Nearly 46% of the 1,677 schools inspected in Delhi were found to have safety deficiencies under the ‘Student Safety Checklist’, with 774 schools flagged for gaps, Lok Niwas officials said on Sunday.The inspection drive was launched following directions issued by Lieutenant-Governor Taranjit Singh Sandhu and Chief Minister Rekha Gupta during a review meeting on July 6, calling for time-bound implementation of Child Protection Month initiatives.Of the schools inspected, 790 were government-run, of which 270 had deficiencies. Among 812 private schools, 463 were found lacking, while 41 of the 75 government-aided schools inspected showed gaps.“Private schools accounted for a disproportionately high share of deficiencies relative to the number inspected and remain under close monitoring,” an official said.The inspections will continue in a time-bound manner until all 5,633 schools in the Capital are covered.The checklist, prepared in line with guidelines of the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) and available on the Directorate of Education website, covers five areas — physical safety, emotional and personal safety, social safety, emergency preparedness, and cyber safety. It comprises 164 indicators, including measures related to fire and earthquake preparedness, anti-bullying mechanisms, gender sensitivity, structural safety, and cybercrime response.Inspection teams comprising representatives of parents, the Directorate of Education, the Women and Child Development Department, Delhi Police, and school heads are identifying deficiencies and ensuring corrective action.Schools found deficient are being directed to take remedial steps, followed by verification to ensure compliance rather than treating the exercise as a one-time formality.Officials said the exercise aims to institutionalise child safety measures as a permanent feature of school functioning and foster a sustained culture of safety and accountability. Published - July 27, 2026 01:19 am IST