This study aimed to evaluate water quality and the pathogenicity of E. coli strains in tropical marine beaches of Mumbai, Maharashtra, India.The assessment focuses on the presence of virulence genes (eae, hly, St, Lt, stx1, and stx2) and their correlation with water quality indexes (WQI).Five beaches-Marve, Aksa, Danapani, Erangal, and Silver Beach-were selected for anal.Water samples were tested for these virulence genes and water quality.Out of 116 E. coli isolates, 51 were confirmed as pathogenic.Biochem. and antibiotic susceptibility tests revealed the lowest susceptibility to Cefotaxime (58%).The Multiple Antibiotic Resistance (MAR) index varied from 0.09 to 0.45.The serotypes identified included O121, O83, O2, O120, O11, O35, O84, O49, O101, O8, O119, and O22, with O157 found in 22% of isolates.Marve Beach exhibited the poorest water quality with the lowest WQI.Erangal and Silver Beach showed 40% of isolates with stx1 and stx2 toxin genes, while Marve Beach had the highest prevalence of the hly gene (27.2%).Notably, Silver Beach had no hly gene detection.The findings indicate significant pathogenic contamination, particularly at Marve Beach.The study highlights the need for beach management to address pollution sources and mitigate health risks associated with fecal contamination, taking into account marine litter, sewage discharge, and metocean processes affected by climate change.