MUMBAI, May 24 -- In a relief to students and colleges across the state, the University of Mumbai has decided to stay its earlier order barring non-NAAC (National Assessment and Accreditation Council) affiliated institutions from admitting students for the academic year 2025-26 by allowing 176 colleges to admit students this year. The move follows direct intervention by the state's higher and technical education minister Chandrakant Patil, who instructed the university to reconsider its decision in light of students' interests. On May 7, MU announced that 229 colleges would be barred from the admission process for not completing NAAC accreditation or re-accreditation. Some of these colleges also lacked a functioning College Development Committee (CDC), a key governance body mandated by university regulations. These 53 colleges remain barred. After receiving complaints from students and education groups, the state government stepped in and asked the university to re-evaluate its directive. "Considering the welfare of students and to avoid academic disruption, we are providing a six-month extension to colleges to complete their NAAC procedures," said Patil. Patil also acknowledged delays caused by NAAC Bengaluru's online portal's ongoing upgrade since the introduction of the new Binary Accreditation System. Colleges must initiate their assessment processes immediately once the updated portal is live. Universities, meanwhile, are expected to collect written assurances from institutions and begin compliance procedures without delay. While allowing the colleges to take in students, MU has asked them to submit a bond regarding NAAC compliance during the period....