MUMBAI, Aug. 16 -- Amid growing concerns over paper leaks, invalid degrees, opaque admission processes and excessive or unaccounted fees putting students' academic futures at risk, the Maharashtra government has decided to take a fresh look at the rules governing private universities in the state. The higher and technical education department, through a government resolution (GR) issued on August 14, has appointed a committee to review the existing criteria for setting up private universities and recommend changes to strengthen their regulation, infrastructure and academic standards. The committee has been given two months to submit its report to the government. Its recommendations could eventually lead to amendments to the Maharashtra Private Universities Act, 2023, and the rules framed under it. The panel will be headed by professor Bhushan Patwardhan, former vice-chairman of the University Grants Commission (UGC) and vice-chancellor of Deccan College Postgraduate and Research Institute, Pune. Former Savitribai Phule Pune University vice-chancellor professor Nitin Karmalkar and senior officials from the higher education and technical education departments are among its members....