Is that a truck under a train? Not quite Even the illusion of the train over the truck does little to the uncovered debris being transported through Dahisar. By the way, that’s illegal, too. Miles to milestones Vishak Krishnaswamy during a marathon run This diarist was all ears when she heard that Dombivlikar Vishak Krishnaswamy is on a mission to break a Guinness World Record. The 32-year-old intends to run 42 km every day for a continuous 370 days. “I run around the KDMC (Kalyan Dombivli Municipal Corporation) ground track; I’m now on a 60-day streak. I first attempted the record in 2022, but was surpassed by a Brazilian marathoner.” We wish the runner a smooth sprint to his goal. Bow time with the violin Music is not just for performers,” Mehroo Jeejeebhoy reminded us. The founder-trustee of the Mehli Mehta Music Foundation (MMMF) was quick to add that the foundation’s Listeners’ Club that often hosts lecture-demonstrations about music. “It is free for students, music lovers, and parents, too. We wanted to take music away from the formality of concert halls to make it more accessible,” she added. Tomorrow, music educator, violinist, and performer Nanki Chugh (below) will drop by at the Bhulabhai Desai Road institution to play Bach, and talk of music and neuroscience. Those interested can email education@mmmf.org to register. Tiger, tiger, burning bright Bittu Sahgal (left) and Dia Mirza join the crowd in an interaction Wild animals, including tigers, were spotted at a Nariman Point venue on Thursday. But the reaction among people was that of collective giggles and ‘awws’. Children in costumes and with face paint participate in the events. Pics/Ashish Raje Hosted by the Sanctuary Foundation of India, the Kids for Tigers programme at the National Centre for the Performing Arts (NCPA), sought to educate tomorrow’s adults on the importance of saving our environment through a series of fun activities. While founder Bittu Sahgal and actor Dia Mirza joined the crowd in cheering, the kids put on their finest face paints, make-up, and costume to participate in wildlife games, nukkad nataks and poster-making. Bird calls on Valentine’s Day At the risk of being cancelled, Valentine’s Day is a good time to spot some pretty birds. With the annual edition of the global Great Backyard Bird Count (GBBC) set to begin on February 13, Indian birders are preparing for the Campus Bird Count. (From left) Red Avadavat. Pic Courtesy/Krishna Murthy, Lineated Barbet. Pic Courtesy/Subhadra Devi and Brahminy Starling. Pic Courtesy/Bhaarat Vyas “In India, it is a collective celebration where birders invite people to join them on walks, and document their sightings,” shared Mittal Gala, project coordinator, Bird Count India. With IIT Bombay (February 13) and Royal College of Arts, Science and Commerce, Mira Road (February 15) hosting sessions, interested readers can find out more at birdcount.in.
06 February,2026 08:07 AM IST | Mumbai | Team mid-dayA leopard rescued and released into the wild weeks ago has been found dead in a forest in Thane district, officials said on Thursday, February 2. The leopard was rescued from a human settlement in the Bhayandar area on December 19, 2025, and fitted with a satellite-linked collar to monitor its movements before being released at Nagla in the Yeoor forest range on December 25. It appeared healthy and agile during its initial weeks in the wild. From December 25 to December 30, the big cat was seen moving in the Sasunavghar sector. On December 31, it was even observed hunting a dog near a cave, confirming it was adapting to the natural environment, a forest department’s release said. Subsequently, on January 5, camera traps captured the animal in a healthy state on the Nagla trail. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
06 February,2026 08:04 AM IST | Mumbai | AgenciesA mother-daughter duo from the western suburbs have been the talk of their locality for studying in the same school. While the mother, Gaushiya Shaikh, heads to her Std X classroom, the daughter, Zainab, skips off to the pre-primary section. And, when it comes to PTA meetings, Gaushiya attends Zainab’s, while her in-laws are present at hers. Every afternoon, Gaushiya, who was married off at a very young age, steps out of her burqa into a school uniform, with two braids, and walks to the neighbouring school with Zainab. “At first, my in-laws were sceptical of this move, but now they, along with my husband, come to every PTA meet,” said Gaushiya, who proudly sports the class monitor badge as she strolls around the school premises. Gaushiya Shaikh and her daughter, Zainab, who study in the same school