The Maharashtra school education department has declared 324 secondary schools and 412 junior college divisions as permanently ineligible for government salary grants. This decision follows a prolonged evaluation process that began in 2011, during which many institutions failed to meet necessary criteria, such as maintaining proper staff rosters and appointing qualified teachers. The majority of affected schools are situated in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region, with Thane district having the highest number at 68. The state government has mandated that these schools apply for recognition under the self-financed category by April 30, 2026, or risk having their licenses canceled. To mitigate academic disruption, education officers have been instructed to facilitate the transfer of students from these institutions to nearby aided or government schools within a specified timeframe. Critics, including Mahendra Ganpule, have voiced concerns over the dual approval process now required for these schools.