**Executive Summary**
This document is a Bill to further amend the Maharashtra Public Universities Act, 2016. It was introduced in the Maharashtra Legislative Council on February 28, 2026, to replace the Maharashtra Public Universities (Amendment) Ordinance, 2026, which was promulgated on February 18, 2026. A key provision is that the State Government may grant Letters of Intent for the academic year 2026-2027 on or before March 15th, 2026.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Amendment of Section 109 of the Maharashtra Public Universities Act, 2016:**
* For the academic year 2026-2027, the State Government may grant Letters of Intent on or before March 15th, 2026.
* The second proviso and Table in clause (g) of sub-section (3) of section 109 are deleted.
* **Repeal of Maharashtra Public Universities (Amendment) Ordinance, 2026:**
* The Maharashtra Public Universities (Amendment) Ordinance, 2026, is repealed.
* Actions taken under the Ordinance shall be deemed to have been taken under the corresponding provisions of the principal Act, as amended by the Bill.
* **Statement of Objects and Reasons:**
* The amendment is considered necessary because the Government was unable to grant Letters of Intent within the prescribed period due to the Code of Conduct for local authorities' elections.
* The amendment extends the date for the State Government to grant Letters of Intent for opening a new college or institution of higher learning for the academic year 2026-2027.
**Impact Analysis**
**State Government:**
* **Impact**
* The State Government is granted the authority to issue Letters of Intent for the academic year 2026-2027 until March 15th, 2026.
* **Action Required**
* The State Government should be prepared to process and issue Letters of Intent before the updated deadline of March 15th, 2026.
**Institutions Seeking to Open New Colleges/Courses:**
* **Impact**
* The extension of the Letter of Intent deadline to March 15th, 2026, provides additional time for institutions to potentially receive approval.
* **Action Required**
* Affected institutions should note the updated deadline of March 15th, 2026, for the State Government to grant Letters of Intent.
Key Entities Referenced
Maharashtra Public Universities Act, 2016: The principal Act being amended by this Bill. Relates to the procedure for opening new colleges and courses.
Maharashtra Public Universities (Amendment) Act, 2026: The Act that amends the 2016 Act, allowing the State Government to extend the deadline for granting Letters of Intent for the academic year 2026-2027.
Maharashtra Public Universities (Amendment) Ordinance, 2026: The Ordinance which this Bill seeks to replace.
Maharashtra Legislature: The legislative body enacting the bill.
Mumbai: Location where statement of objects and reasons was written.
RNI No. MAHBIL /2009/40123
महाारााष्ट्रट शाासन रााजपत्र
असाधााराण भााग पाच–अ
वर्षष १२, अंक ४] शानिनवारा, फेेब्रुुवाराी २८, २०२६/फेाल्गुन ९, शाके १९४७ [पृष्ठेे 3, निकंमत : रुपयेे ३६.००
असाधााराण क्रमांक ५
प्राानिधाकृत प्राकाशान
महाारााष्ट्र निवधाानसभाेत व महाारााष्ट्र निवधाानपरिरार्षदेेत सादेरा केलेेलेी निवधाेयेके (इंंग्रजी अनुवादे).
MAHARASHTRA LEGISLATURE SECRETARIAT
The following Bill which was introduced in the Maharashtra Legislative Council on
28th February, 2026 is published under Rule 113 of the Maharashtra Legislative Council Rules :—
L. C. BILL No. I OF 2026.
A BILL
further to amend the Maharashtra Public Universities Act, 2016.
WHEREAS both Houses of the State Legislature were not in session;
AND WHEREAS, the Governor of Maharashtra was satisfied that
circumstances exited which rendered it necessary for him to take immediate
Mah. VI action further to amend the Maharashtra Public Universities Act, 2016, for the
of 2017. purposes hereinafter appearing ; and, therefore, promulgated the Maharashtra
Mah.
Public Universities (Amendment) Ordinance, 2026, on the 18th February 2026 ;
Ord. I of
2026.
