SARAS 7.0 Explained: A Step-by-Step Guide for Schools Seeking CBSE Affiliation

Reading time: 8 minutes
Published by: Galaxy Education Services
Category: CBSE Affiliation

If you’ve recently started the journey of getting your school affiliated with CBSE, you’ve probably come across the term SARAS. And if it’s left you a little confused — you’re not alone. Most school management teams find SARAS overwhelming the first time they log in.

This guide breaks the entire SARAS 7.0 process down into plain, simple steps — no jargon, no confusion. By the end of this post, you’ll know exactly what SARAS is, how it works, and what you need to do at each stage.

What Is SARAS 7.0?

SARAS stands for School Affiliation Re-Engineered Automation System. It is the official online portal through which all CBSE affiliation applications are submitted, tracked, and processed.

The “7.0” refers to the seventh and latest version of this system, which builds on previous iterations with further improvements to automation, AI-based document screening, and a more transparent tracking process for schools.

Think of SARAS as the single window for everything related to your CBSE affiliation — from registering your school for the first time, to uploading documents, paying fees, and monitoring your application status right up to inspection and approval.

The most important thing to understand: CBSE does not process any affiliation application outside of SARAS. Everything must go through this portal. There are no shortcuts.

Who Needs to Use SARAS 7.0?

You need to use SARAS 7.0 if your school is applying for any of the following:

Fresh affiliation — a brand new school seeking CBSE affiliation for the first time
Upgradation — a school already affiliated at Secondary level (Class 10) seeking to add Senior Secondary (Class 12)
Extension — a school whose existing affiliation period is coming to an end and needs renewal
Switch-over — a school currently affiliated with a State Board that wants to switch to CBSE

Each of these categories has slightly different documentation and inspection requirements, but all go through the same SARAS portal.

Step-by-Step: How SARAS 7.0 Works

Step 1: Pre-Registration and KYC

Before anything else, your school needs to complete a KYC (Know Your Customer) form on the SARAS portal. This is the very first step and it establishes your school’s identity on the system.

You will need:

Your school’s UDISE number (mandatory)
Basic information about the school — name, location, type of institution
Contact details of the authorised representative

Once the KYC is submitted, you receive login credentials that you’ll use for all future steps.

Common mistake: Many schools skip checking whether their UDISE details are up to date before registering. If there’s a mismatch, your application can get delayed. Always verify your UDISE data first.

Step 2: Initial Payment (Part A Fee)

After KYC, the next step is paying the initial application fee of ₹10,000. This amount is later adjusted against the total fee if your Part A application is accepted.

This payment is made online directly through the SARAS portal. Keep the payment receipt — you will need it for your records.

Step 3: Filling and Submitting Part A

Part A is the first major section of your application. It covers the essential mandatory details and documents that CBSE uses to check basic eligibility.

Documents required at Part A stage include:

UDISE number
Digitally signed self-certification document
NOC (No Objection Certificate) from the respective State Government’s education department
Formal Recognition Letter from the State/UT education department
Registration letter of Trust/Society/Company
Land Certificate (strictly as per CBSE prescribed format)
Fire Safety Certificate
Health and Sanitation Certificate
Building Safety Certificate (issued by an officer not below the rank of Assistant Engineer)
EPF registration certificate
Staff Statement
Video clip of the school (including 6ft boundary wall in continuity)

Important: All documents must be in the latest CBSE-prescribed format. Outdated formats are a common reason for early rejection. The Land Certificate, for example, must have been issued no more than one year before the date of final application submission.

Once Part A is submitted, CBSE’s system conducts a first-level AI-based screening of your documents. If the AI score meets the threshold, your application moves forward without manual review. If not, a manual review is carried out within 15 working days.

Step 4: Filling Part B — Detailed School Information

If Part A is accepted, your school proceeds to Part B, which is significantly more detailed. This section covers:

Basic school details and photographs
Video of the campus
Faculty details (qualifications, appointment letters, salary information)
Student enrolment numbers
Subjects offered in Grade X and Grade XII
Infrastructure details (classrooms, laboratories, library, sports facilities)
School Management Committee (SMC) details
School website information
OASIS data

This is the most time-consuming part of the process. It requires careful data entry and accurate information — any inconsistency between what you enter and what the CBSE inspection team sees on the ground can cause serious problems.

Step 5: Part C — Self Quality Assessment (SQAAF)

Schools applying for fresh affiliation or switch-over must also complete Part C, which involves filling in the SQAAF (School Quality Assessment and Accreditation Framework) on the SARAS portal.

This self-assessment covers academic quality, infrastructure standards, staff qualifications, financial management, and governance. It must be completed within 21 days of filling Part B.

