Campus Talk | BMC announces admission schedule for its popular CBSE, ICSE, IGCSE, and IB schools
Owing to the high number of applications the BMC receives, admissions to its 22 schools affiliated with non-state boards are given through a lottery system.
The BMC entered the non-state board education space in 2020 by starting its first CBSE division at Mumbai Public School in Poonam Nagar, Jogeshwari East.
The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has announced that the admission process for its non-state-board schools—those affiliated with the CBSE, ICSE, IGCSE, and IB – for the upcoming academic year (2026-27) will begin from January 1, 2026. These schools run by the civic body have gained significant popularity among parents in Mumbai, especially those belonging to the economically weaker sections of society.
There are 22 BMC-run schools affiliated with central and international boards—19 under the Central Board of Secondary Education, and one each under the Indian Certificate of Secondary Education, International Baccalaureate, and the International General Certificate of Secondary Education. There are 2,262 seats available for admission in these schools from the nursery to Class 1.
Civic officials say these schools have been receiving an overwhelming response from parents because they offer popular curricula without charging any fees, while private schools that offer these curricula are expensive.
The popularity of these schools has prompted the BMC to formalise and streamline the admission process, which starts early, along with private schools, unlike the admission cycle for state-board schools, which runs in May and June.
As per information provided by the BMC’s education department, the admission processes will be completely online. This year, the admission process will be held between January 1 to January 20, 2026. For applications, parents have to visit http://www.mcgm.gov.in/irj/portal/anonymous/qlSchool , where all details will be made available.
Owing to the high number of applications received each year, admissions are given through a lottery system to ensure transparency and fairness. The same process will be followed this year too.
The admission manual released by the BMC states that as per the respective board’s guidelines, there can be a maximum of 34 students in a class in the CBSE and ICSE schools, whereas in IGCSE and IB schools, one class should not have more than 26 students.
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“In order to adhere to these guidelines, seats are allotted through a lottery process,” said an official, adding that names of the schools and the number of seats available would be uploaded on the portal.
The BMC entered the non-state board education space in 2020 by starting its first CBSE division at Mumbai Public School in Poonam Nagar, Jogeshwari East. The initiative received a strong response from parents, encouraging the civic body to expand the model. In 2021, the BMC opened CBSE schools at 10 more locations across the city and also introduced schools affiliated with the ICSE, IB, and IGCSE boards.
Pallavi Smart is a Principal Correspondent with The Indian Express, Mumbai Bureau. Her reporting is singularly focused on the education sector, demonstrating exceptional Expertise and Authority across the entire spectrum of learning, from foundational schooling to advanced higher education. She is a highly Trustworthy source for policy, institutional developments, and systemic issues affecting students, teachers, and parents in Maharashtra.
Expertise
Senior Role: As a Principal Correspondent at The Indian Express, her designation reflects her seniority, specialized knowledge, and the editorial rigor applied to her reporting.
Core Authority & Specialization: Pallavi Smart is the definitive voice for Education news in the region. Her coverage scope is comprehensive:
Policy and Regulatory Changes: Reports on major shifts in educational policy, including the restructuring of entrance exams (e.g., MHT-CET adopting the JEE Main model), the draft regulatory framework for coaching classes, and revised teacher recruitment processes.
Higher Education Institutions (HEIs): Provides in-depth reporting on prestigious institutes like IIT Bombay and TISS (Tata Institute of Social Sciences), covering institutional initiatives, administrative debates (e.g., renaming IIT Bombay), and student welfare programs (e.g., mandatory mental health courses).
Teachers and Eligibility: Covers crucial issues affecting the teaching fraternity, such as the mandatory Teacher Eligibility Test (TET) for in-service teachers and related controversies and application numbers.
Student Welfare & Rights: Focuses on issues concerning students, including the rollout of government scholarships, the financial strain on schools due to midday meal reimbursement delays, and instances of child rights violations (e.g., the Powai studio hostage crisis).
Admissions and Vacancy: Tracks the outcome of centralized admission processes (e.g., MBBS, BPharm) and analyzes vacancy concerns, providing essential data-driven insights for parents and students.
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Dedicated Beat: Her consistent focus on the "KG to PG" education beat allows her to develop unparalleled subject matter knowledge, ensuring her reports are accurate, detailed, and contextualized.
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