AND WHEREAS it is expedient to replace the said Ordinance, by an Act
of the State Legislature; it is hereby enacted in the Seventy-seventh Year of
the Republic of India as follows :—
1. (1) This Act may be called the Maharashtra Public Universities Short title and
(Amendment) Act, 2026. commencement.
(2) It shall be deemed to have come into force on the 18th February 2026.
भााग पााच-अ—५-१2 महाारााष्ट्रट शाासन रााजपत्र असाधााराण भााग पाच–अ, फेेब्रुुवाराी २८, २०२६/फेाल्गुन ९, शाके १९४७
Amendment 2. In section 109 of the Maharashtra Public Universities Act, 2016 Mah. VI
of section 109 of 2017.
(hereinafter referred to as “the principal Act”), in sub-section (3),—
of Mah. VI of
2017.
(1) in clause (d), after the existing proviso, the following proviso shall
be added, namely :—
“Provided further that, for the academic year 2026-2027, the
State Government may grant Letter of Intent on or before 15th March
2026.”;
(2) in clause (g), second proviso and Table shall be deleted.
Repeal of 3. (1) The Maharashtra Public Universities (Amendment) Ordinance, Mah.
Mah. Ord. I of
2026, is hereby repealed. Ord. I of
2026 and
2026.
saving.
(2) Notwithstanding such repeal, anything done or any action taken
(including any notification or order issued) under the corresponding
provisions of the principal Act, as amended by the said Ordinance, shall
be deemed to have been done, taken or, as the case may be, issued under
the corresponding provisions of the principal Act, as amended by this Act.महाारााष्ट्रट शाासन रााजपत्र असाधााराण भााग पाच–अ, फेेब्रुुवाराी २८, २०२६/फेाल्गुन ९, शाके १९४७ 3
STATEMENT OF OBJECTS AND REASONS
Section 109 of the Maharashtra Public Universities Act, 2016 (Mah. VI of
2017), provides for the procedure for permission for opening new college or new
course, subject, faculty, division or satellite centre. Clause (d) of sub-section (3)
of said section 109 provides that, out of the applications recommended by the
university, the State Government may grant a Letter of Intent on or before 31st
January of the immediately following year after the recommendations of the
university under clause (c) of said section 109.
2. Due to Code of Conduct for elections of local authorities the Government
was not able to grant Letter of Intent within the prescribed period. The
Government, therefore, considered expedient to amend clause (d) of sub-section
(3) of section 109, suitably, so as to extend the date for grant of Letter of Intent
by the State Government for opening a new college or institution of higher
learning for the academic year 2026-2027.
3. As both Houses of the State Legislatures were not in session and the
Governor of Maharashtra was satisfied that circumstances existed which
rendered it necessary for him to take immediate action further to amend the
Maharashtra Public Universities Act, 2016, for the aforesaid purposes, the
Maharashtra Public Universities (Amendment) Ordinance, 2026, (Mah. Ord. I
of 2026), was promulgated by the Governor of Maharashtra on the 18th
February 2026.
4. The Bill is intended to replace the said Ordinance by an Act of the
State Legislature.
Mumbai, CHANDRAKANT (DADA) PATIL,
Dated the 27th February, 2026. Minister for Higher and
Technical Education.
Vidhan Bhavan : Dr. VILAS ATHAWALE,
Mumbai, Secretary (3)
Dated 28th February, 2026. Maharashtra Legislative Council.
ON BEHALF OF GOVERNMENT PRINTING, STATIONERY AND PUBLICATION, PRINTED AND PUBLISHED BY DIRECTOR,
RUPENDRA DINESH MORE, PRINTED AT GOVERNMENT CENTRAL PRESS, 21-A, NETAJI SUBHASH ROAD, CHARNI ROAD,
MUMBAI 400 004 AND PUBLISHED AT DIRECTORATE OF GOVERNMENT PRINTING, STATIONERY AND PUBLICATIONS,
21-A, NETAJI SUBHASH ROAD, CHARNI ROAD, MUMBAI 400 004. EDITOR : DIRECTOR, RUPENDRA DINESH MORE.