Government officials stated that the Indian government is poised to expand its ‘One Nation, One Student ID’ initiative to schools across the country soon. This extension aims to facilitate smooth integration between school and higher education, aligning with the objectives outlined in the National Education Policy 2020. As part of the initiative, students will receive an Automated Permanent Academic Account Registry (APAAR) card containing a 12-digit unique ID. The initiative has been initiated by the Centre in higher education, with more than 22 million students currently receiving APAAR IDs.
Given that education falls under the purview of individual states as a ‘state subject,’ making the adoption of any initiative outlined in the NEP 2020 non-mandatory, discussions have commenced with various state governments regarding the implementation of the ‘One Nation, One Student ID’ initiative in schools, according to Mr. Anil Sahasrabuddhe, Chairperson of the National Educational Technology Forum, which operates as a division within the education ministry.
According to Mr. Sahasrabuddhe, the initiative is poised to streamline processes for students, schools, and the entire education system. Its primary function lies in tracking students’ academic advancements from pre-primary education through higher education. It has specific benefits for students whose parents have transferable jobs. If these students switch schools within a session, the new school can access their progress by logging into their Academic Bank of Credit (ABC) account using the unique ID. According to Mr. Sahasrabuddhe, due to APAAR being an Aadhaar-verified system, schools will need parental consent. This necessity arises as school students are minors, unlike college students who can independently provide consent. According to Mr. Sahasrabuddhe, students’ data would be kept confidential, as the verification process aims solely to authenticate information. There is a possibility of establishing a system for uploading students’ details and conducting e-KYC (electronic Know Your Customer) procedures.
Experts have embraced the initiative while raising caution about privacy. According to Ms. Jyoti Arora, Principal at Mount Abu Public School, while recognizing the advantages of the proposed ‘One Nation, One ID’ system for school students in streamlining administrative processes, to ensure data accuracy and optimal resource allocation in education, it is crucial to remain vigilant about potential risks associated with data security and privacy.
APAAR, verified by Aadhaar, is the gateway to students’ Academic Bank of Credit (ABC) and Digilocker, storing essential documents. It will evolve into a lifelong ID, covering education from pre-primary to PhD. This year, the central government introduced the National Credit Framework (NCrF) for school and vocational education. NCrF permits students to earn credits from school years, storing them in their ABC accounts.