Like other students, Gaushiya has been burning the midnight oil before the SSC board exams, scheduled to be held from February 20 to March 18, 2026, though her days are different from those of her classmates, as she has to juggle household and parental responsibilities, apart from attending classes regularly. Education interuption Owing to the hardships and financial struggles faced by her maternal family, Gaushiya only finished her schooling up to Std VIII at a local school in the eastern suburbs. Later, the young girl was married off. “I was promised that I would be able to complete my education after marriage. After my wedding in March, the pandemic began looming over us. The lockdown took away a couple of years from my education, and then I had my daughter. When I went to enrol her into a neighbourhood school, I realised this was a good opportunity for me to get back to academics,” she told mid-day. Gaushiya’s teachers, peers, and mentors remain amazed by her academic performance. Last year, she was the Std IX class topper. She seems taken in by skills like carpentry and electrical skills, taught as vocational subjects, and basic first aid, inching closer towards her aim of becoming a doctor. “When I was younger, my grandfather, a diabetic, would keep falling sick, and we would frequent the government hospitals. I saw how the doctors would tend to patients. Sometimes they would be very brusque with us. I hope to practise medicine and change that,” says Gaushiya. The student wakes up at 6 am daily to attend to household chores, and heads to school in the afternoon. Once she returns, she spends some time with her family, cooks, eats dinner, and stays up till 3 am to catch up on her studies. Like her mother, Zainab, too, has a keen interest in school and sits beside Gaushiya for a while, completing her homework. Despite her difficult circumstances, Gaushiya has never been a subject of bullying by her peers. In fact, being older than them makes them look up to her. Between classes or during breaks, Gaushiya’s trusted pals help her babysit. “When Gaushiya and her husband were here for her admission, we informed them about external exams and Form 17. However, she was determined to be a part of the schooling ecosystem, and we tried to help her,” said a school authority on the condition of anonymity. Multiple skills Gaushiya has learnt the workings of an electrical switchboard, how to repair a washing machine, and mend broken wires, and proudly takes home all the knowledge to tackle any household issues. Her husband is employed as a gig worker, and her in-laws are satisfied to see the young woman’s progress. “It is nice to see Gaushiya studying. We will encourage her to go as far as she wants to,” said Abdul Rehman Shaikh, her father-in-law.
06 February,2026 08:01 AM IST | Mumbai | Aditi AlurkarThe LT Marg police in South Mumbai have arrested a 19-year-old man for allegedly impersonating a Mumbai-based gold merchant on WhatsApp and attempting to cheat another trader of Rs 25 lakh. According to the police, the complainant, Lalit Kumar Jagawat, 61, who runs a bullion business in south Mumbai, was alerted on February 3 by a fellow gold trader from Jodhpur, Rajasthan, that he had received a call from an unknown person seeking R25 lakh in Jagawat’s name, claiming that the money was urgently required in Mumbai. Police said the caller had used Jagawat’s name and business display picture on WhatsApp to appear genuine. Smelling a rat, Jagawat clarified immediately that he had made no such request. The traders then coordinated to expose the impersonator to prevent any financial loss to others. As part of the plan, Jagawat instructed the Rajasthan-based trader to direct the caller to collect the money from a jewellery shop located in south Mumbai’s Zaveri Bazaar area. Jagawat simultaneously alerted staff at the shop, and kept local police informed as well. Later that evening, the suspect arrived at the designated shop to collect the cash. He was detained on the spot and subsequently handed over to the LT Marg police. The accused has been identified as Navneet Udaysingh, a resident of Kalbadevi. During preliminary questioning, the accused alleged that he had been sent by other individuals whose identities are still being verified. Police said no money was exchanged during the incident. An FIR has been registered under the Information Technology Act and the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita for impersonation and attempted cheating. The police suspect involvement of a larger gang, as this was not the first instance of businessmen being contacted using the complainant’s identity.
