Date: 2026-02-18Category: Not ApplicableState: MaharashtraCountry: India
Part VIII Ext. No. 2 ( H 2897 Ordinance I) (Eng), HIGHER AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION DEPARTMENT, MAHARASHTRA ORDINANCE No. I OF 2026.
AN ORDINANCE,
further to amend the Maharashtra Public Universities Act, 2016.
**Executive Summary**
This document is the English translation of the Maharashtra Public Universities (Amendment) Ordinance, 2026 (Mah. Ord. I of 2026). The ordinance amends the Maharashtra Public Universities Act, 2016, specifically extending the deadline for the State Government to grant Letters of Intent for the academic year 2026-2027. The ordinance is effective immediately and dated 18th February 2026.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Ordinance Details:**
* Ordinance Title: Maharashtra Public Universities (Amendment) Ordinance, 2026.
* Ordinance Number: Mah. Ord. I of 2026.
* Date of Promulgation: 18th February 2026.
* Effective Date: Immediately.
* **Amendment to Section 109 of the Maharashtra Public Universities Act, 2016:**
* In sub-section (3), clause (d), a new proviso is added: For the academic year 2026-2027, the State Government may grant a Letter of Intent on or before 15th March 2026.
* In sub-section (3), clause (g), the second proviso and Table shall be deleted.
* **Reason for Ordinance:**
* The ordinance was issued because the Government was unable to grant Letters of Intent within the initially prescribed period due to the Code of Conduct for elections of local authorities.
**Impact Analysis**
**Stakeholder: State Government of Maharashtra**
* **Impact:** The State Government is granted an extended deadline to grant Letters of Intent for new colleges or institutions of higher learning for the academic year 2026-2027.
* **Action Required:** The State Government may grant Letters of Intent on or before 15th March 2026, for the academic year 2026-2027.
**Stakeholder: Universities in Maharashtra**
* **Impact:** The amendment affects the process and timelines for universities recommending applications for new colleges or institutions.
* **Action Required:** Universities should take note of the extended deadline when submitting recommendations for Letters of Intent.
**Stakeholder: Institutions Seeking to Open New Colleges or Higher Education Institutions**
* **Impact:** Institutions seeking to open new colleges or institutions of higher learning for the academic year 2026-2027 benefit from the extended deadline for the State Government to grant Letters of Intent.
* **Action Required:** Institutions need to ensure that Letter of Intent is obtained on or before 15th March 2026, for the academic year 2026-2027.
Key Entities Referenced
Maharashtra Public Universities Act, 2016: The principal act being amended by the Maharashtra Public Universities (Amendment) Ordinance, 2026.
Maharashtra Public Universities (Amendment) Ordinance, 2026: An ordinance amending the Maharashtra Public Universities Act, 2016, primarily concerning the grant of Letter of Intent.
Article 213 of the Constitution of India: Confers the power to the Governor of Maharashtra to promulgate ordinances.
Higher and Technical Education Department: The department responsible for issuing the ordinance related to the Maharashtra Public Universities Act.
Mumbai: Location where the ordinance was issued.
RNI No. MAHENG /2009/35528
महाारााष्ट्रट शाासन रााजपत्र
असाधााराण भााग आठ
वर्षष १२, अंक २] बुुधावारा, फेेब्रुुवाराी १८, २०२६ / माघ २९, शाके १९४७ ]पष्ृठ े3, किंकमं त : रुपये े२७.००
असाधााराण क्रमांक २
प्रााकिंधाकृत प्राकाशान
महाारााष्ट्र किंवधाानमंडळााचेे अकिंधाकिंनयेम व रााज्येपालांांनी प्राख्येाकिंपत केलांेलांे अध्येादेेशा व केलांेलांे
किंवकिंनयेम आकिंण किंवकिंधा व न्येाये किंवभाागाकडून आलांेलांी किंवधाेयेके (इंंग्रजी अनुवादे).
In pursuance of clause (3) of article 348 of the Constitution of India, the following translation
in English of the Maharashtra Public Universities (Amendment) Ordinance, 2026 (Mah. Ord. I
of 2026), is hereby published under the authority of the Governor.
By order and in the name of the Governor of Maharashtra,
SATISH WAGHOLE,
Secretary (Legislation) to Government,
Law and Judiciary Department.
[ Translation in English of the Maharashtra Public Universities (Amendment) Ordinance, 2026
(Mah. Ord. I of 2026), published under the authority of the Governor].
————————
HIGHER AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION DEPARTMENT
Mantralaya, Madam Cama Marg, Hutatma Rajguru Chowk,
Mumbai 400 032, dated the 18th February 2026.
MAHARASHTRA ORDINANCE No. I OF 2026.
AN ORDINANCE
further to amend the Maharashtra Public Universities Act, 2016.
WHEREAS both Houses of the State Legislature are not in session;
AND WHEREAS the Governor of Maharashtra is satisfied that
circumstances exit which render it necessary for him to take immediate action
Mah. VI further to amend the Maharashtra Public Universities Act, 2016, for the
of 2017. purposes hereinafter appearing;
NOW, THEREFORE, in exercise of the powers conferred by clause (1) of
article 213 of the Constitution of India, the Governor of Maharashtra is hereby
pleased to promulgate the following Ordinance, namely :—
1. (1) This Ordinance may be called the Maharashtra Public Universities Short title and
(Amendment) Ordinance, 2026. commencement.
( १)
भााग आठ—२-१2 महाारााष्ट्रट शाासन रााजपत्र असाधााराण भााग आठ, फेेब्रुुवाराी १८, २०२६ / माघ २९, शाके १९४७
(2) It shall come into force at once.
Amendment 2. In section 109 of the Maharashtra Public Universities Act, 2016, in Mah. VI
of section 109 sub-section (3),— of 2017.
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.महाारााष्ट्रट शाासन रााजपत्र असाधााराण भााग आठ, फेेब्रुुवाराी १८, २०२६ / माघ २९, शाके १९४७ 3
STATEMENT
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 are not in session and the
Governor of Maharashtra is satisfied that circumstances so exist which render
it necessary for him to take immediate action further to amend the Maharashtra
Public Universities Act, 2016 (Mah. VI of 2017), for the aforesaid purposes, this
Ordinance is promulgated.
Mumbai, ACHARYA DEVVRAT,
Dated the 18th February 2026. Governor of Maharashtra.
By order and in the name of the
Governor of Maharashtra,
B. VENUGOPAL REDDY,
Additional Chief Secretary to Government.
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.