By the SightShield team · · 3 min read
Schools now have specific rules
Student safety has made CCTV a requirement, not an option, for many schools. In July 2025 CBSE amended its affiliation bye-laws to require CCTV in all affiliated schools, and Karnataka has issued its own guidance for schools and made CCTV mandatory in colleges. Larger schools are also likely to count as "establishments" under Karnataka’s Public Safety Act.
What the CBSE rule requires
As reported in July 2025, CBSE’s new Clause 4.7.10 requires:
- High-resolution CCTV with audio-visual recording.
- Coverage of entry and exit points, corridors, staircases, classrooms, laboratories, library, canteen, storeroom, playground and other common areas.
- No cameras in toilets and washrooms.
- A storage device holding at least 15 days of footage, plus a backup of at least 15 days available to authorities.
Karnataka
- The state’s school-safety guidelines (around 2019) asked schools to install CCTV in classrooms.
- Bengaluru police have required CCTV and GPS in school buses.
- In July 2025 the Department of Higher Education made CCTV mandatory in colleges, universities and polytechnics.
- Schools with large gatherings are also "establishments" under the Karnataka Public Safety Act, with its 30-day storage rule.
Planning a school system
| Area | Camera approach |
|---|---|
| Gates and reception | Face-identifying cameras; visitor management |
| Classrooms | One camera per room with built-in microphone for audio-visual recording |
| Corridors and staircases | Overlapping views so movement can be followed |
| Labs, library, canteen, stores | Room coverage; stores also need access control |
| Playground | Wide-area cameras, colour night vision for evening events |
| Bus bay | Pick-up and drop-off zone coverage |
| Perimeter | Line-crossing alerts after school hours |
Storage: plan for 30 days, not 15
CBSE sets 15 days as the minimum with a 15-day backup. Because larger schools are likely covered by Karnataka’s Public Safety Act, which requires 30 days, it is sensible to size the main storage for at least 30 days and keep a separate backup. With dozens of cameras recording audio and video, this means NVRs with several large surveillance hard disks.
Audio recording in practice
CBSE’s requirement for audio-visual recording means many schools need cameras with built-in microphones or separate audio inputs in the areas covered. Audio adds bandwidth and storage, and it raises privacy expectations: inform staff, students and parents through the school’s CCTV policy, and restrict who can listen to recordings. Plan microphones where they are useful — corridors, entrances, common areas — rather than everywhere.
School buses and pick-up
- Cameras inside school buses, with GPS tracking, as required by many schools and local rules.
- Cameras at the bus bay and the pick-up gate.
- Pick-up authorisation so only registered guardians collect younger children.
- Attendance at boarding and alighting, linked to parent alerts.
Privacy and access
- Never place cameras in toilets, washrooms or changing rooms.
- Restrict viewing to the principal and designated staff, with a log of who exports footage.
- Inform parents and staff through the school’s policy.
- Use face-recognition attendance for staff, and consider it for students at entry.
Quick answers
Is CCTV mandatory in CBSE schools?+
Yes. A July 2025 CBSE amendment requires CCTV with audio-visual recording in key areas of all affiliated schools, with at least 15 days of storage plus a 15-day backup.
Can schools install CCTV in classrooms?+
Yes — CBSE’s rule includes classrooms, and Karnataka’s guidelines also asked schools to cover classrooms. Toilets and washrooms must never have cameras.
How long should a school keep CCTV recordings?+
CBSE requires at least 15 days plus a backup. For larger Karnataka schools covered by the Public Safety Act, plan for 30 days.
Do school CCTV cameras need audio?+
CBSE’s 2025 rule calls for audio-visual CCTV in the areas it covers. Check the current requirement for your board and plan microphones accordingly.
Who should be able to view school CCTV?+
The principal and designated staff, with access logged. Parents should not have open access to recordings of other children.