06 February,2026 07:52 AM IST | Mumbai | Aishwarya IyerThe ongoing crackdown on street hawkers by police in Borivali has begun triggering backlash, with frustration among vendors spilling onto the streets. One such enforcement drive on Wednesday evening turned confrontational after a hawker allegedly resisted police action, leading to a heated clash with officers. The incident has once again highlighted rising tensions between civic authorities and street vendors as intensified enforcement drives continue to affect livelihoods across Mumbai. Following the incident, police registered a case and arrested a pani puri vendor under Sections 132, 285, 223, 221 and 351(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) for obstructing government work and related offences. Incident details According to police, the incident occurred on February 4 at around 8.05 pm on the footpath opposite Chintamani Garden near a medical store on Shimpoli Road. A police team had reached the spot to take action against an unauthorised pani puri and vegetable stall that was allegedly obstructing pedestrian movement and traffic. Police alleged that the vendor lost his temper when officials began the eviction drive. He allegedly abused police personnel, pushed them and attempted to assault members of the team while shouting, thereby obstructing them from performing official duties. The complainant in the case is Bhaudas Jejiram Gangurde, 39, a police officer who was on duty at the time. The accused has been identified as Subhash Murari Yadav, 48, a pani puri and vegetable vendor residing at Saiprasad Mitra Mandal in Kastur Park, Shimpoli Road, Borivali West. He is originally from Uttar Pradesh. Police said Yadav was allegedly selling food items illegally on the footpath, causing traffic obstruction. When enforcement action began, he allegedly pushed officers, behaved aggressively and deliberately interfered with official work. The accused was arrested in the early hours of Thursday, and further investigation is underway. Police statement An officer from Borivali police station said that large-scale action against illegal hawkers is being carried out following court directives and under the guidance of senior officers, including the Deputy Commissioner of Police, Zone XI. Officials said enforcement drives have helped clear areas around railway stations and police station zones, providing relief to pedestrians. Police records show that last year, 241 cases were registered against illegal hawkers under relevant BNS sections. Additionally, action was taken against around 2299 vendors under special enforcement drives, with fines imposed. “So far this year, 62 cases have been registered under BNS Section 285 and six cases under Section 287. If enforcement across all police stations under Zone XI is considered, the numbers are significantly higher,” a police officer said. The officer added that during Wednesday’s drive, the accused vendor allegedly misbehaved with officers and pushed them, following which a case was registered, and he was arrested.
06 February,2026 07:49 AM IST | Mumbai | Samiullah KhanIn the wake of the 2026 BMC elections, the Mumbai Police has intensified its crackdown on illegal hawkers with support from the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC). The department has now also initiated action against its own personnel, suspending a policeman for failing to act against hawkers while on duty. Churchgate subway action Assistant Police Inspector Narayan Siddhappa Anand, attached to Azad Maidan police station, was suspended after allegedly failing to take action against illegal hawkers outside the Churchgate subway area on January 27. The Churchgate subway remains hawker-free following an anti-encroachment drive. Pic/Atul Kamble A police source said Anand was deployed outside Churchgate station between 7 pm and 9 pm, when several hawkers were operating in the subway area. Despite being instructed by senior officers to act against unauthorised vendors, he allegedly failed to take action. Following an internal inquiry, Anand was served a suspension notice, the source added. Impact of enforcement Clear pedestrian movement seen as the area around Churchgate station remains hawker-free on Thursday. Pics/Atul Kamble Following the suspension, authorities claim the Churchgate subway area has largely become hawker-free. When mid-day visited the location on Thursday, no hawkers were seen operating in the area. “We are taking strict action against illegal hawkers and registering FIRs where necessary. The entire area has been cleared, and regular drives are being conducted to prevent their return,” a police officer said. Action in Dadar East On Thursday, Bhoiwada police assisted the BMC in clearing illegal hawkers from MMGS Road outside Dadar East railway station following complaints from residents and commuters. “We provided security support to BMC teams during the eviction drive. The entire stretch has been cleared, and pedestrian movement has improved significantly,” an officer said. Commuters speak Police and civic staff remove hawkers from footpaths during an eviction drive to ease pedestrian movement in Dadar East. Pics/By Special Arrangement Dilip Dave, a Ghatkopar resident, said hawkers regularly block the walking space near Churchgate. “I travel daily to Churchgate and CSMT for work. The subway is usually overcrowded with hawkers, leaving barely any space to walk. Authorities must ensure such action continues, as vendors often return within days,” he said. Milind Suryawanshi, who travels from Churchgate to Andheri, echoed similar concerns. “There is hardly any space to walk. Hawkers occupy footpaths and even the subway area. Such drives are usually temporary. Vendors return within hours,” he said. Om Pandey, a law student who travels between Churchgate and Virar, said the subway often resembles a marketplace. “Hawkers sell clothes, toys, books and bags, while loudly calling customers. They leave just one narrow lane for pedestrians, which becomes chaotic,” he said. Advocate Sunil Pandey from Colaba said stricter and regular enforcement is necessary. “Lakhs of commuters use the suburban rail network daily. Municipal authorities and police must conduct sustained action to ensure safe pedestrian access,” he said. mid-day tried to contact Senior PI Shrikant Adate, but he was unavailable for comment.