Step 6: AI Scrutiny and Manual Review

After your full application is submitted, CBSE’s system reviews it in two layers:

AI-based screening — automated check of whether mandatory documents meet norms
Manual scrutiny — triggered only when the AI score falls below the cut-off

If everything is in order, your application progresses to the inspection scheduling stage. If there are gaps, CBSE issues a Deficiency Notice (DN) — which resets your application in the queue and typically delays your affiliation by one academic cycle (6 to 12 months). This is why getting the documents right the first time matters so much.

Step 7: CBSE Physical Inspection

Once your application clears scrutiny, CBSE schedules a physical inspection of your school. An Inspection Committee (IC) — typically two members, sometimes with a central observer from Delhi — visits your campus.

During the inspection, they will evaluate:

Infrastructure (classrooms, labs, library, sports facilities, boundary wall)
Faculty availability and qualifications
Academic records and student data
Financial documents and reserve fund details
Compliance with all CBSE norms

The entire inspection is video-recorded as per CBSE’s transparency guidelines.

If the IC finds deficiencies, the school has 15 days to file a review request. A Review Committee then re-evaluates the case.

Step 8: Post-Inspection Compliance — OASIS and SQAAF Submission

After a successful inspection, schools need to complete their OASIS (Online Affiliated School Information System) data submission and ensure the SQAAF framework is updated. This is the final compliance step before affiliation is formally granted.

Step 9: Affiliation Grant

Once all stages are cleared, CBSE formally grants affiliation. For most schools going through the process smoothly, the entire journey from application to affiliation takes approximately 12 to 18 months.

CBSE Infrastructure Norms You Must Meet (Quick Reference)

Before applying on SARAS, make sure your school meets these minimum infrastructure requirements:

Facility	Minimum Requirement
Classroom	8m × 6m (approx. 500 sq. ft.) — at least 1 sq. m. per student
Composite Science Lab (Secondary)	9m × 6m (approx. 600 sq. ft.)
Physics / Chemistry / Biology Lab (Sr. Secondary)	9m × 6m each
Library	14m × 8m
Land (city limits)	Minimum 1 acre
Land (outside city limits)	Minimum 1.5 acres
Boundary wall	6ft concrete boundary wall in continuity

These are the baseline requirements. Your school must meet all of them before the application is submitted — not after.

The Most Common Reasons Schools Get Stuck on SARAS

In our experience at Galaxy Education Services, having helped over 120 schools across Gujarat navigate the CBSE affiliation process, these are the issues we see most often:

Wrong document formats — using older CBSE formats that are no longer accepted
Expired Land Certificate — certificate older than one year at time of submission
Inconsistent staff data — mismatch between EPF records and staff statement
Incomplete boundary wall video — the video must show continuity of the full wall
Incorrect OASIS data — student and teacher figures don’t match application
Missing SQAAF submission — often forgotten, especially in the rush after inspection
Deficiency notice ignored past deadline — schools miss the 15-day review window

Getting these right from the start is the difference between smooth affiliation and being pushed back by an entire academic year.

How Galaxy Education Services Can Help

The SARAS process, when managed correctly, is straightforward. But the margin for error is very small — one wrong document format or one missed deadline can cost your school an entire year.

At Galaxy Education Services, we have been guiding schools through the CBSE affiliation process for over two decades. Our team is well-versed in the latest SARAS 7.0 guidelines and CBSE affiliation bye-laws. We handle everything from the initial gap assessment and document preparation to inspection readiness and post-inspection compliance — so your team can focus on building a great school.

If you’re planning to apply for CBSE affiliation or are already stuck somewhere in the SARAS process, we’d love to help. Get in touch with us for a consultation and let’s map out your path to affiliation.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Can I apply on SARAS without a UDISE number?

No. A UDISE number is mandatory to register on SARAS. Obtain this from your district education office before beginning your application.

Q: Can a new school apply directly for Senior Secondary (Class 12) affiliation?

No. New schools must first apply for Secondary (Class 10) affiliation. Upgradation to Senior Secondary can be applied for after a few years.

Q: What happens if CBSE issues a Deficiency Notice?

Your application is reset in the inspection queue. You typically lose one academic cycle — 6 to 12 months. This is why ensuring clean documentation from the start is critical.

Q: How can I track my application status on SARAS?

Q: Is it mandatory to hire a consultant for CBSE affiliation?

No, it is not mandatory. However, given the complexity of documentation, the strict timelines, and the consequences of a Deficiency Notice, most school managements find it more efficient and cost-effective to work with an experienced consultant.

Have questions about your school’s CBSE affiliation? Contact Galaxy Education Services — we’ve been helping schools across Gujarat get affiliated with CBSE for over 20 years.