Maharashtra Sets Norms for Medical Colleges Seeking Private University Status
Medical colleges aiming to become private universities in Maharashtra must now be operational for more than 20 years under newly framed eligibility criteria. The regulations were introduced through an amendment to the Maharashtra Private Universities (Establishment and Regulation) Act, 2023, marking the first time the state has permitted the establishment of private health sciences universities.
Under the amended law, applicant trusts must run a recognised medical college holding a National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) A+ grade with a cumulative grade point average (CGPA) of 3.01 or higher. The institutions must also offer postgraduate courses in at least 50% of their disciplines, with those programmes functioning for a minimum of 10 years. In addition, institutions must secure a no-objection certificate from the Maharashtra University of Health Sciences (MUHS), as they will no longer remain affiliated with MUHS once granted private university status.
Two institutes—Dr Vithalrao Vikhe Patil Foundation’s Medical College in Ahilyanagar and NKP Salve Institute of Medical Sciences and Research Centre in Nagpur—have submitted their detailed project reports (DPRs) for consideration. A scrutiny committee featuring three medical field experts was established two weeks ago to review these proposals.
The legislation grants approved universities the authority to fix their own fee structures, conduct their own examinations, and confer degrees. However, as stipulated in the 2023 Act, private universities will not receive financial assistance from the state government, and their students will not be eligible to claim government scholarships.
The Act also encompasses other health science streams, including dental, ayurveda, homeopathy, physiotherapy, nursing, occupational therapy, and allied science programmes. These institutions will remain governed by their respective central regulatory bodies, including the National Medical Commission (NMC) and the Indian Nursing Council.
Student admissions will continue to be determined by NEET scores through a centralised common counselling process. Medical Education Secretary Dheeraj Kumar confirmed that the state has contacted the NMC regarding the process, noting that counselling will be managed either through the central Medical Counselling Committee (MCC) or the state Common Entrance Test (CET) cell.