06 February,2026 07:42 AM IST | Mumbai | Shirish VaktaniaDo you know what the stars hold for you in terms of love life, career, business and personal wellness today? Well, read on to know your astrological predictions as per your zodiac sign for February 6. Aries March 21 – April 20At a crossroads, and unable to choose the direction only lasts for an hour or two, till there’s clarity. Do drink enough water. Cosmic tip: Keep decisions firm, but loving at the same time. TaurusApril 21 – May 20Let go of past memories that can’t be altered in any way, yet keep you from enjoying the present moment.Cosmic tip: Don’t criticise or find fault. Remember love is the panacea for everything. GeminiMay 21 – June 21Being businesslike in financial matters helps negotiate a better business deal. Health is fine.Cosmic tip: Be willing to discuss important issues with your spouse/partner for a happier life together. Cancer June 22 – July 23Use your sharp intellect to sort out a problem that could have legal ramifications. Life settles down. Cosmic tip: Try a lifestyle change that begins an hour before bedtime to treat insomnia. Leo July 24 - Aug 23Some recurring circumstances require novel ways of resolving them forever. Remain focused.Cosmic tip: Consult a doctor if feeling low. Virgo Aug 24 – Sept 23The decision to gradually cut out junk food is a good idea. This karmic cycle highlights further studies, but not necessarily academic.Cosmic tip: Spend quality and quantity time with loved ones. Libra Sept 24 – Oct 22A karmic cycle of delays ends. Singles meet their karmic soul mate. The past was good. Today is so much better.Cosmic tip: Stop focusing on what is wrong at work. Look for solutions instead. Scorpio Oct 23 – Nov 22Singles in a relationship are ready to give a commitment. Be alert to messages as your own thoughts.Cosmic tip: Remember a New Year’s resolution. You had promised yourself to give up a habit. Sagittarius Nov 23 – Dec 22Have your vision checked if suffering from headaches. Tap into your highest potential.Cosmic tip: Don’t take that special person for granted. Capricorn Dec 23 – Jan 20A different kind of a karmic cycle begins that brings spiritual guidance, emotional support and material wealth; all together. Cosmic tip: Have confidence in yourself. Be peaceful. Aquarius Jan 21 – Feb 19Self-introspection brings so many truths to the surface; some pleasant and some not entirely so; but the truth all the same. Cosmic tip: Allow yourself to reach the goal with dedicated hard work. Pisces Feb 20 – March 20A small event is catalyst for a big change. Prayers are never ignored, but they could be answered in a different way.Cosmic tip: Have trust and faith in the person you love.
