APAAR ID | 15 Mar 2025

Source: TH

The Automated Permanent Academic Account Registry (APAAR) ID, aims to standardize student records. However, concerns over implementation, data privacy have sparked debates among activists. 

• APAAR ID: Introduced under the National Education Policy 2020 and aligned with the National Credit Framework, it aims to establish a "One Nation, One Student ID" system to streamline academic records and facilitate transitions between educational levels. 
  • APAAR assigns a 12-digit ID, linking academic records to DigiLocker and Academic Bank of Credits for storage and verification.  
  • Schools record data, while Higher Education Institutions & Skill Institutes access verified academic records for admissions and recruitment. 
• Concerns About APAAR ID: APAAR's Aadhaar linkage is causing issues due to spelling mismatches, necessitating updates. 
  • While the Education Ministry claims APAAR is voluntary, Central Board of Secondary Education’s push for 100% enrolment of APAAR raises concerns of implicit mandates, contradicting the Supreme Court ruling in Justice (Retd.) K.S. Puttaswamy v. Union of India (2019), which held that Aadhaar cannot be required for basic education access. 
  • The Advocacy groups are concerned about risks in handling minors’ sensitive personal data without robust data protection. 
    • The Data Protection Act, 2023 (not yet enforced) mandates that consent must be free, informed, and unambiguous, which activists argue is being ignored.