Several prominent colleges in Mumbai are taking drastic steps to separate their Bachelor of Management Studies (BMS) programmes, just two years after adopting the All-India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) guidelines. Frustrated by administrative chaos and poor student turnout due to delayed admissions, these institutions are creating parallel divisions—one under AICTE and another under traditional university control.
The Core Conflict: AICTE vs University Regulations
In 2024, the AICTE officially categorized the BMS degree as a 'professional' programme, alongside the BBA and BCA. This move forced colleges to choose between two paths: operate under the new central AICTE framework or remain under their respective university's ambit by renaming the course, often to BCom (Management Studies). While some institutions initially embraced the AICTE route, the experience of the last two admission cycles has revealed significant operational flaws.
The primary issue stems from the admission timeline. As a professional course under AICTE, BMS admissions are conducted through the state's Common Entrance Test (CET) cell. For the past two years, this process has dragged on until the end of October, severely disrupting the academic calendar.
Operational Hurdles and Financial Fallout
This delay has created a cascade of problems. While other degree programmes begin classes in June, BMS courses under AICTE only start in October. "This is not only creating administrative hurdles but is also resulting in the loss of students, many of whom are settled in other programmes as an entire semester is effectively lost," explained Parag Ajgaonkar, principal of NM College.
The late schedule directly impacts student demand. A course coordinator highlighted that many prospective students are unwilling to wait until October for admission confirmation, leading to a high number of vacant seats. These vacancies persist for the entire three-year duration of the course, causing substantial revenue loss for a programme that was traditionally very popular. The coordinator added that the lack of awareness about the CET process and the state conducting the test twice to accommodate students further compounds the delays.
The Split-Solution: One Course, Two Formats
To navigate this regulatory maze, colleges are now implementing a dual-structure model. They are splitting their BMS offerings into two separate divisions:
- One division continues as the AICTE-regulated BMS programme.
- The other division shifts to university control, often under the name BCom (Management Studies).
This strategy allows colleges to cater to different student preferences and mitigate the risks associated with the delayed AICTE process. Pioneering this move, colleges like Guru Nanak Khalsa College in Matunga, Lala Lajpat Rai College in Mahalaxmi, and KES' Shroff College have already established separate divisions.
Following suit, major institutions under the SVKM Group, including NM College and Mithibai College, are planning to implement the same split in the coming academic year. Furthermore, the HSNC University has begun conducting its own CET in addition to the state test, seeking more control over its admission schedule.
"Colleges are keen to run under AICTE regulation, but the delays are making it difficult," a course coordinator stated, summarizing the dilemma. The move to bifurcate the programme is seen as a necessary step for effective management, ensuring that the popularity of management studies in Mumbai is not undermined by procedural inefficiencies.
