Section 23(1) in The Maharashtra State Council of Examinations Act, 1998
(1)Subject to the provisions of this Act, the powers and duties of the State Council shall be as follows:-(a)to advise the Government on matters of policy relating to scholastic, professional examinations or certain other examinations entrusted to it, from time to time;(b)to lay down guiding principles for determining curricula and syllabi and also to prepare detailed syllabi for all areas in which examinations are conducted by the State Council;(c)to prescribe standard requirements in respect of staff, building, furniture, equipment, stationery and other things required for proper imparting of education and training in the institutes where the course content is designated and prescribed by the State Council;(d)to prescribe, if necessary, any books as text-books or cause to be prepared books and prescribe them as text-books for all concerned courses;(e)to prescribe the general conditions governing admission of candidates to the various examination, and to specify the conditions regarding attendance and character, on the fulfilment of which a candidate shall have a right to be admitted to and to appear at examinations;(f)to conduct examinations and to award certificates to the candidates passing the various examinations;(g)to institute and award scholarships, stipends, medals, prizes and other rewards and to prescribe conditions therefor;(h)to receive bequests, donations, endowments, trusts and other transfer of any property, or interest therein, or rights thereto;(i)to hold any property, interest or right referred to in clause (h) above, and to manage and deal with the same;(j)to prescribe, demand and receive fees from institutions, individuals recognised or allowed to appear for examinations by the State Council;(k)to call for special reports and information from the Director of Education or his office or other offices of Education Department, and any information from institutes, affiliated to the Council to ensure maintenance of academic standards in these institutions;(l)to appoint officers and employees of the State Council [other than the Maharashtra Education Service, Group A and B (Administrative Branch)] in its office and in the office of the Regional Councils;(m)to constitute provident fund for the benefit of staff of the Council;(n)to approve the annual financial statement pertaining to the State Council and Regional Council, and to forward the same to the Government for information;(o)to conduct statistical and other research for the purpose of evaluation and reform of the curricula, instruction and examination system;(p)to appoint such committees as it may think necessary for the efficient discharge of its functions under this Act;(q)to make regulations for purpose of carrying into effect the provisions of this Act;(r)to make bye-laws relating to matters such as procedure to be followed by the State Council, Regional Councils, their Committees and any other matter solely concerning the State Council, Regional Council and, their Committees;(s)to exercise such other powers and perform such other duties as may be conferred or imposed on it by or under this Act;(t)to do all such acts and things as may be necessary to carry out the purposes of this Act;(u)to accord affiliation to the institutions desirous of sending students to one or more examinations conducted by the Council, provided the institutions comply with the "condition for according affiliation" prescribed by regulations.
