CBSE Mandates CCTV Surveillance in All Classrooms, Corridors, and Key School Areas for Student Safety
CBSE Mandates CCTV Surveillance in All Classrooms, Corridors, and Key School Areas for Student Safety
In a landmark step to boost student safety, CBSE mandates high-resolution CCTV surveillance in classrooms, corridors, and other key areas of affiliated schools.
In a decisive move to ensure student safety and strengthen on-campus monitoring, the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has directed all affiliated schools to install high-resolution CCTV cameras with real-time audiovisual capabilities at all key locations. These include all entry and exit points, classrooms, corridors, staircases, lobbies, labs, libraries, canteens, store rooms, and playgrounds. The only exceptions are toilets and washrooms.
CBSE has made amendment in by-law mandating schools to install high resolution CCTV Cameras with audio-visual facility at all the entry and exit points of the school, lobbies, corridors, staircases, all the classrooms, labs, library, Canteen Area, store room, playground and other… pic.twitter.com/H3doF4zHuY
— ANI (@ANI) July 21, 2025
The directive, which has been circulated to heads and managers of all CBSE-affiliated schools, highlights the need for enhanced vigilance to safeguard students against bullying and other implicit threats. The order clearly states, “The safety and well-being of children is paramount, and the installation of CCTV cameras will serve as a critical tool for supervision and prevention.”
According to the circular, all recorded CCTV footage must be stored for a minimum of 15 days. Schools are also required to maintain backup storage of this footage and ensure that it is readily accessible to authorized authorities when required.
This directive aligns with the recommendations of the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR). As per clause 1(X) of the NCPCR’s manual on the safety and security of children in schools, “CCTV in schools needs to be monitored and maintained regularly.” The CBSE has echoed this guideline and advised schools to undertake regular inspections of their surveillance systems.
“The board’s emphasis is not only on installation but also on proper maintenance and accessibility of footage. Real-time audiovisual monitoring is essential to prevent any mishaps,” the notice further added.
This sweeping reform signals a new era in school surveillance, aiming to foster a secure, transparent, and responsive learning environment for students across the country.
