Mumbai has recorded 10,397 applications for Right to Education (RTE) admissions as of March 31, down from 13,166 last year. For the 2026-27 academic year, 325 schools have registered, compared to 338 in 2024-25 and 351 in 2021-22. The number of available seats has also marginally reduced from 6053 to 6030 over the past year.

Norm confusion

Officials attribute the dip in applications to changes in RTE norms. Earlier, the education department limited applications to schools within a 1-km radius. However, the high court stayed this decision, restoring the 3-km eligibility range.