Mumbai University has made PLAT compulsory for all its 8-lakh undergraduate and postgraduate students from the academic year 2026-27 . The varsity signed an agreement with Thane-based Orage Digital in December last year and issued a circular to affiliated colleges last month about the rollout.
What is PLAT and how PLAT will run
PLAT stands for Progressive Learning Assessment Test. It is an AI-powered digital programme designed to map and improve job-aligned skills such as problem-solving, communication, decision-making and narrative thinking.
The tests will run parallel to Mumbai University’s existing examination and assessment system. Students will take biannual tests and complete daily "micro-tasks"—small activities tailored to individual progress—on the platform. Teachers and varsity officials can track performance and target interventions.
Who must take PLAT and what students will do
The university’s circular mandates participation by all MU-affiliated UG and PG students. Students must appear for the biannual PLAT tests and perform the daily micro-tasks as part of the programme.
Orage Digital says PLAT adapts tasks and questions to each student’s progress. Example activities shared by the firm include writing a civic complaint letter and answering scenario-based team-project questions that test decision-making.
Intervention areas, claims and context
Orage has identified five intervention areas: Thinking Power, Human Power, Change Power, Execution Power and Value-Creation Power. These cover cognitive abilities, emotional intelligence, growth mindset, productivity and entrepreneurship.
The company claims pilot deployments at some Mumbai colleges showed an 18% improvement in placements and a 26% improvement in students’ skills. The university will issue "skill scorecards" under PLAT to record student outcomes.
Context for the programme includes the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 emphasis on 21st-century capacities. The India Skills Report 2026 notes national employability at 56.35% , a backdrop Mumbai University cites while pushing outcomes-focused assessments.
Costs, governance and next steps
Orage is currently offering the service free to the university and students; the future charging model remains undecided. MU’s circular sets implementation for the 2026-27 academic year, with colleges expected to integrate PLAT alongside regular assessments.
Details such as the full test format, data-protection provisions, and whether PLAT scores will appear on formal transcripts were not specified in the circular. The university and Orage will oversee deployment and monitoring as colleges begin the phased rollout.
For students, the immediate impact starts with mandatory enrolment, biannual AI-driven assessments and daily micro-tasks aimed at improving employability and measurable skill outcomes.