To enhance student safety, the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has mandated the installation of high-resolution CCTV cameras with audio-visual recording in all its affiliated schools. This decision, announced through an official notification on Monday (July 21, 2025), applies to thousands of schools across India.
According to the CBSE, cameras must be installed in several key areas of each school building. These include entry and exit points, corridors, staircases, classrooms, laboratories, libraries, canteens, and playgrounds. The only exceptions are toilets and washrooms, where cameras are not allowed to protect privacy. The cameras must offer real-time recording along with at least 15 days of backup storage. This footage can be accessed by authorities if necessary.
CBSE Secretary Himanshu Gupta said that the move is intended to strengthen the safety of students. “All affiliated schools must follow this directive in both letter and spirit,” Gupta stated. The board will collect data on how many schools comply with the new CCTV requirement after one month.
The board has also updated its Affiliation Bye-Laws 2018 to include CCTV installation as part of the basic physical infrastructure schools must have. This amendment is aimed at making student safety a permanent feature of school infrastructure.
Gupta added that this change is in line with the Manual on Safety and Security of Children in Schools issued by the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) in 2021. That manual recommended regular monitoring and maintenance of CCTV systems to ensure consistent safety standards.
This step comes after multiple incidents involving student safety were reported in schools across different states. These incidents triggered concern among parents, prompting CBSE to act. “It is important that all schools have adequate safety measures. That is why we are asking them to install CCTV cameras,” Gupta said. “We hope that all schools will complete this task within the given time.”
Many school principals have welcomed the decision. However, they also stressed the importance of regular maintenance to keep the CCTV systems working effectively. Asha Prabhakar, Chairperson of the National Progressive Schools’ Conference (NPSC) and Principal of Bal Bharati Public School in Noida, said, “We have already upgraded our cameras. Now that it is mandatory, it will benefit everyone—students, teachers, and school administrators. It will also help improve the overall school environment.”
Experts believe that installing CCTV cameras can discourage misbehavior, improve discipline, and provide evidence in case of disputes or emergencies. Some schools had already installed CCTV systems earlier, but this is the first time CBSE has made it compulsory for all affiliated institutions.
While there is general support for the move, there is also concern about costs and how smaller schools will manage the technical aspects of installing and maintaining these systems. School authorities may need support to implement the norms effectively within the one-month deadline.
As CBSE starts collecting compliance data, the success of this initiative will depend not just on camera installation but also on regular system checks and responsible usage. If implemented properly, this could mark a major improvement in the way schools handle student safety across the country.
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