Automated Permanent Academic Account Registry (APAAR) ID

APAAR ID Latest News

APAAR ID: A Digital Student Identification System in India

What is APAAR ID?

• APAAR stands for Automated Permanent Academic Account Registry.
• It is part of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 to streamline student records.
• The initiative is based on the 'One Nation, One Student ID' concept.
• It is linked to Aadhaar and stored in DigiLocker for easy access.
• APAAR is generated through Unified District Information System for Education Plus (UDISE+).

Objectives of APAAR

• To accumulate and store students' academic achievements in a central database.
• To facilitate seamless transfer between institutions.
• To provide standardized digital records for mark sheets and institutional affiliations.
• To help in educational policymaking and analysis.

Is APAAR Mandatory?

• Officially, APAAR is voluntary, as per government documents.
• However, CBSE and certain state governments (e.g., Uttar Pradesh) are pushing for 100% student enrollment.
• Many parents are not explicitly informed about the voluntary nature of the program.
• Parliament confirmed in December 2024 that APAAR registration is not legally mandated.

Relation to Other Digital Initiatives

• Academic Bank of Credits (ABC): Introduced under NEP 2020 for credit transfer across institutions. Students' credits are stored digitally and linked to APAAR ID.
• DigiLocker: Cloud-based platform for storing and verifying educational certificates. Recognised as legally valid under IT Rules, 2016.

APAAR ID FAQs

Q1. What is APAAR ID?
Ans. APAAR ID is a unique academic identifier introduced by the Government of India to track a student’s educational journey from school to higher education.

Q2. Who is eligible for an APAAR ID?
Ans. All students enrolled in Indian educational institutions, from school to university level, are eligible for an APAAR ID.

Q3. How can I apply for an APAAR ID?
Ans. Students can apply through their respective schools, colleges, or universities. The process is usually facilitated by the institution and linked to the DigiLocker system.

Q4. Is APAAR ID mandatory?
Ans. While not mandatory, APAAR ID is recommended as it helps maintain a digital record of academic achievements and supports various government education initiatives.

Q5. Can Parents Opt-Out?

Ans. Yes, parents can opt-out by submitting a written request to schools. The Software Freedom Law Centre (SFLC) has provided an opt-out template.

Source: TH