Maharashtra plans law amendment for DBATU Lonere college affiliation shift

The Maharashtra government is planning a law amendment as of November 1, 2026, which would permit technical colleges currently affiliated with Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Technological University (DBATU) in Lonere to seek affiliation with other universities. This proposed change aims to allow institutions to align with universities based on their geographical location within the state.

This potential shift could impact numerous engineering, pharmacy, architecture, and hotel management & catering technology institutes across Maharashtra, which are presently under DBATU’s purview. The university, located at Vidyavihar, Lonere-Raigad 402103, currently functions as the affiliating State Technological University as per Section 3(3) of the Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Technological University Act XXIX 2014.

Current Affiliation Framework

Under the existing framework, DBATU invites proposals for affiliation from various technical institutes as per Section 49 of its Act. The affiliation process involves several stages, including scrutiny by committees and approval from apex bodies. For instance, Shree Panchavati Education Society’s Smt. Narmadaben Popatlal Thakkar Institute of Pharmacy, located in Nashik, received continuation affiliation for the Academic Year 2024-2025.

The affiliation for the institute’s B. Pharmacy (UG/FT) course, with an intake of 60 students, was granted from July 2024 for one year only. This approval was subject to satisfactory compliance with observations from the Scrutiny Committee and the Local Inspection Committee (LIC), as well as approvals from apex bodies like AICTE/CoA/PCI and the Government of Maharashtra. The affiliation letter to Shree Panchavati Education Society, regarding affiliation for the Academic Year 2024-25, was dated 20 January 2025, with reference number DBATU/AFFIL/2024-2025/616.

Observations from Affiliation Process

During the affiliation process for the 2024-2025 academic year, specific observations were made by the Local Inspection Committee. These included ensuring that deficiencies raised by a previous LIC committee on 19 August 2024 were properly addressed. The committee also mandated that staff members receive salaries as per the norms of DBATU, Lonere, and the Government of Maharashtra.

Further observations included the requirement for a separate CCTV screen in the exam section and the need to extend the exam section area to a minimum of 75 Sq. Mt., in accordance with the norms of PCI, New Delhi. Also, deploying group insurance for both teaching and non-teaching staff members, as per university norms, was also stipulated. These conditions highlight the regulatory requirements that affiliated colleges must meet under the current system.

Written by Nishit Kumar

Nishit Kumar is a senior EdTech industry leader with over a decade of experience in building and scaling education platforms, shaping their product, content, and growth strategy. At FindMyCollege, Nishit oversees content and editorial strategy, guiding topic selection and content frameworks to ensure accuracy, relevance, and student-first value across the website.

View all posts →