Mumbai University Senate approves 2025-26 accounts; colleges told to refund exam fees in drought talukas

The Senate of the University of Mumbai on Thursday approved the university's annual accounts for the financial year 2025-26 and its balance sheet as on March 31, 2026. Both had earlier been examined and cleared by the university's finance and management bodies.

The audited accounts were prepared by the statutory auditor, Sandeep Vyas and Company, Chartered Accountants. They were placed before the Senate under Section 29(g) of the Maharashtra Public Universities Act, 2016.

The Finance and Accounts Committee had approved the accounts at its meeting on October 5, 2026. The Management Council then cleared them at its meeting on October 13 and recommended them to the Senate for approval.

The Senate meeting was chaired by Vice-Chancellor Prof. Ravindra Kulkarni. Pro-Vice-Chancellor Dr Ajay Bhamre, Registrar Dr Prasad Karande and other Senate members were present. Finance and Accounts Officer CA Harshal Wagh presented the annual accounts for 2025-26 and the balance sheet as on March 31, 2026 to the Senate.

Meanwhile, on October 16, the university directed all its affiliated and autonomous colleges to refund examination fees in full and immediately to eligible students in drought-affected talukas of Maharashtra. The direction follows a decision of the state government, which declared 305 talukas drought-affected in view of the conditions in the 2026 kharif season and spoke of relief in examination fees for school and college students in these areas.

In the circular issued on October 16, the university asked colleges to begin returning the fees already paid by eligible students from that day. The aim is that students receive financial relief without delay. The university has asked principals to monitor the refund process themselves and ensure that every eligible student receives the full amount of the examination fee.

The refund must be given to eligible students of all faculties, according to the list of designated colleges in the drought-affected talukas. Colleges have also been asked to maintain faculty-wise and student-wise refund records. Once the process is complete, colleges will submit a compliance report to the university's Board of Examination and Evaluation.

The university has stressed that no eligible student's refund should remain pending and that all affiliated and autonomous colleges should implement the directions quickly. It has also clarified that eligible students in drought-affected talukas who have not yet paid the examination fee will not be charged for the relevant examinations.

While filling in the examination form, wherever the option is available on the examination portal, the student or the college must select the "Drought Affected Taluka" category. Colleges must ensure that, once the category is correctly entered, the student's examination fee is excluded from the count of mandatory fees.

The university says it has begun this process in line with the Maharashtra government's official decision on examination fee relief. All affiliated and autonomous colleges have been asked to follow the guidelines strictly and ensure eligible students get the full benefit. The move is meant to reduce the financial burden on students and their families in areas hit by drought in the 2026 kharif season.