Delhi Expands School Fee Oversight: Cybersecurity Risks in Education Data Management

The Delhi government's recent mandate requiring all private schools to submit detailed fee structures and financial records to a centralized portal marks a significant expansion of education oversight. While aimed at increasing transparency, cybersecurity experts warn this creates a high-value target for threat actors, combining sensitive student data with financial information.

Technical Vulnerabilities in School Systems
Most private schools in Delhi operate with outdated IT infrastructure. A 2023 audit revealed 68% use unsupported versions of student management systems, and 42% lack basic encryption for financial transactions. The new regulation forces these institutions to digitally transmit protected data including:

• Family income documentation
• Bank account details
• Scholarship eligibility records

Compliance Challenges
The initiative conflicts with several provisions of India's Digital Personal Data Protection Act (2023):

1. Data minimization requirements
2. Storage limitation principles
3. Third-party sharing restrictions

Recommended Security Measures
Education institutions should implement:

• Zero-trust architecture for portal access
• Blockchain-based audit trails for fee transactions
• Mandatory staff training on phishing prevention

The Delhi Education Department has allocated ₹2.3 crore for cybersecurity upgrades, but experts estimate required safeguards would cost ₹17-20 crore district-wide.