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The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has updated its affiliation norms to include a new provision mandating the installation of high-resolution CCTV cameras with audio-visual recording capabilities across all key areas of school campuses. This amendment has been made under Chapter 4, which deals with physical infrastructure requirements for affiliated schools.
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According to the notice, all CBSE-affiliated schools are now required to install CCTV cameras with both video and audio recording capabilities at entry and exit points, lobbies, corridors, staircases, classrooms, laboratories, libraries, canteen areas, storerooms, playgrounds, and other common areas. Toilets and washrooms are exempt from this provision.
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The cameras must be capable of real-time recording and should be connected to storage systems that retain footage for a minimum period of 15 days. Schools are also expected to maintain backups for this duration, which must be made available to authorities as and when required.
The decision draws from the Manual on Safety and Security of Children in Schools published by the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR), which defines “school safety” as ensuring a secure and supportive environment for children—from home to school and back. The scope includes protection from abuse, violence, disasters, accidents, and psychological stressors like bullying.
The manual underscores that emotional safety often remains unnoticed and difficult to detect, highlighting the need for comprehensive measures. Schools, therefore, have a duty not just to safeguard students physically, but also to foster an emotionally and psychologically safe environment.
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The NCPCR guidelines already specify that CCTV systems should be installed and regularly maintained in schools. The CBSE’s latest move formalises this recommendation by making it a mandatory condition for affiliation. The Board expects all affiliated schools to implement the provision in “letter and spirit” to ensure a secure campus environment.
The provision is also aimed at promoting vigilance, preventing threats from external and internal sources, and supporting school staff in early identification of safety issues.
The CBSE reiterated that ensuring a safe school ecosystem is a collective responsibility involving not only school management and staff but also students, special needs assistants, contractors, and visitors.
