APAAR ID Mandatory For CBSE Students From 2025 – A Complete Guide

By Prashant for PuneriPages.in

New Delhi: The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has announced a significant change for students and parents. Starting from the 2025-26 academic session, all students registering for Class 9 and Class 11 will need to have an APAAR ID.

The APAAR ID (Automated Permanent Academic Account Registry) is a unique digital identity designed to serve as a lifelong record of a student’s academic journey. Popularly called the “One Nation, One Student ID,” it will securely store everything from exam results to extracurricular achievements in one place.

What is an APAAR ID?

The APAAR ID is essentially a 12-digit unique identification number, linked to a student’s Aadhaar (with parental consent). Think of it as a digital locker that holds all your child’s school records, exam marks, sports certificates, and other learning achievements.

It is issued via the DigiLocker platform under the Ministry of Education’s vision to create a nationwide Academic Bank of Credits.

Why CBSE Made APAAR ID Mandatory in 2025

Until now, APAAR ID creation was optional. However, CBSE has made it mandatory from 2025-26 for specific purposes:

Who it applies to: Students entering Class 9 and Class 11 in 2025-26.
Why these classes: Because registration for the Class 10 and 12 board exams begins at these entry points.
What it means: Without an APAAR ID, students will not be able to register for CBSE board exams in the future.

What Are the Benefits of APAAR ID?

The CBSE and Ministry of Education highlight several advantages:

Seamless Transfers: Students shifting schools will no longer need bulky paperwork—records are available digitally.
Centralized Records: All exam results, credits, and achievements stay in one secure account.
NEP 2020 Alignment: This system supports the National Education Policy 2020’s focus on skill-based and experiential learning.
Future Ready: Universities and employers can easily verify academic credentials, reducing the risk of forged certificates.

What is the Role of Schools and Parents?

Schools: CBSE schools are responsible for implementing the APAAR registration process and guiding parents.
Parents: Consent is mandatory for generating the APAAR ID. Parents must permit their child’s Aadhaar number to be linked through DigiLocker.

👉 This ensures transparency and that no student data is processed without explicit approval.

Why This Matters

By making APAAR ID mandatory, CBSE is ensuring that every student has a permanent, verified digital academic record. This will simplify admissions, transfers, and future career opportunities.

As CBSE explained in its official notification, this move is a “step toward a unified digital academic ecosystem.”