Mumbai University Declares 304 Exams Dormant: Old Syllabus Papers Discontinued, Backlog Relief Limited

University of Mumbai has declared 304 examinations dormant, meaning the university will no longer conduct exams for these papers across multiple academic streams.

According to a circular dated February 10, the decision covers two categories:

• 125 papers with no student registration in the past two to three years
• 179 papers linked to outdated syllabus or exam patterns discontinued for over ten years

University officials said the move is part of ongoing curriculum restructuring to keep courses aligned with current academic frameworks.

As per the circular issued by the Mumbai University dated February 10, if any affiliated college submits a proposal for student registration for papers which are declared dormant due to no registration, the university will conduct examinations for those specific courses. But the Board of Examinations and Evaluation at Mumbai University has clarified that examinations of courses that are stopped for ten years will not be conducted under any circumstances.

An official from the MU explained, “Restructuring of courses and changes in the paper-patterns is a very common phenomenon. Due to failures in exams, there are students appearing to clear the back-log, sometimes continuing for multiple years. Although the syllabus or the paper-pattern may have changed by then, these repeaters apply to appear for the exam in that same pattern. The decision to declare exam dormant is pertaining to such papers – divided in two different categories – those which have not seen student enrollment for the past two-three years and those which are declared closed for ten years now.”

In the past only once – in 2007 – examinations were declared dormant. At that time examinations which had no student registration were declared dormant. But for papers in old-patterns students continued to have opportunities to appear for the exam.

As per information shared by the university, among the 125 examinations with no student registration, the discontinuation of papers include 23 from faculty of Commerce and Management, 15 from faculty of Humanities, 42 from Interdisciplinary Studies and 45 from the Faculty of Science and Technology. Whereas among the 179 examinations which are declared dormant because those courses are closed for ten years – include 10 examinations from faculty of Science and Technology, 86 from the faculty of Humanities, 42 from Interdisciplinary Studies and 45 from faculty of Science and Technology.

Meanwhile, in an important measure to address the teacher shortage in colleges, Maharashtra's Higher and Technical Education department has announced approval for faculty recruitment on a total of 5012 posts in private aided colleges across the state.