CBSE Makes CCTV Installation Mandatory in Classrooms & School Premises to Enhance Student Safety

New Delhi – In a major move aimed at bolstering student safety, the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has issued a directive mandating the installation of high-resolution CCTV cameras in all CBSE-affiliated schools. These cameras are to be placed at critical locations such as classrooms, corridors, staircases, lobbies, entry and exit points, laboratories, libraries, canteens, playgrounds, and storerooms.

The initiative is a significant step toward monitoring and deterring incidents of bullying and other potential threats to students within school campuses. However, the CBSE has clarified that toilets and washrooms are excluded from this surveillance requirement to ensure privacy.

According to the directive, all CCTV cameras must offer real-time audiovisual monitoring capabilities and the footage must be stored securely for a minimum period of 15 days. Schools are also expected to maintain backups of this footage, which should be made readily available to authorities upon request.

This decision aligns with the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) guidelines. Clause 1(X) of the NCPCR’s Manual on the safety and security of children in schools explicitly states the need for regular monitoring and maintenance of CCTV systems.

The CBSE has formally communicated this directive to the heads and managers of all its affiliated institutions and expects strict compliance to strengthen safety mechanisms across school environments.