CBSE cracks down on school transparency with strict public disclosure mandate

The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has issued a firm directive to all its affiliated schools to strictly comply with the revised ‘Mandatory Public Disclosure’ norms. Schools are now under clear orders to update their official websites with full and accurate information by February 15, 2026 — failure to do so will invite penal action under the Board’s Affiliation Bye-laws.

Under these rules, maintaining a functional, informative website is no longer optional but a mandatory requirement for affiliation. The CBSE’s notification highlights that every school must publicly display comprehensive data including their affiliation status, infrastructure details, fee structure, student count, teacher qualifications, and contact information.

Furthermore, schools are required to upload self-attested valid documents as prescribed in the revised Appendix IX format.

An annual report capturing critical academic and extracurricular details — from teacher training to sports achievements and management committee decisions — must also be published online by September 15 each year, reinforcing the Board’s emphasis on transparency.

Despite repeated instructions, CBSE officials express concern that numerous schools have neglected this responsibility, often providing incomplete, outdated, or inaccurate information, especially regarding teacher credentials. This omission undermines parents’ ability to make informed decisions about their children’s education.

The Board has made it unequivocally clear: non-compliance will be treated as a serious violation of Clause 12.2.3 of the Affiliation Bye-laws, carrying penalties outlined in Chapter 12. CBSE’s move signals a decisive step toward greater accountability and transparency in India’s school education system.