varsity. These things need major policy decisions to be included in the act. The panel will consider experiences universities shared in last four years about the current act.” said a government official on integrating NEP provisions in the state act.

The Maharashtra Public Universities Act underwent a lot of discourse for five years, according to MNVS state vice president Santosh Gangurde. “After it was enacted in 2017, lacunae remain like the rotation system in the reservation policy which is unconstitutional and other issues,” he said.