Maharashtra: SRTMU suspends BSc admissions in 24 colleges citing faculty, lab shortage

Swami Ramanand Teerth Marathwada University (SRTMU) in Maharashtra’s Nanded has suspended admissions to first-year BSc courses in 24 affiliated colleges for the academic year 2026-27, citing lack of laboratories and faculty members required to run the programme, Indian Express reported.

The decision to roll back the BSc programme from 24 colleges follows an Academic and Administrative Audit (AAA) of the university’s affiliated institutions, the report said

Citing university authorities, the report read: “Giving these colleges another year to make the required arrangements and resume admissions from the next academic year, as their affiliation continues. They are also allowed to admit students to non-BSc courses.”

Moreover, as per the university, the step was taken to ensure and maintain quality standards in higher education, the report added.

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SRTMU colleges receive 'F' grade in AAA inspection

The circular issued by the university states in the report: “During the AAA inspection, undergraduate colleges offering the BSc programme were found to have received an ‘F’ grade.”

On the other hand, some colleges failed to submit proposals for the AAA Online inspection and also did not appoint qualified principals and faculty members or maintain laboratories needed for the BSc course, it added.

Ashok Mahajan, pro vice chancellor, said in the report: “It began with surprise visits to a few colleges by me, during which it was found that many B Sc colleges lacked laboratories and other facilities essential for running the programme. This led to a detailed audit, which initially identified 59 such colleges. Representatives of the managements which run these colleges were called for a meeting at the university and asked to make the required arrangements as soon as possible.”

Of the total, 35 of them complied with the university’s requirements, narrowing the list to the 24 colleges now facing the admission ban, he said in the report.

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150 colleges affiliated to SRTMU Maharashtra

“The process of granting affiliation to new colleges generally involves conditional approval, with the expectation that they will create the required infrastructure and facilities within a stipulated timeframe,” Mahajan added in the report.

Notably, around 20-25 students are currently studying in the second and third year of the BSc programme across 24 colleges, amounting to approximately 500 students, it added.

“The university will now take steps to ensure that these students receive the practical training required as part of the B.Sc. curriculum by facilitating access to laboratories at nearby colleges having required infrastructure. As many as 150 colleges affiliated to the university offer B Sc programme,” the report read.