Union Education Ministry Directs States to Implement APAAR

• 17 Oct 2023

Recently, the Ministry of Education issued instructions to all states, urging them to commence the implementation of the Automated Permanent Academic Account Registry (APAAR) and obtain parental consent for enrolment.

Key Points

• APAAR: The Automated Permanent Academic Account Registry (APAAR) is being referred to as the 'One Nation, One Student ID,' and it functions as an Education Ecosystem Registry, often called an 'EduLocker.'
• The National Educational Technology Forum (NETF) had previously announced its plans to create a comprehensive educational ecosystem registry, encompassing students, educators, and educational institutions.
• The Role of NETF: The NETF, an autonomous body under the Ministry of Education, was established under the National Education Policy 2020 to address gaps and emphasize technology-based educational interventions, including setting content and technology standards and guidelines for online teaching and learning.
• APAAR will provide each student, from pre-primary to higher education, with a unique identification number, in addition to the existing Aadhaar ID.
• Benefits of 'One Nation, One ID': APAAR, or EduLocker, will serve as a lifelong student ID for tracking academic progress, exam results, learning achievements, and co-curricular accomplishments such as Olympiad rankings or specialized skill training.
• Students moving from one school to another will experience greater convenience when seeking admission in any part of the country.
• Enrolment Process: Schools will be responsible for the enrolment process, requiring parental consent. Parents can also withdraw their consent at any time.
• Data collected on students will be stored in a centralized District Information for Education portal and will only be shared with relevant government agencies when necessary.
• Challenges and Concerns with APAAR: Concerns have arisen due to ongoing worries about data security related to Aadhaar and past data breaches.
• Some school authorities are worried about the additional administrative burden APAAR registration may impose, particularly when Aadhaar verification for students is already optional.