CBSE Affiliation for New and Existing Schools
CBSE affiliation lets your school teach the CBSE curriculum and send students to the Class 10 and Class 12 board exams. It is granted under the Affiliation Bye-Laws, 2018 on the SARAS portal: three years first, then five years at a time. We set up the trust or society, build the file and stay with you through the inspection.
What it is
CBSE affiliation is the Central Board of Secondary Education’s formal approval for a school to follow its syllabus and send students to its board examinations. A school can be approved for the middle classes, or affiliated up to Secondary (Class 10) or Senior Secondary (Class 12).
The rules are in the CBSE Affiliation Bye-Laws, 2018, amended from time to time by circular. Every application is filed online on SARAS, CBSE’s School Affiliation Re-engineered Automation System. For the 2027-28 session CBSE runs version 7.0 of the portal. A first affiliation is granted for three years under clause 2.7, and each extension after that runs for five years under clause 10.3.
Who it applies to
New private schools
A school run by a registered society, a registered trust or a Section 8 company, as clause 2.3.2 requires. The school must be non-proprietary, so it cannot be owned by an individual or a family firm.
Schools upgrading their level
Think of a Faridabad trust whose school runs up to Class 8 and now wants Classes 9 and 10. That is an upgradation, a separate application with its own fee and inspection.
Affiliated schools due for extension
Schools whose current affiliation period is ending, and schools that want to add sections, subjects, a second shift, shift the site or change the managing body’s name.
Why it matters
Board exams in your school’s name
Only an affiliated school can register students for the CBSE Class 10 and Class 12 examinations.
A national curriculum
Affiliated schools follow the CBSE curriculum and NCERT textbooks (clauses 2.4.6 and 2.4.7), which suits families who move between states.
Clear standards for the trust
The bye-laws fix the rules on land, staff, fees and accounts. Meet them once and each extension gets easier.
Documents required
From the managing body
- Registration certificate of the society, trust or Section 8 company
- Bye-laws, trust deed or MOA and AOA
- Audited accounts certified by a chartered accountant
From the state and local bodies
- No Objection Certificate from the State Education Department
- Recognition certificate, valid on the date of application
- Certificate from the District Education Officer in the format of Appendix II or III
- Land certificate in the prescribed format, not older than one year
Safety and infrastructure
- Fire safety certificate from the government fire department
- Building safety certificate in the prescribed format
- Safe drinking water and sanitary condition certificate
- Built-up area certificate from the local body or a licensed architect
- Self-affidavit (Appendix IV) and the system-generated self-certification
Land and building norms
On 19 January 2026 CBSE issued Circular 04/2026, which replaced the old city-by-city land rules with three categories. The reported figures are below. The land must be one contiguous plot; if it is spread over several survey numbers, they must touch each other (clause 3.1.1).
| Category | Secondary | Senior Secondary |
|---|---|---|
| Category A (general) | 6,000 sq m | 6,000 sq m |
| Category B (notified cities and areas) | 2,400 sq m | 3,200 sq m |
| Category C (notified cities, special states and UTs) | 1,600 sq m | 2,400 sq m |
Every school also needs a play area of at least 2,000 sq m. Here is the catch: the category depends on the city and state, not on what the seller tells you. A society eyeing a plot on the edge of Ballabgarh should get the category checked before signing, because a smaller plot that works in one category fails in another.
Sections follow built-up area. Under SARAS 7.0, CBSE allows three sections for every 400 sq m built up, certified by the local body or a licensed architect. Inspectors also look for a concrete boundary wall at least 6 ft high, ramps, separate toilets for boys, girls and children with special needs, and a composite science lab.
How it works
Set up the managing body
We register a charitable trust, an education society or a Section 8 company whose objects cover running a non-profit school.
Collect state approvals and certificates
We prepare the files for the state NOC, recognition, land certificate, fire NOC, building safety and water certificates. In practice, this step takes the longest, so we start it first.
Register on SARAS and pay the KYC fee
The school registers on the SARAS portal and pays the initial ₹10,000. We fill Part A and Part B and upload every document within the 15-day limits CBSE sets.
Prepare for the inspection
Within 15 days of paying the fee, the school must click “Formation of IC”. A two-member committee from affiliated schools then inspects; fresh affiliation is always a physical inspection.
Close conditions and keep records
If CBSE grants affiliation with conditions, we help you file the compliance within three months. After that we keep the website disclosure, audited accounts and staff records current.
