APAAR, which stands for Automated Permanent Academic Account Registry, is conceived as a specialized identification system for all students in India, commencing from early childhood. The implementation of this system and the concerns raised surrounding it are as follows:
Recently, several state governments have requested schools to obtain parental consent for the introduction of a new student identity card known as the Automated Permanent Academic Account Registry (APAAR). This initiative is part of the ‘One Nation, One Student ID’ program launched by the Union government in accordance with the National Education Policy of 2020.
What is the purpose of APAAR, the student ID?
APAAR, short for Automated Permanent Academic Account Registry, is designed to function as a unique ID system for all students in India, spanning from the early stages of education. Under this initiative, each student will receive a lifelong APAAR ID, simplifying the tracking of academic progress from pre-primary education to higher education for students, schools, and government authorities.
Additionally, APAAR will serve as a gateway to Digilocker, a digital platform where students can securely store essential documents and accomplishments, such as exam results and report cards. This digital repository facilitates easy access and usage of these documents in the future, whether for pursuing higher education or seeking employment opportunities.
But why is it being introduced?
The introduction of APAAR aims to streamline the education process and reduce the necessity for students to carry physical documents. This initiative was launched as part of the National Education Policy 2020 by the Ministry of Education.
The primary objective is to create a more convenient educational experience and enable state governments to monitor literacy rates, dropout rates, and other educational metrics, thereby facilitating targeted improvements. Anil Sahasrabuddhe, Chairman of the National Educational Technology Forum, elaborated, “It’s about empowering states with the tools to enhance their educational performance.”
APAAR also intends to combat fraud and the issuance of duplicate educational certificates by providing a single, trusted reference for educational institutions. Only authorized certificate-issuing entities will be permitted to input credits into the system, ensuring authenticity.
How does the government envision the operation of the APAAR ID?
Each individual will possess a unique APAAR ID, which will be linked to the Academic Bank Credit (ABC), a digital repository containing information on the credits earned by students throughout their educational journey. With the APAAR ID, students can store all their certificates and credits, whether obtained through formal education or informal learning. When a student completes a course or achieves a milestone, it is digitally certified and securely stored in their account by authorized institutions.
In case a student transfers to another school, whether within the same state or to a different one, all their data within the ABC will seamlessly move to the new school by simply sharing the APAAR ID. There will be no need for physical document transfer or certificate submission.
What steps are required for students to create their unique ID?
To enroll in the APAAR system, students will need to provide basic information such as their name, age, date of birth, gender, and a photograph. This information will be verified using their Aadhar number.
It is important to note that the Aadhar number is solely used for verification purposes, matching the name and date of birth. During registration, APAAR will not use or share these details with any other party. Students will be required to sign a consent form and can choose to either permit or decline the sharing of their Aadhar number and demographic information with the Ministry of Education for APAAR ID creation.
For minors, parental consent is necessary, allowing the Ministry to use the student’s Aadhar number for authentication through UIDAI. The registration for creating an APAAR ID is voluntary and not mandatory.
What concerns are associated with APAAR?
Parents and students have expressed apprehensions about sharing their Aadhar details, fearing potential leaks of their personal information to external entities.
However, the government reassures that the information provided by students will be kept confidential and will not be shared with any third party except for entities engaged in educational activities, such as the Unified District Information System for Education Plus (UDISE+) database, scholarships, maintenance of academic records, educational institutions, and recruitment agencies.
Moreover, students have the option to cease sharing their information with the mentioned parties at any given time, and data processing will be halted accordingly. Nevertheless, any personal data that has already been processed will remain unaffected even if consent is withdrawn.