CBSE Makes CCTV Camera Compulsory For All Affiliated Schools
The CCTV 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, a CBSE notification says.
NEW DELHI: The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has updated its affiliation norms, 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 of the Affiliation Bylaws, 2018, which deals with physical infrastructure requirements for affiliated schools.
“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,” a notification issued by the CBSE said.
The CCTV 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 expected to maintain backups for this duration, which must be made available to authorities as and when required, the notification said.
To view the detailed notification, click here.
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 have a duty not just to safeguard students physically, but also to foster an emotionally and psychologically safe environment.
NCPCR guidelines
The NCPCR guidelines already specify that CCTV systems should be installed and regularly maintained in schools.
The CBSE’s move formalises this recommendation by making it a mandatory condition for affiliation. It expects all affiliated schools to implement the provision in ‘letter and spirit’ to ensure a secure campus environment for students.
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