06 February,2026 04:34 AM IST | Mumbai | Shirley BoseMaharashtra has recorded an increase in road accidents and serious injuries for the sixth consecutive year, although road deaths have shown a marginal decline, officials said on Thursday, reported the PTI. The figures are based on provisional accident data for 2025 released by the state transport department. The state reported 36,450 road accidents in 2025, continuing the upward trend despite stricter enforcement measures. The number of people seriously injured in accidents rose by eight per cent during the year. Official data shows that Maharashtra recorded 24,971 road accidents in 2020. This number rose to 29,477 in 2021, 33,383 in 2022, 35,243 in 2023, 36,110 in 2024, and further to 36,450 in 2025, according to the PTI. After a sharp decline in 2020 due to restrictions during the first wave of the Covid-19 pandemic, accident numbers have increased steadily every year since. Maharashtra currently has a vehicular population of more than 4.5 crore. Despite the rise in accidents, the state managed to reduce road fatalities slightly in 2025, marking the first such decline since 2021. In 2025, Maharashtra recorded 15,549 deaths in 14,440 fatal accidents, compared with 15,715 deaths in 14,565 fatal accidents in 2024. However, the overall trend in fatalities has remained upward since 2020, when 11,569 people lost their lives in road accidents. The death toll increased to 13,528 in 2021, 15,224 in 2022, 15,366 in 2023, and 15,715 in 2024. Transport dept credits safety measures In a release issued on January 22, Additional Transport Commissioner Bharat Kalaskar said the reduction of 166 deaths, or 1.05 per cent, in 2025 reflected the positive impact of continuous road safety measures taken by the transport department, as per the PTI. The release said the state government has set a target of reducing road accidents by 50 per cent by the year 2030. Measures include the formation of road safety cells at both state and district levels, among other initiatives. Serious injuries remain major concern While fatalities declined slightly, the number of serious injuries continued to rise. Maharashtra recorded 23,756 serious injuries in road accidents in 2025, up from 22,051 in 2024. The data shows a steady increase in serious injuries over the years: 13,971 in 2020, 16,073 in 2021, 19,540 in 2022, 21,446 in 2023, and 22,051 in 2024. Sanjay Sasane, principal of the Institute of Driving Training and Research Society (IDTRS) in Pune, said poor driver training is one of the major reasons for the rise in road accidents. He pointed out that while motor vehicle rules prescribe a training syllabus for all drivers, mandatory training currently applies only to commercial vehicle drivers. Sasane, a former RTO officer, said that two-wheelers and four-wheelers account for nearly 70 per cent of road accidents and vehicles on the road, yet this segment receives limited attention, the news agency reported. He stressed the need for a proper training mechanism to educate drivers about traffic rules, emergency vehicle control, and hazard perception to improve road safety. (with PTI inputs)
05 February,2026 11:25 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentWestern Railway (WR) has collected over Rs 172 crore in fines through intensive ticket-checking drives conducted between April 2025 and January 2026, officials said on Thursday. According to WR, more than 27 lakh ticketless and irregular passengers, including cases of unbooked luggage, were detected during the period, resulting in a recovery of Rs 172.55 crore, nearly a 47 per cent increase compared to the corresponding period last year. In January 2026 alone, fines exceeding Rs 17 crore were collected from 2.82 lakh offenders, marking a 31 per cent rise year-on-year. Mumbai suburban, AC locals under focus In the Mumbai suburban section, intensified checks led to the detection of 9.75 lakh ticketless or irregular travellers between April 2025 and January 2026, with total recoveries touching Rs 45.60 crore, including fines from AC local trains. During January 2026, WR recovered Rs 4.34 crore from over 1.02 lakh cases in suburban services. Special focus was also placed on AC suburban locals, where surprise checks were carried out to curb unauthorised travel. Over one lakh penalty cases were booked in AC locals during the period, yielding fines of Rs 3.38 crore, a 97 per cent jump over last year. Fake UTS ticket racket detected WR officials also highlighted the detection of a fraudulent ticketing case during a joint enforcement drive. A woman passenger travelling in a Virar-bound local was found using a fake virtual UTS AC pass generated through a fraudulent application circulated on WhatsApp. She was deboarded at Bandra and handed over to the Railway Police with the help of the Railway Protection Force for further legal action. 30.75 lakh passengers caught travelling without tickets in FY 25-26, says CR Earlier in January, the Central Railway said that during its intensified efforts to curb unauthorised and ticketless travel have led to achieving significant results during the financial year 2025-26 between April to December. An official statement said that through systematic ticket checking drives, the railway apprehended 30.75 lakh passengers travelling without valid tickets, marking an increase of nearly 10 per cent compared to 28.01 lakh passengers during the same period last year. A total of Rs.183.16 crores was recovered in penalties, over 20 per cent higher than the Rs.151.99 crores collected in the previous financial year, the officials said. December 2025 figures highlight sharp rise In December 2025, ticket checking teams caught 3.24 lakh passengers travelling without valid tickets, compared with 2.93 lakh passengers in December 2024, indicating a rise of more than 10 per cent, the statement said. Penalties collected during the month amounted to Rs.18.25 crores, a jump of nearly 35 per cent from Rs.13.55 crores in December 2024, said the officials. According to the Central Railway, during April-December 2025, its divisions reported the following figures: - Bhusaval division: Rs.63.83 crores from 7.54 lakh cases - Mumbai division: Rs.55.12 crores from 12.82 lakh cases - Pune division: Rs.20.84 crores from 3.41 lakh cases - Nagpur division: Rs.20.75 crores from 3.33 lakh cases - Solapur division: Rs.8.39 crores from 1.81 lakh cases - Headquarters: Rs.14.22 crores from 1.83 lakh cases
