Having embarked on the reservation idea, the government has sought to pre-empt trouble. Patil assured that unlike last year, the announcement would be made well before the admission season. “We still have to look at all the legalities and then arrive at a decision. We are still in discussion,” said Patil.

The proposal itself has rattled ICSE and CBSE schools. Ayush Dhanuka, who passed ICSE this year with 88 per cent, said, “Reserving 90 per cent of seats for SSC students is unfair. Admission should go on like it has been happening every year. Everybody should have equal opportunity.”

In The field
2 lakh
students passed SSC last year

25,000
students passed ICSE and CBSE from Mumbai this year

1 lakh
hits during admission website trail run (above), big rush likely