CBSE Mandates 2,000 Sq. Meter Playground for Schools

The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has introduced significant changes to land requirements for schools. Under the new rules, all CBSE-affiliated schools must have a minimum playground area of 2,000 square meters.

Minimum Playground Requirement
Schools with less than 6,000 square meters of land must either allocate space within their campus for the playground or enter a written agreement for at least 15 years with nearby schools, colleges, stadiums, sports complexes, or public parks. The facility should be within 200 meters of the school building, ensuring students do not need to cross busy roads or national highways.

Building Regulations
The height and covered area of school buildings will be governed by the respective state or Union Territory building bylaws.

Regional Standards
CBSE has also defined different land norms for metro cities, state capitals, hilly regions, northeastern states, and special-category areas. For example, in Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, and Kolkata, secondary schools must have at least 1,600 square meters of land, while senior secondary schools require between 2,400 and 3,200 square meters. Certain regions such as Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim, Andaman & Nicobar Islands, and Lakshadweep have been granted special exemptions.

The board clarified that schools already affiliated with CBSE will continue to follow the previous land requirements.