Colleges Scramble to Submit Fee Hike Proposals Before Deadline

In the lead-up to the 2026-27 academic year, Maharashtra's private colleges offering professional courses have found themselves in a race against the clock to submit their fee revision proposals to the state's Fee Regulatory Authority (FRA). As of November 2, 2025, over 50% of these institutions are yet to meet the October 31 deadline, citing exams and the Diwali vacation as reasons for the delay.

Historically, the FRA has granted extensions to colleges in the past, but this year it has taken a firm stance, refusing to budge from the deadline. The authority issued multiple reminders to the colleges, with the last circular going out on October 27. The online application portal has been available since September 19, leaving ample time for the institutions to prepare and submit their proposals.

Despite the challenges, the FRA has seen a positive trend this year, with the number of colleges applying for fee revisions increasing compared to previous years. While less than 2% of colleges met the deadline in the past, the authority has received over 1,000 applications seeking a hike in fees. Interestingly, 700 colleges have opted not to increase their fees for the upcoming academic year.

The FRA's member, Dharmendra Mishra, has stated that the authority will not want to deprive any stakeholders and will consider extending the deadline, potentially with a fine, in due course. The delays, however, are not expected to impact the overall fee regulation process followed by the FRA.