Summary: The article explores how school safety and security compliance in India is moving from a general framework to increasingly detailed and strictly enforced regulations across different states. It also examines the implications of these changes for schools in the future. We further cover practical tips for schools, emphasising how to integrate compliance into a continuous, institution-wide process through consistent awareness, well-documented SOPs, and regular audits.
Schools are meant to be safe spaces for children. But the concept of safety is evolving in keeping with the times.
For years, “school safety” meant fire extinguishers, first aid kits and a security guard at the gate.
But recent incidents, ranging from classroom bullying and harassment to school bus accidents and canteen food concerns, have led to increased scrutiny on how these safe spaces are monitored and maintained. Considerable thought also needs to be put into what more can be done to improve processes and implementation.
Safety now includes CCTV monitoring, data protection, background-verified staff, bus tracking, food safety licences, permits and a clear, timed protocol for handling difficult situations. This reflects the evolving regulatory and legal framework alongside what parents and schools have long recognised: safety works best as a system, built policy by policy, audit by audit, and a concerted effort to identify and bridge the gaps.
What exists today
To begin with, safety and security in schools are mandated under state and central laws. For instance, state education laws and byelaws/ conditions of school affiliating bodies require minimum physical infrastructure requirements, standards, along with conditions for the structural safety of school buildings (such as the need to obtain an Occupation Certificate and Fire NOC from local authorities before commencing operations). There are also ongoing compliances, such as periodic renewal of health and sanitary certificates, permissions and renewals for operating school buses for transporting students, and permissions relating to lifts and swimming pools, if they exist, within the school premises.
Safety and security in schools are governed by several key regulations, including the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, 2012, which obligates schools to protect children and promptly report any concerns to the appropriate authorities. Schools are also required to be inclusive and guarantee accessibility for all children.
What changed
Change in societal norms and concerns, advent of tech and safety awareness, reviews of some untoward incidents have prompted regulators to move beyond broad laws and advisory guidance. There is a shift towards more specific standards and strict implementation.
Maharashtra has introduced several safety and security focused requirements recently.
1. School bus safety. The Maharashtra Motor Vehicles (Regulations for School Buses) (First Amendment) Rules, 2026, notified on July 16, 2026, amends the Maharashtra Motor Vehicles (Regulations for School Buses) Rules, 2011. As per the amended rules, every school bus/ van must carry a Vehicle Location Tracking Device with a panic button (AIS-140), a Fire Detection and Alarm System, seat belts for every seat, and CCTV with 30-day footage retention accessible to parents and authorities. Fares are regulated for the first time, with the Regional Transport Authority fixing a base fare and a 10% variance cap and permitting monthly or quarterly billing. Each school must establish a Transport Committee and submit quarterly reports. Drivers and attendants need background checks and medical certificates, with a mandatory female attendant on pre-primary/ primary trips. Schools have three months to comply, or risk permit suspension from notification.
2. School safety audits. A Government Resolution dated December 13, 2025, makes the Ministry of Education (Department of School Education and Literacy)’s “Guidelines on School Safety and Security-2021” mandatory, building on an earlier resolution of May 13, 2025. It bans corporal punishment and discrimination outright, and fixes timelines: a written record and preliminary inquiry within two days, and police reporting within 24 hours for matters relating to the POCSO Act, 2012, or the Juvenile Justice Act, 2015. Directorate-level circulars in mid-2026 have mandated schools to physically audit themselves against the “Manual of Safety & Security in School” and report deficiencies to the relevant authorities. The Supreme Court has reinforced this principle[1], holding that a school cannot replace the statutory duty to report with its own verification process. The Court held that restricting “knowledge” of an offence to what a person directly witnesses would defeat the purpose of the POCSO Act, 2012, and that credible information received directly from a child triggers the duty to report, which must precede rather than follow any investigation.
3. Junk food, quite literally, out of the gate. A statewide FDA order, dated July 28, 2026, bans the sale, advertisement and free distribution of high-fat, high-sugar, high-salt foods, including deep-fried snacks, chips, sugary drinks, chocolates and ice cream, within school premises and within 50 meters of the gate. Canteens and food suppliers must hold valid FSSAI licences, display Food Safety Display Boards, and undergo at least two inspections a year.
Karnataka has taken a similar approach to food safety. An FDA advisory, dated July 24, 2026[2], encourages schools and colleges to restrict the sale, advertisement and promotion of high-fat, sugar and salt foods within campuses and a 50-metre radius, following a statewide inspection drive.
Tamil Nadu’s preparatory, infrastructure-first approach. Proceedings issued by the Director of School Education, Tamil Nadu on May 07, 2026, direct every District Chief Education Officer to complete a school safety and infrastructure audit in all schools before the June reopening, ahead of the monsoon season. The audit is to be carried out against the standards set out in the “School Child Safety Handbook 2024-2025”, with each district required to report back to the Directorate.
What lies ahead:
The takeaway for schools is straightforward. Compliance is not a burden, but a safeguard that supports schools in acting quickly and appropriately to avoid or diffuse a difficult situation.
Meaningful compliance tends to work best as a whole-school effort. The management committee, principal, teachers, transport staff, canteen vendors and even parents have a part to play. A single missing piece can undermine the entire system.
Laws and regulations are consistent. Statutory child protection obligations are being translated into clearer, more practical, school-level procedures, supported by regular audits and greater accountability for school leadership. For schools, particularly those operating across States, it is important to remember that there is no single national standard; each State’s specific order, timeline and reporting format is worth tracking. Given how frequently these updates are being issued, building compliance into an ongoing, recurring rhythm, rather than a one-time exercise, will serve schools well.
Therefore, a few things are worth keeping in mind:
- Awareness: Of the applicable laws, regulations, policies, committees, processes, reporting timelines, SOS contacts and escalation mechanisms. It is also important to remember that laws change with time. Timely information and updates are equally important for compliance.
- Compliance handbooks and SOPs: Committees alone are insufficient; their roles and powers should be clearly defined. While empowered committees can be a boon for compliance, documented handbooks, SOPs and regular training of committee members to build awareness and implement compliance is equally important.
- Periodic audits: Permissions, compliances, handbooks, policies, incident reports, timelines and consequences are the new normal for running schools, rather than these being one-time formalities. These are required for improvisation and incident avoidance in the future.
Responsibilities associated with safety rest with the institution and its leadership, not only with individual staff members or persons who may be directly involved in an incident. Compliance is not optional; maintaining safety and security compliances in schools will be a school administration’s key task in times ahead.
For further information, please contact:
Aarushi Jain, Partner, Cyril Amarchand Mangaldas
aarushi.j@cyrilshroff.com
[1] AAA v. Linda Sema, 2026 SCC OnLine SC 1299.
[2] Food Safety and Drug Administration, Government of Karnataka, Advisory No. HFW/FDA/ENF/2026-27 dated July 24, 2026
