Patna: The Bihar government has revived plans to install CCTV cameras in all 81,223 government schools across the state, more than 14 months after the proposal was first outlined by the education department.
Officials said a fresh proposal has now been sent to the finance department seeking approval to implement the project in the new year. The plan was initially flagged on November 10, 2024, when the then additional chief secretary of the education department, S Siddharth, spoke publicly about extending CCTV surveillance to government schools.
Following the installation of cameras in Class 12 classrooms of senior secondary schools, the department now intends to expand coverage to Classes 8, 9, 10 and 11 from the next academic year. Surveillance in primary and middle schools will follow in a phased manner.
According to education department officials, Bihar currently has 9,360 secondary and senior secondary schools, 40,566 primary schools, and 31,297 middle schools. CCTV cameras are to be installed in classrooms across all these institutions, though the rollout will be staggered because of the scale and cost involved.
“Installing CCTV cameras in lower grades is expensive and will therefore be completed gradually,” a senior official said, adding that the phased approach was intended to spread costs over multiple years.
Beyond classroom monitoring, officials said the cameras would also be used to oversee the implementation of the mid-day meal scheme, a flagship welfare programme that has faced periodic allegations of irregularities.
The proposal is now awaiting clearance from the finance department, after which timelines and budgets for the statewide rollout are expected to be finalised.
