India introduces unique student IDs under ‘One Nation, One Student ID’ policy

Under the Centre’s ‘One Nation, One Student ID’ policy, school students across the nation will be assigned a unique identification number known as the Automated Permanent Academic Account Registry (APAAR) ID. This initiative, in line with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, is aimed at providing every student, from pre-primary to higher education, with a lifelong ID number.

The APAAR ID will serve as a digital repository for students to record various accomplishments, including exam results, learning outcomes, achievements in Olympiads, sports, and skill training. TG Sitharaman, AICTE chairman, emphasised that APAAR, along with the National Credit Framework, will be the QR code for learners across India, enabling the documentation of acquired skills.

This unique ID will play a crucial role in tracking students’ academic progress and achievements too. It will facilitate easy access to credit scores for higher education or employment purposes. Moreover, the APAAR ID will streamline the process of transferring between schools.

The data captured for the APAAR ID will be based on the Aadhaar ID, but it is distinct from the 12-digit Aadhaar ID and will be issued separately. The registration process will require parental consent, and states and UTs have been instructed to initiate this process. The government assures that the data will be kept confidential and shared only with authorised government agencies. Parents will also have the option to withdraw their consent at any time.

It’s worth noting that some educators have expressed concerns about the additional administrative burden, as schools have recently completed updates for students’ Aadhaar cards and other details on the Unified District Information System for Education (UDISE).