Mumbai: From handing students wrong question papers to failing to submit admission forms, lapses by 51 colleges affiliated with the University of Mumbai have invited penalties ranging from Rs 10,000 to Rs 26.3 lakh during the 2025-26 academic year.University records show that the colleges were penalised for a range of examination- and admission-related irregularities, including errors in results, delayed submission of answer sheets, admissions granted without prior approval and failure to communicate corrections issued in question papers.The university has more than 800 affiliated colleges. “However, violations of examination and admission rules continue to place students at the receiving end of administrative lapses,” said a senior faculty member.In some cases, students were given incorrect question papers during university exams. Even after the university issued corrections to erroneous questions, certain colleges allegedly failed to communicate the changes to candidates inside examination halls. Students consequently attempted questions that had already been withdrawn or modified.Irregularities were also detected in admissions. Some colleges failed to adhere to the university’s admission deadlines, while others admitted students without completing the required procedures or obtaining prior permission.Among the institutions facing the steepest penalties was Samyak Sankalp College in Kalyan, which was fined Rs 26.3 lakh for irregularities in exam work. The action followed an inquiry by the university’s Unfair Means Inquiry Committee.Dnyanodaya Degree College was fined Rs 10 lakh over errors in exam results. Vande Mataram College of Arts, Commerce and Science in Dombivli was fined Rs 16.53 lakh after it failed to submit regular admission forms for 23 students.Six colleges were fined Rs 25,000 each for not informing students about corrections made to question papers during exams. One college was fined Rs 2 lakh for distributing an incorrect question paper. Five colleges were penalised between Rs 40,000 and Rs 10 lakh for errors in Commerce examination results and admission-related violations.Seventeen colleges were fined between Rs 25,000 and Rs 10 lakh for admitting Science students without prior university approval, conducting their examinations and committing errors in the declaration of results.Shockingly, two colleges were fined up to Rs 55,000 for admitting and conducting examinations for students whose enrolment was more than 10 years old. Another 12 colleges were fined between Rs 1.1 lakh and Rs 16.5 lakh for failing to submit students’ regular admission forms.The recurring violations have prompted demands for stronger action, with students often forced to bear the academic and administrative consequences of mistakes committed by colleges.
