Short answer: a CBSE-affiliated school must publish a Mandatory Public Disclosure on its website in the format of Appendix IX of the Affiliation Bye-Laws. That covers general information, key documents and certificates, fees, the academic calendar, results, staff and infrastructure. Beyond compliance, a good school website answers the questions parents ask before admission: fees, timings, transport, safety, facilities and how to apply. It should be fast on a phone, easy to update, and careful with children's personal data.
Education is one of the sectors we work with regularly at Arcbig, and most school websites we are asked to review have the same two problems. The CBSE disclosure page is missing, outdated or buried. And the information parents actually want, such as fees, transport routes and the admission process, takes five clicks to find, or is not there at all. This guide covers both. It is general guidance; always check the latest CBSE circulars and your board's own rules.
What is CBSE's Mandatory Public Disclosure?
CBSE requires affiliated schools to publish key information about themselves on their website so parents and the public can see it. Under CBSE Circular No. 03 of 2021, clause 2.4.9 of the Affiliation Bye-Laws says the Mandatory Public Disclosure "shall be uploaded at prominent place on the website", in the format given in Appendix IX.
CBSE has continued to stress this. In January 2026, Careerindia reported that the board had reminded affiliated schools to keep their disclosures current, and cautioned that false, misleading or missing information may invite strict action under affiliation rules.
What must the Appendix IX disclosure include?
According to the circular, the disclosure is organised into five parts:
A. General information: school name, affiliation number, school code, complete address with PIN code, principal's name and qualification, school email and contact details.
B. Documents and information: uploaded copies, self-attested by the chairman, manager or secretary and the principal, of:
- the affiliation or upgradation letter and any recent extension
- the society, trust or company registration or renewal certificate
- the No Objection Certificate from the state or UT, if applicable
- recognition under the RTE Act, 2009, if applicable
- a valid building safety certificate under the National Building Code
- a valid fire safety certificate from the competent authority
- the District Education Office certificate or school self-certification
- valid water, health and sanitation certificates
C. Results and academics: fee structure, annual academic calendar, the School Management Committee and Parent Teacher Association member lists, and Class X and XII board results for the last three years.
D. Teaching staff: principal details, the number of PGT, TGT and PRT teachers, the teacher-section ratio, and details of the special educator and the counsellor and wellness teacher.
E. Infrastructure: total campus area, the number and size of classrooms and laboratories, internet facility, the number of girls' and boys' toilets, and a link to a YouTube video of the school's inspection showing its infrastructure.
The circular warns that if documents uploaded are later found not to be genuine, the school shall be liable for action as per norms.
How should the disclosure be shown on the website?
Practical advice from building school websites:
- Link it from the main menu or the footer of every page, labelled clearly as "Mandatory Public Disclosure", so both parents and inspectors find it in one click.
- Use a proper web page for the text sections, with documents attached as clear, readable PDFs, rather than one scanned 40-page file.
- Name files sensibly, such as "Fire-Safety-Certificate-2026.pdf", so they are easy to update.
- Set a reminder to update fees, the calendar, results, staff numbers and expiring certificates every year.
- Keep it accurate. If something changes mid-year, update the page.
What do parents look for on a school website?
The disclosure keeps you compliant. The rest of the website decides whether parents shortlist you. In our experience, parents want quick answers to:
- Admissions: which classes have seats, age criteria, the process, important dates, documents needed and an online enquiry form.
- Fees: the full fee structure, payment schedule and what is included.
- Transport: routes, areas covered, timings and safety measures such as GPS and attendants.
- Safety: CCTV, visitor policy, female staff on buses, medical room, and fire and building safety.
- Academics: curriculum, class sizes, results and how teachers are qualified.
- Facilities: labs, library, sports, music and art, with real photos.
- Daily life: school timings, uniform, lunch policy and the holiday calendar.
- Contact: phone, WhatsApp, email, a map and office timings.
Put admissions and fees in the main menu. Those are the two pages parents look for first, especially during admission season. Our guide to school marketing for admissions covers how to bring parents to these pages through social media.
How should a school website handle children's personal data?
Schools collect a lot of personal data through websites: enquiry forms, online applications and photos of students. India's Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023 requires verifiable consent from a parent or lawful guardian before processing a child's personal data. The DPDP Rules, 2025, notified on 14 November 2025, set out how this works, with most obligations, including the children's data provisions, coming into force eighteen months after publication.
Practical steps for the website:
- Collect only what you need in enquiry and admission forms.
- Explain how you use the data in a clear privacy policy.
- Get written parental consent before publishing photos or videos of students, and keep a record.
- Avoid publishing students' full names with photos unless parents have agreed.
- Secure the website and forms: SSL, strong passwords, regular updates and limited admin access.
Talk to your legal adviser about how the law applies to your school.
What technical basics should a school website get right?
- Fast and mobile-friendly. Most parents will visit on a phone, often from a WhatsApp link.
- Easy for staff to update. Notices, circulars, events and galleries change weekly; choose a platform the office team can manage.
- Bilingual where useful. Many parents in western UP and NCR prefer Hindi for key information such as fees and admissions.
- Findable on Google. A clear title such as "CBSE school in Modinagar", a page for each important topic, and a complete Google Business Profile with the same name, address and phone number. Our local SEO guide explains the basics.
- Secure and backed up, with the domain and hosting registered in the school's or trust's name.
How long does it take to build a school website?
A typical school website with admissions, academics, facilities, gallery, notices and the disclosure section usually takes three to five weeks. The slowest part is almost always collecting documents, photos and content from the school office, so start gathering them early. Our post on the website development process walks through each stage.
How we help
At Arcbig we build school websites with the CBSE disclosure section, admission enquiry forms, notice boards and galleries the office team can update, and we run admission-season social media campaigns. Website projects start from ₹15,000. See website development, or email contact@arcbig.com with your school's name and board.
Frequently asked questions
Is mandatory public disclosure compulsory for CBSE schools?
Yes. The CBSE Affiliation Bye-Laws require affiliated schools to upload the Mandatory Public Disclosure in the Appendix IX format at a prominent place on their website.
What documents must a CBSE school upload on its website?
Documents including the affiliation letter, trust or society registration, NOC and RTE recognition where applicable, building safety, fire safety, District Education Office, and water, health and sanitation certificates, along with fees, the academic calendar, SMC and PTA lists, results, staff details and infrastructure information.
What happens if a school does not update its disclosure?
CBSE has cautioned that false, misleading or missing information may invite strict action under affiliation rules, and that schools are liable for action if uploaded documents are found not to be genuine.
Can a school publish student photos on its website?
It should do so only with written consent from parents or guardians, keeping records of that consent, in line with India's data protection law and the school's own policy.
What pages should a school website have?
Home, About, Admissions, Fees, Academics, Facilities, Transport, Gallery, Notices and Circulars, Contact, Mandatory Public Disclosure, and a Privacy Policy.