A temporary stay has been put on the new vocational courses to be started in junior colleges discontinuing bifocal courses. In June 2023, the Maharashtra government issued a resolution to convert popular bifocal courses in Mumbai into employment-oriented specialised courses aligned with the National Skill Qualification Framework (NSQF) starting from the academic year 2024-25.

The new order mandates that the introduction of these vocational courses will now commence from the academic year 2025-26. This postponement aims to ensure a smoother transition and better preparedness for implementing the new NSQF-aligned vocational courses in junior colleges, said an official.