AdminIn Mumbai, the National Education Policy (NEP) Steering Committee was dissolved abruptly after its last meeting in July, leaving thousands of autonomous college students and faculty members in a state of uncertainty.
Background and Context
The NEP 2020, introduced to overhaul India’s higher‑education framework, was adopted by the Maharashtra government in 2022 under the leadership of former Savitribai Phule Pune University vice‑chancellor, Nitin Karamalkar. A 14‑member committee was established to mentor autonomous colleges in implementing the policy, with each member assigned to support a minimum of ten institutions. The committee’s mandate included aligning curricula, credit systems, and assessment methods with the new standards, as well as facilitating joint degree award mechanisms with parent universities.
During its first two years, the committee held quarterly deliberations and prepared a series of guidelines. However, reports indicate that meeting frequency declined after the first year, and many colleges felt guidance was sporadic. As the first cohort of NEP‑aligned students approaches graduation, the absence of a formal steering body raises questions about the continuity of reforms.
Key Developments
On December 8th, 2025, the Ministry of Education announced that the NEP Steering Committee had been dissolved following its final July session, without prior notification or a public statement. The announcement was made through a brief notice on the government portal and received minimal coverage in mainstream media.
Key points of the dissolution include:
- Termination of committee’s oversight functions, leaving 112 autonomous colleges without a designated liaison officer.
- No successor body or interim mechanism was outlined, creating a governance vacuum.
- The Maharashtra State Academic and Research Council (MahaSARC) was set up later this year, but its remit does not cover NEP implementation per se.
- No official updates were provided regarding pending policy documents—such as the exit policy, honor programmes, credit sharing rules, and internship frameworks.
Quoting Prof. Anuradha Deshmukh, Chairperson of the College of Engineering, Nagpur: “We were preparing a detailed report for the final batch; now we are left in limbo with no guidance on degree certificates or faculty workload allocation.”
Impact Analysis
Students, especially the incoming class of 2026, face significant ramifications:
- Graduation Certainty: For 3,200 first‑batch NEP students, the absence of a finalized exit policy could delay or invalidise their diplomas. Without clarity on joint degree issuance, students may receive certificates that only list the primary college, potentially devaluing lateral entry credits.
- Lateral Entry Confusion: Approximately 450 students plan to transfer to top‑tier city colleges for a fourth year. There is no defined protocol for credit transfer or recognition of prior studies, risking credential gaps.
- Faculty Workload and Funding: Around 2,500 faculty members are scheduled to teach in the new curriculum. The government’s policy of providing financial support only to aided master’s programmes means unpaid courses may persist, affecting staff morale and retention.
- Internship and Research Opportunities: Over 500 placements were slated to commence under the new framework. With no updated guidelines, companies and research institutes risk misaligning expectations and deliverables.
: 1,200 international scholars enrolled under NEP are confronted with uncertain visa statuses if course completion timelines extend beyond expectations. Their universities must navigate complex statutory requirements without clear state directives.
Collectively, the dissolution has sparked protests from student unions and faculty associations. On social media, the hashtag #NEPCommitteeDissolution trended for 48 hours, with colleges demanding immediate action.
Expert Insights and Practical Tips
For Students:
1. Verify your degree’s status with your college’s registrar desk; request a provisional certificate if official documentation is pending.
2. Contact the Ministry of Education’s helpline (1800‑111‑NEP) for updates on the exit policy.
3. For international scholars, engage your university’s international office early to ensure visa extensions if graduation is delayed.
For Faculty:
1. Keep meticulous records of credits awarded and sessions delivered; this will aid future audits.
2. Attend regional faculty forums to exchange best practices on curriculum adaptation.
3. Liaise with the parent university’s administration for joint degree templates.
For Institutions:
1. Draft an interim implementation plan covering curriculum, credit transfer, and assessment. Seek provisional approvals from the University Grants Commission (UGC).
2. Engage with Maharastra’s MahaSARC to align on strategic educational priorities.
3. Publish a transparent FAQ on your website addressing students’ queries on certification and lateral entry.
Dr. Sunil Kumar, educational policy analyst at the Centre for Higher Education Studies, advises: “Institutions must act proactively—establishing cross‑departmental review committees and submitting interim reports can prevent a bureaucratic deadlock. Moreover, engaging stakeholders in dialogue reassures students and faculty that progress is ongoing.”
Looking Ahead
The absence of an explicit successor to the NEP Steering Committee signals a policy gap that could influence reforms in other states. Scholars anticipate that the Maharashtra government may either:
1. Reconstitute a new advisory panel under MahaSARC with a focused mandate on NEP implementation.
2. Delegate responsibility to the state’s Ministry of Higher Education, creating a permanent inter‑departmental task force.
3. Seek Central Government guidance, potentially aligning Maharashtra’s approach with national standards set by the National Institute of School Curriculum and Teacher Education (NISCE).
Meanwhile, the UGC is expected to issue clarifications on joint degree frameworks to streamline cross‑institutional recognition. International student bodies are calling for tighter coordination to safeguard visa compliance and academic eligibility.
For now, colleges must navigate an interim period by adhering to previously issued guidelines while awaiting new directives.
Stay informed by following the Ministry’s official communication and by subscribing to relevant newsletters from professional bodies such as the Association of Indian Universities (AIU) and the Federation of Indian Universities (FIU).
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