Timelines
Application window
For the 2027-28 session the SARAS 7.0 window opened on 26 February 2026 and was due to close on 31 July 2026. CBSE extended it to 30 September 2026 and issued a further extension circular on 30 September 2026.
Inside the application
Part A and Part B each have to be completed within 15 days. The inspection committee must be formed within 15 days of payment, or the application is rejected automatically.
Affiliation period
Three years for a first affiliation (clause 2.7), then five years per extension (clause 10.3). A school whose term ends in March 2028 should apply in the window before it, not after.
What happens if rules are not met
Rejection of the application
Missed SARAS deadlines or missing certificates lead to rejection. You can seek a review within 15 days; a review committee holds a virtual inspection and its decision is final.
Penalty for unmet conditions
A school granted affiliation with conditions has three months to comply. CBSE’s SARAS manual levies a financial penalty of ₹50,000 for failing to do so.
Action against the school
Chapter 12 of the bye-laws allows penalties up to disaffiliation, for example where results stay below 50% of the general pass percentage for three years in a row (clause 12.2.15).
Frequently asked questions
Who can apply for CBSE affiliation?
A school run by a registered society, a registered trust or a Section 8 company can apply, as clause 2.3.2 of the Affiliation Bye-Laws, 2018 requires. The managing body must be non-proprietary and run the school as a community service, not as a business. If you do not yet have an entity, we set one up first and then start the SARAS application.
How much land do I need for a CBSE school?
It depends on the location category under CBSE Circular 04/2026 of 19 January 2026. Reported figures are 6,000 sq m in the general category, and lower minimums of 2,400 to 3,200 sq m or 1,600 to 2,400 sq m in notified cities, special states and UTs. A play area of at least 2,000 sq m is also needed. We confirm the category for your plot before you commit.
What is the CBSE affiliation fee?
CBSE’s SARAS manual lists ₹1,50,000 for fresh affiliation up to Secondary and ₹2,50,000 up to Senior Secondary for schools in India. Approval for middle classes is ₹50,000 and a five-year extension is ₹50,000. An initial KYC payment of ₹10,000 is made when the school registers. We confirm the live fee on the portal before you pay.
How long is CBSE affiliation valid?
A first affiliation is granted for three years under clause 2.7 of the bye-laws. After that, CBSE extends it for five years at a time under clause 10.3, provided the school still meets the norms. Extensions are filed on SARAS in the yearly window and most pass through an automated check. Current records make each renewal routine.
Is a state NOC still needed for CBSE affiliation?
Yes, for independent schools CBSE’s SARAS manual lists the No Objection Certificate from the State Education Department and the recognition certificate as mandatory documents. At the application stage, clause 2.3.9 also asks for a District Education Officer certificate and a self-affidavit. The state process varies, so we start the NOC file early and track it alongside the CBSE application.
Will CBSE inspect the school?
Yes. For fresh affiliation and upgradation to Senior Secondary, CBSE sends a two-member inspection committee drawn from affiliated schools for a 100% physical inspection. The school must click “Formation of IC” within 15 days of paying the fee. Extensions are mostly checked through automated review. We help you prepare the rooms, labs, records and videos the committee looks at.
When can we apply for the 2027-28 session?
The SARAS 7.0 window for the 2027-28 session opened on 26 February 2026 and was first set to close on 31 July 2026. CBSE then extended it to 30 September 2026 and issued another extension circular on 30 September 2026. Some requests, like name changes and site shifting, are accepted all year. We check the live deadline on the day we file.
What if CBSE rejects our application?
You can request a review within 15 days of the rejection from the school’s SARAS progress panel. A review committee conducts a virtual inspection and may seek clarifications, and its decision cannot be appealed further. Rejections usually trace back to a missing or outdated certificate, so we fix that gap before filing the review.
What it costs
Our fee plus the government fee that applies to your case, quoted before you commit. Tell us the situation and we will price it exactly.
| CBSE application (schools in India) | Fee |
|---|---|
| Initial KYC payment on SARAS | ₹10,000 |
| Approval for middle classes | ₹50,000 |
| Fresh affiliation up to Secondary | ₹1,50,000 |
| Fresh affiliation up to Senior Secondary | ₹2,50,000 |
| Upgradation to Secondary or Senior Secondary | ₹1,00,000 |
| Extension of affiliation (5 years) | ₹50,000 |
| Increase in sections | ₹75,000 |
| Additional science subject | ₹10,000 per subject |
Fees as listed in CBSE’s SARAS manual; we confirm the current figure on the portal before payment.
Ready to begin?
Share your land papers and entity details, and we will map the full CBSE affiliation route for your school.