AUTOMATED PERMANENT ACADEMIC ACCOUNT REGISTRY (APAAR)
1. Context
Activists and parents are worried about the rapid push by schools to generate an APAAR ID. APAAR is part of the National Education Policy (NEP), 2020’s record-keeping reforms, and while it is voluntary, States and school authorities have pushed students to enrol in it
2. What is APAAR ID?
- The Automated Permanent Academic Account Registry (APAAR) is a system designed to implement the ‘One Nation, One Student ID’ initiative. It serves as a digital repository for students' academic records, ensuring smooth transitions between institutions for further education.
- The APAAR ID, which is linked to Aadhaar, is securely stored in DigiLocker and provides standardized data on students’ marksheets and institutional affiliations.
- This system is intended to streamline the verification and processing of academic transcripts across educational institutions.
- APAAR IDs are generated through the Unified District Information System for Education Plus (UDISE+), a platform that maintains academic data on schools, teachers, and students at the regional level.
- As a key component of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, APAAR aims to enhance data collection for informed policymaking.
- To achieve widespread implementation, the Education Ministry has urged schools affiliated with the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) to ensure complete registration of students under this system
3. Is APAAR Mandatory?
- According to an official document on the APAAR ID website, obtaining the ID is not mandatory. However, this is not explicitly stated in CBSE circulars or government-issued FAQ pages.
- Instead, the government has emphasized the advantages of APAAR, such as maintaining a permanent academic record for school transfers, entrance exams, admissions, job applications, and skill development.
- While no legal requirement enforces its adoption, CBSE and certain states, including Uttar Pradesh, have encouraged schools to ensure that all students receive an APAAR ID. Many parents are not clearly informed that participation in the program is voluntary.
- The Union government reaffirmed in December 2024, in response to a parliamentary inquiry, that APAAR remains optional
4. Data Security
- The origins of the APAAR program remain unclear. When the Internet Freedom Foundation (IFF) attempted to obtain policy documents through a Right to Information (RTI) request, the Union government transferred the application over 30 times without providing a definitive response for several months.
- In 2023, the IFF highlighted that the data collected through APAAR extends beyond academic certificates and grades, covering a much broader range of information.
- The organization also raised concerns about the large-scale collection of minors' data without a legal framework, arguing that this could be unconstitutional.
- Teachers have also questioned the necessity of APAAR, pointing out that much of the data it gathers is already compiled through the UDISE+ system, leading to redundancy and additional administrative work in schools.
- Furthermore, the IFF cited Section 9(3) of the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023, which prohibits tracking, behavioral monitoring, or targeted advertising directed at children.
- They warned that open data-sharing channels and APIs without strict security measures could expose children’s information to third parties for potentially harmful uses.
- Before APAAR is fully implemented, the IFF stressed the need for stronger legal safeguards and cybersecurity measures to protect the sensitive data of minors
| Teachers and schools play a key role in assisting parents with the process of generating an APAAR ID for students. The procedure begins with schools verifying a student’s demographic information, including their name and date of birth. Parents must then complete a consent form, after which the school conducts an additional authentication step before issuing the APAAR ID. However, some parents have reported discrepancies between names in school records and identity documents. According to an official document, in such cases, users are required to correct the inaccurate details and resubmit their request to generate the APAAR ID |
5. Way Forward
Parents have the option to formally request that schools exclude their children from the APAAR ID registration process. The Software Freedom Law Centre (SFLC) has made a template available on its website, which parents can customize and submit to their child’s school to opt out of the program.
However, recent developments have increased pressure on both parents and school authorities to ensure APAAR registration. In Uttar Pradesh, for example, officials have raised concerns over discrepancies between APAAR registration numbers and school enrollment data, despite the program being voluntary. Some madrasas have even faced the threat of de-recognition for not initiating the process. A digital rights advocate noted that, so far, parents have been able to successfully opt out by providing the necessary documentation to schools, reaffirming that APAAR registration is not mandatory
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For Prelims: NEP 2020, National Curriculum Framework, Sustainable Development Goals, University Grants Commission, Kothari Commission, Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan, Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan,
For Mains:
1. Discuss the key provisions and objectives of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. How does it aim to transform the Indian education system, and what are its implications for inclusive development? (250 Words)
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Previous Year Questions
1. Consider the following statements: (UPSC CSE 2018)
1. As per the Right to Education (RTE) Act, to be eligible for appointment as a teacher in a State, a person would be required to possess the minimum qualification laid down by the State Council of Teacher Education concerned.
2. As per the RTE Act, for teaching primary classes, a candidate is required to pass a Teacher Eligibility Test conducted in accordance with the National Council of Teacher Education guidelines.
3. In India, more than 90% of teacher education institutions are directly under the State Governments.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) 1 and 2 (b) 2 only (c) 1 and 3 (d) 3 only
Answer: B
2. Consider the following statements: (UPSC CSE 2016)
1. The Sustainable Development Goals were first proposed in 1972 by a global think tank called the 'Club of Rome'.
2. The Sustainable Development Goals have to be achieved by 2030.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
A.1 only B. 2 only C. Both 1 and 2 D. Neither 1 nor 2
Answer: B
3. The objective(s) of Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyaan is/are: (UKSSSC Forest Guard 2021)
A. To provide quality based education to all children from 14 to 18 years
B. Universal standstill till the year 2020
C. To provide residential school for the students of remote areas
D. All of the above
Answer: D
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Source: The Hindu
