What are the school bus safety rules in India?
The Supreme Court’s directions ask for yellow buses marked “School Bus”, window grills, door locks, a first-aid box, a fire extinguisher and an attendant on board. CBSE’s 2017 circular adds GPS, CCTV, speed governors set to 40 km/h, a trained woman attendant and a named transport manager.
Where do the rules come from?
The Supreme Court’s directions on school buses, first issued in the late 1990s and repeated since by state transport departments, set the basics: the colour, the markings, the equipment and who travels on board.
In February 2017, after a school bus crash in Etah, Uttar Pradesh, CBSE sent its schools a circular that added GPS, CCTV, speed governors and a trained woman attendant on every bus, and held school management responsible for lapses.
State rules add to both and change over time. Treat this list as a starting point and confirm the current version with your board and your state transport department.
What must a school bus have?
Commonly required by the Supreme Court directions and the 2017 CBSE circular:
- Painted yellow, with “School Bus” on the front and back, or “On School Duty” on a hired bus
- Horizontal grills on the windows (CBSE adds mesh wire)
- Doors with reliable locks
- A first-aid box and a working fire extinguisher
- A speed governor, set to 40 km/h in the CBSE circular
- GPS and CCTV, kept in working condition (CBSE, 2017)
- A mobile phone on board for emergencies (CBSE, 2017)
Who must be on board?
The rules put as much weight on who is on the bus as on the bus itself:
- A driver with at least five years of heavy-vehicle driving experience
- No drivers with a record of offences such as jumping red lights
- An attendant from the school on every bus; CBSE asks for a well-trained woman attendant
- A transport manager named by the school (CBSE, 2017)
What do the rules leave out?
The rules focus on the vehicle and the staff. They say little about recording each child on and off the bus, and that is where many bad mornings begin: a child left on a bus, dropped at the wrong stop or never picked up.
A record for every boarding and drop-off, made when it happens and never erased, closes that gap. It also answers the question a parent or an inspector asks after something goes wrong.
Where does Vainu fit?
Vainu covers the records: every child confirmed on and off the bus by the conductor, the bus position during each trip from the conductor’s phone, and alerts for missed pickups and wrong buses. It does not replace the rules above. The bus, the driver, the attendant and any tracking device your state requires are still needed.
Common questions
Is GPS mandatory in school buses in India?
CBSE’s 2017 circular asks its schools to fit GPS in every bus and keep it working, and many states have their own rules on approved tracking devices. Check your board and state transport department for the current requirement.
Is a woman attendant required on a school bus?
CBSE’s 2017 circular asks for a well-trained woman attendant on each bus. State rules vary, so confirm with your state transport department.
What is the speed limit for school buses?
The 2017 CBSE circular asks for speed governors with a maximum of 40 km/h. Local speed limits still apply.