Mumbai, formerly known as Bombay is the capital of the Indian state of Maharashtra.  It is also the commercial capital of India with an estimated population of about 20 million people.  Mumbai is located on Salsette Island off the west coast of India. The city, which has a deep natural harbour, is the largest port in western India, handling over half of India's passenger traffic.

Schools in Mumbai are either run by the BMC, in which case they are called public schools, or privately by trusts and individuals. Private schools have been preferred by a majority of city residents because of better facilities and use of English as a medium of instruction. All private schools are affiliated either to the Maharashtra state SSC board or the Indian Certificate of Secondary Education (CISCE) and CBSE boards. Demand is especially high for CISCE, CBSE affiliated schools and those run by convents or by the Jesuits. The total number of schools in Mumbai is around 2513, of this about 2443 schools are a part of the Maharashtra State Board, whereas only 49 and 21 schools are a part of CISCE and CBSE respectively(as in 2005).

The Maharashtra Board is still following the 10+2+3 format of education wherein after ten years of schooling, students enroll for two years in a Junior College where they choose from one of the four popular streams: Arts, Commerce, Science and Law. This is followed by a professional degree course in the corresponding stream.

Universities in Mumbai

Most of the colleges in Mumbai are affiliated to the University of Mumbai, one of the largest universities in the world. The Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay, one of world's premier engineering universities, and the SNDT Women's University, open to women only, are the other universities in Mumbai.

Mumbai University

The University of Mumbai (known earlier as University of Bombay) is one of the oldest and premier Universities in India. The University of Bombay was established at the Fort Campus in 1857. In the same year universities were established in the two other Presidency towns of Calcutta and Madras. It was one of the first educational institutions established by the British in India following Sir Charles Wood's Dispatch on Education in 1854.

Most of the colleges in the city of Mumbai (Bombay) and the districts of Thane, Raigad, Ratnagiri and Sindhudurg are affiliated to the University of Mumbai. The University of Mumbai offers Bachelors, Masters and Doctoral degrees to students. It has several high ranking research institutes in the world, including Mumbai University Institute of Chemical Technology (formerly UDCT), Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR) a Deemed University of the University of Mumbai and the Tata Memorial Hospital.

It is now granted a Five Star status by the National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC).  It has two campuses of area 230 acres and 13 acres, with 1.25 million square feet of built-up area, 22 thousand sq. feet of class-rooms and 84 thousand sq. feet of laboratory space.  It has two post-graduate centres, 354 affiliated colleges and 36 Departments.  It has established its name in industrial collaborations and runs various professional courses.  The University of Mumbai confers over 1,100 degrees and diplomas every year and over 80,000 students apply for the degrees. It also provides a large International students Hostel for foreign students.

At national level, it has excelled in sports, cultural and out-reach activities.  In the last five years it has seen 104% increase in under-graduate students, 112% increase in post-graduate students and 147% increase in distance - education students.  There is 156% increase in the number of research papers published in International journals.  12 Department/sections are recognized under various national programmes, such as SAP/CAS/DRS/DSA/COSIST/FIST.  More than 80 teachers are on various professional bodies.  18 National/International awards have been won by teachers in the last five years.  Every year about 20 teachers visit abroad for academic activities.  Recently more than 10 self-supporting courses have been started by the University.