- Ms Paiva Couceiro and Ms Collette Galby (DHMs) came with a Mission to Bombay (now Mumbai) in 1952.
- Ms Paiva Couceiro and Ms Collette Galby established the School of Social Work (now College of Social Work), Nirmala Niketan in 1955
- In 1956, Ms. Agnes Comerford, a trained social worker from Fordham University took over as Director of the School of Social Work. She develops a one-year curriculum in social service.
- Kumbarwada Community Development Project began as the institute's first field action/ extension program
- In July 1958, Ms. Dorothy Baker, also a graduate from Fordham University took over as Director
- Till 1965, the school offered a Diploma in Social Service.
- In 1965, the school became a recognized institution of the University of Bombay and the graduating batch of 1967 was awarded a post-graduate diploma in social work by the University of Mumbai
- In 1969 the ‘School of Social Work’ was renamed as the ‘College of Social Work’ in accordance with the practice existing in the university system
- The 1969-1971 batch of students became from first group to be awarded a Master’s degree in Social Work
- In 1971, the school started a Bachelors of Social Work degree program under the University of Mumbai.
- In 1984 the college started the peer reviewed journal titled ‘Perspectives in Social Work’
- In 1989, the Audio-Visual Unit was set up
- The Research Unit was set up in 1993
- Extension Centre was set up in Goregoan in 1994
- The college started a doctoral programme in social work in 1997
- The college got minority institution status in 1995
- 2001 was a momentous year in the life span of the college. It got a five star rating from NAAC which boosted the morale of the students, faculty members, support staff and well-wishers.
- The golden jubilee of the college was celebrated in 2004
- In 2005 the Short Term unit was set up at the Churchgate center
- In 2005-2006, the college established a Dorothy Baker Chair for Peace and Development
- In 2007, NAAC reaccredited the college with A+ rating
- In 2015, the college underwent the 3rd cycle NAAC reaccreditation and received A grade
- On 12th February 2019, the University Grants Commission conferred Autonomous Status to the College for a period of 10 years
- June 2019 established Nirmiti Centre for Social Innovation and Entrepreneurship (NCSIE)
- In September 2022, the College Started offering Master of Arts (Social Innovation and Entrepreneurship)
- 29th June 2024, granted Empowered Autonomous Status by the University of Mumbai
