The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has ordered the immediate shutdown of 164 unauthorised schools across Mumbai, impacting more than 80,000 students. This decision, made on April 17, comes as these institutions were found operating without mandatory recognition from the state education department. Many schools lacked formal approval and had serious infrastructure and safety compliance issues. The BMC has directed school managements to assist parents in transferring their children to recognised institutions and has promised to accommodate affected students in nearby municipal or private schools. However, this sudden enforcement has raised concerns among parents and education activists, who question how so many unauthorised schools operated for years without intervention. Critics are also worried about the timing of the shutdown, fearing disruptions to education as the new academic session approaches. The BMC insists that this crackdown is part of a broader initiative to regulate educational institutions and ensure student safety and quality standards.