05 February,2026 11:07 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentSupreme Court on Thursday asked the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) to identify an alternate 24 acres of land in Mumbai or nearby areas for compensatory afforestation, following the felling of 1,039 trees for the second phase of the Goregaon-Mulund Link Road (GMLR) project, reported the PTI. On November 17, 2025, the apex court had instructed the BMC’s Tree Authority to allow the urgent felling of the trees while directing the civic body to “scrupulously” carry out compensatory afforestation within eight weeks. As per the PTI, during Thursday’s hearing, the BMC and other authorities told a bench comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi that only three acres of the 27.5 acres identified inside Sanjay Gandhi National Park could be used for afforestation. BMC seeks extra time to locate 24 acres for afforestation The civic body requested an extension to identify the remaining 24 acres, potentially near Panvel. The court directed the BMC commissioner to file an affidavit within two weeks specifying the land and its exact location for the compensatory afforestation. It also asked the civic body to submit a schedule for completing the land identification and afforestation exercise, according to the PTI. Next hearing scheduled for April 8 to review progress Further, the bench ordered the BMC to file a second affidavit by March 31 and a third by May 22, detailing progress, along with videos documenting the steps taken. The Chief Justice warned that any official found violating the directions would face heavy penalties, recoverable from the errant officers alone. The matter is scheduled for further consideration on April 8. For context, the Supreme Court had earlier allowed the felling of 95 trees for the first phase of the GMLR project in Mumbai’s Film City. Permission for the 1,039 trees in the second phase was granted with the condition that compensatory afforestation be carried out meticulously. Supreme Court flags poor implementation of afforestation in Mumbai As per PTI, the top court had previously expressed concern over poor implementation of afforestation in Mumbai and warned the Maharashtra government that it could revoke permissions for tree felling in projects like the Mumbai Metro Rail and GMLR if compensatory measures were ignored. It had directed the state Chief Secretary to hold a meeting with all stakeholders and submit a “concrete proposal” ensuring afforestation is executed properly. The Chief Secretary and BMC later assured the court that compensatory afforestation would be undertaken diligently, including within Sanjay Gandhi National Park. The GMLR project aims to connect the Western Express Highway with the Eastern Express Highway, potentially reducing travel time between Mulund and Goregaon by almost an hour. The BMC’s plea comes after the Supreme Court’s January 10 order prohibiting any further tree felling in Aarey Colony without court permission. The earlier order was related to the Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation Limited’s car shade project. The apex court had also asked the Maharashtra government to report any proposals to fell more trees in Aarey and noted that some forest-dwelling communities had moved the Bombay High Court in 2023 over tree-felling concerns for the metro rail project. (With PTI inputs)
05 February,2026 10:56 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentAs many as 58 of the 670 Class 12 examination centres and 127 of the 1,004 Class 10 centres still do not have CCTV surveillance in every classroom ahead of the board examinations, official sources said. In its bid to conduct ‘copy-free’ exams, the Maharashtra State Board had directed all exam centres to install CCTV cameras not only along their premises but also inside every classroom for close monitoring. Centres that fail to comply with this requirement have been instructed to make alternative arrangements, including exchanging supervising teachers with other centres, to ensure unbiased invigilation. Number of non-compliant centres expected to reduce Interestingly, for Class 12, several centres in Mumbai’s western suburbs have been unable to install CCTV cameras in all classrooms, while most schools in the eastern suburbs, Palghar and Raigad districts, have complied with the norms. Officials said the number of non-compliant centres is expected to reduce further, as many schools and colleges are still in the process of installing CCTV systems, they said. For Class 10 examinations, centres in the western suburbs and South Mumbai districts are lagging behind in CCTV implementation. A significant number of these are Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC)-run schools, for which the Education Officer has written to the state government seeking additional funds to meet board regulations. This year, the Class 10 board examinations will begin on February 20, while the Class 12 exams are scheduled to start on February 10.
05 February,2026 10:24 PM IST | Mumbai | Aditi AlurkarADVERTISEMENT
