The Maharashtra government decided to conduct a three-month impact assessment before proceeding with the closure or merger of schools with fewer than 20 students.
The decision followed a meeting between education department officials and representatives of the Shala Vachava, Shikshan Vachava forum after protests at Azad Maidan.
The study will evaluate student access, travel distances, safety, and local conditions across the state's 14,251 schools identified under the 2024 resolution.