The Orissa High Court recently directed the State and Central education authorities to amend the consent form used for generating the Automated Permanent Academic Account Registry (APAAR) ID. The court ordered that the consent form must contain a clear and explicit opt-out option, ensuring that student participation in the APAAR system remains voluntary and informed.

About APAAR ID

The Automated Permanent Academic Account Registry (APAAR) is an initiative launched by the Ministry of Education, Government of India under the “One Nation, One Student ID” framework. It is aligned with the objectives of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020.

APAAR is a permanent academic identification system designed to cover a student’s educational journey from school education to higher education and lifelong learning.

Key Features of APAAR ID

APAAR assigns a unique and permanent 12-digit identification number to every student, which remains unchanged throughout their academic life. The APAAR ID is linked with Aadhaar and securely stored in DigiLocker, allowing easy digital access to academic records.

The APAAR ID functions as a lifelong academic passport, consolidating all academic credentials and achievements in a single digital platform.

Academic Records Covered Under APAAR

The APAAR system maintains a comprehensive digital record of a student’s academic history. This includes degrees, diplomas, mark sheets, scholarships, awards, skill certificates, and other academic or co-curricular credits earned over time.

Advantages of APAAR ID

Unique Student Identification

Every student receives a single and unique academic ID that remains valid throughout their educational journey.

Lifelong Learning Record

APAAR enables the storage of academic achievements, skill credits, and learning outcomes from school to higher education.

Integration with DigiLocker

The linkage with DigiLocker ensures secure storage and easy retrieval of academic certificates in digital form.

Credit Transfer and Academic Mobility

APAAR supports seamless credit transfer between institutions under the Academic Bank of Credits (ABC) framework.

Ease of Admissions and Employment

With a single digital ID, students can apply for courses, verify credentials, and submit documents for higher education and employment without multiple paper certificates.

Concerns and Issues Related to APAAR

Concerns have been raised regarding data privacy, Aadhaar linkage, and informed consent. There are also apprehensions about the digital divide, which may affect students from remote and economically weaker sections.

Significance of the Orissa High Court Ruling

The judgment strengthens the principle of informational privacy and reinforces the Right to Privacy under Article 21 of the Constitution. It aligns with the Puttaswamy judgment of the Supreme Court and ensures that APAAR remains a voluntary digital governance initiative.

APAAR stands for Automated Permanent Academic Account Registry.
It is a unique, lifelong identification number for every student in India, created under the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020.

Purpose:

• To track a student’s academic journey from pre-primary to higher education.

• To digitally store and verify academic records like report cards, certificates, and achievements.

• Linked to DigiLocker, where students can access their academic data securely.

• Helps prevent fake academic certificates by acting as an official verification link.

Why is CBSE making APAAR ID mandatory for board exam registration?

The CBSE Governing Body approved this decision in June 2025.

Problem with Current System:

• Student data (from Classes 9 & 11) and board exam candidate lists (Classes 10 & 12) aren’t connected to a common ID.

• This causes data duplication, errors, and inconsistency in student records.

How APAAR Solves This:

• Provides a standardized ID that will:

  • Improve data accuracy

  • Help in record verification

  • Simplify administration and authentication

When will it be mandatory?

• From the 2026 CBSE board exams (Class 10 & 12)

• Students registering for Class 9 (2024–25) and Class 11 (2024–25) will be the first required to use APAAR ID for board registration.

How can a student get an APAAR ID?

Required Information:

• Student’s name, date of birth, gender, photo

• Aadhaar number for verification

Process:

1. Schools distribute consent forms to parents.

2. Parents provide the required data.

3. Data is uploaded and authenticated using Aadhaar.

4. APAAR ID is generated and linked to the student’s profile in DigiLocker.

Some schools, especially in Delhi, have already started the process as early as 2023.

Privacy & Security Concerns

Parents’ Concerns:

• Risk of data leaks

• Misuse of Aadhaar-linked information

Government’s Assurance:

• Data is used only for educational purposes

• Access limited to:

  • UDISE+

  • Scholarship databases

  • Academic record systems

  • Recognized educational/recruitment institutions

• No third-party or commercial access is allowed