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Pune: The first-year Diploma in Pharmacy (DPharm) programme has been reduced to a five-month session this year after the Pharmacy Council of India (PCI) delayed approvals for several colleges. This delay has forced institutions to compress what is typically a 10 to 11-month academic schedule into a shorter and more intensive format.As per the Maharashtra State Board of Technical Education (MSBTE), the first-year academic session will now be conducted from October 2025 to April 18, 2026, with annual examinations beginning on April 30, 2026. The revised calendar has sparked concerns among educators and students about managing the full syllabus within such a limited timeframe.To streamline the schedule, the board has mandated three internal examinations—from December 15 to 19, February 9 to 14, and April 6 to 10—followed by practice exams between April 20 and 25. However, with minimal breaks and a packed curriculum, students are expected to cope with a far more demanding academic load than usual.Also Read: Maharashtra Adds 38 New Pharmacy Colleges, Over 6000 Students Get B.Pharm Seats in Third CAP RoundFaculty members have voiced apprehensions over the possible impact on teaching quality and practical training. According to a recent media report by the Hindustan Times, several colleges have started adopting crash-course formats and extended hours to ensure students can complete the syllabus before final exams.Also Read: PCI Restores Approval for 42 Pharmacy Colleges in Maharashtra for 2025-26 Admissions
