Why the Supreme Court's APAAR ID order matters for every student and parent
New Delhi: The Supreme Court has directed the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) to implement the Orissa High Court's directions on the APAAR (Automated Permanent Academic Account Registry) ID consent process across the country, bringing renewed attention to the government's digital student identity initiative.
While hearing a petition challenging the scheme, the apex court noted that the Centre had accepted the Orissa High Court's December 2025 ruling by choosing not to appeal it. The court asked CBSE to ensure the scheme complies with the Digital Personal Data Protection (DPDP) Act, 2023, and to examine concerns surrounding parental consent and data protection.
The order has once again put the spotlight on APAAR, a key initiative under the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. Here's what the scheme is, how it works, and why it is facing legal scrutiny.
What is APAAR ID?
APAAR, short for Automated Permanent Academic Account Registry, is a unique 12-digit identification number assigned to students to create a lifelong digital academic identity.
Unlike school roll numbers, which change when a student moves institutions, an APAAR ID remains the same throughout a learner's educational journey. It is designed to digitally store and verify academic records from school education to higher studies and skill development programmes.
The initiative forms part of the government's broader push to digitise education and simplify the management of academic records.
How does it work?
Once generated, an APAAR ID serves as a central repository for a student's verified academic records. It can store:
* Marksheets and report cards
* Board examination certificates
* Degrees and diplomas
* Academic credits
* Scholarships and awards
* Co-curricular and extracurricular achievements
* Skill certificates and vocational qualifications
The records are intended to integrate with platforms such as DigiLocker and the Academic Bank of Credits (ABC), enabling students to access verified educational documents digitally.
Why was APAAR introduced?
According to the Ministry of Education, APAAR aims to make academic records portable, reduce paperwork and improve verification of educational credentials.
The proposed benefits include:
* A single academic identity throughout a student's life
* Easy access to verified educational records
* Faster transfer of records between schools and colleges
* Reduced risk of duplicate or lost certificates
* Better tracking of academic progress
* Improved educational planning through reliable data
During the hearing, the Supreme Court also observed that a unified student identity could help authorities maintain accurate records, implement reforms and monitor indicators such as teacher-student ratios.
Why is the consent process under challenge?
The legal challenge centres on whether parents are being given meaningful consent before their children's personal information is collected.
The petitioners argue that although APAAR has been presented as a voluntary scheme, its linkage with Aadhaar leaves parents with little practical choice. They have also questioned whether the current consent process complies with the DPDP Act, particularly on informed consent, withdrawal of consent and the protection of children's personal data.
Another key concern is the long-term storage of academic information. The petition argues that parents and students should have the right to withdraw consent and exercise the "right to be forgotten".
What did the Orissa High Court say?
In its December 2025 judgment, the Orissa High Court directed the Ministry of Education to revise the model APAAR consent form.
The court said parents must be given the option to refuse enrolment or opt out of the scheme. It also observed that if APAAR is voluntary, the consent form should clearly state so.
The High Court further held that access to education cannot be made conditional upon obtaining Aadhaar and said the ability to withdraw consent later cannot substitute the right to decline enrolment in the first place.
What has the Supreme Court directed?
The Supreme Court has not stayed the implementation of APAAR. Instead, it directed CBSE to implement the Orissa High Court's directions across India after noting that the Centre had not challenged the earlier judgment.
The court also asked the board to examine issues relating to parental consent, children's privacy and data protection, while the constitutional validity of the scheme continues to be examined.
For now, APAAR remains operational as the government's digital academic identity platform. However, the latest proceedings indicate that its implementation will be subject to closer judicial scrutiny to ensure it complies with constitutional safeguards and India's data protection law.