India, Feb. 24 -- While a row has erupted over the Mahayuti government granting minority status to 75 schools across the state hours after Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief and former deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar's death on January 28, data from the school education department shows that more than 50% schools in and around Mumbai are classified as minority institutions.

Out of a total of 1,736 schools across the city and suburbs affiliated with various education boards, 950 schools - or 54.43% - are classified as minority institutions; among these, 40 schools obtained minority status in the past five years, data accessed by Hindustan Times shows.

As per existing rules, an organisation can get minority status if at least 50% of ...