Maharashtra Animal and Fishery Sciences University is a specialised state public university headquartered in Nagpur, created to bring Maharashtra’s veterinary, animal, dairy and fishery education under a dedicated university system. The institution was established under the Maharashtra Animal and Fishery Sciences University Act, 1998 and formally came into existence on 3 December 2000 following a state notification issued in November that year. It was formed by transferring established professional colleges and institutes from Maharashtra’s agricultural universities, including veterinary colleges, a postgraduate veterinary institute and dairy-technology education. The university later expanded its specialised network with additional fisheries, dairy and wildlife-related institutions and research facilities. MAFSU’s academic mission combines professional teaching, research and extension in veterinary science and animal husbandry, dairy technology, fisheries science and allied fields. Degree programs include veterinary, dairy and fisheries education along with postgraduate and doctoral study. Its constituent institutions provide clinical teaching, laboratories, farms, research units and field-based training across different parts of Maharashtra. Research addresses animal health, breeding, nutrition, production, dairy processing, fisheries, wildlife and technologies relevant to livestock and aquatic-resource development. The university also has a strong extension role, translating scientific knowledge into practical services for livestock owners, farmers, entrepreneurs and rural communities. Because animal husbandry, dairy and fisheries are important components of Maharashtra’s rural economy, MAFSU’s work connects higher education directly with livelihood, food-system and public-health needs. Its statewide structure differs from a single-campus university: Nagpur is the headquarters, but teaching and research are distributed through constituent colleges and specialised centres. Since 2000, the university has become the principal state-level academic framework for these disciplines, integrating professional education, research, clinical services and extension under one specialised institutional system. The original transfer created a ready-made statewide academic network, while later constituent colleges and specialist centres widened its capacity for veterinary, dairy, fisheries and wildlife education and research.