The Supreme Court On Monday he ordered the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) to implement the Orissa High Court order for APAAR ID authorization process across the country. The court also asked the agency to review concerns about parental consent and data protection while hearing a petition challenging the legality of the plan.The findings have also brought the Automated Permanent Academic Account Registry (APAAR) into the spotlight. Although the government says it is a major step in building a digital education system, the plan has also sparked controversy over privacy, consent and the use of student data.So, what exactly is APAAR, how does it work, and why has it become the subject of legal scrutiny?
What is APAAR?
APAAR, short for Automated Permanent Academic Account Registry, is a global student identification system established under the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. The aim is to give every student in India a unique 12-course number for life.Unlike a school registration number, an APAAR ID accompanies a student throughout their educational journey, from elementary school to higher education and professional development programs. The goal is to create a single, authentic academic identifier that will securely store academic records in digital format.The Ministry of Education says the system is designed to reduce red tape, simplify administration and allow students to access their certificates when needed.
Valid APAAR ID Form: Definition
The APAAR ID consent form is a document in which parents or legal guardians (or adult students, if applicable) are asked to provide informed consent before a student’s information is used to create an APAAR ID (Automated Permanent Account Registry).
How does APAAR work?
The APAAR ID serves as a digital database of a student’s academic achievements. Once created, it can be linked to documents created by schools, colleges and recognized educational institutions.An ID can store information such as:
- Papers and report cards
- Board exam certificates
- Degrees and diplomas
- Educational background
- Scholarships and awards
- Excellence in co-curricular and extracurricular
- Skills certifications and technical education records
Many of these credentials are designed to be integrated with DigiLocker and the Academic Bank of Credits (ABC), which enables students to obtain authentic academic documents instead of relying on a physical certificate.
Because APAAR was introduced
The government says APAAR is part of its efforts to improve Indian education through digital technology.According to the Ministry of Education, the plan is expected to:
- Create one educational identifier for each student.
- Reduce repetition and errors in academic writing.
- Make transfers between schools and institutions easy.
- Enable default certificate validation.
- Help students maintain lifelong learning records.
- Improving policy strategies using accurate educational data.
Education officials also believe that a unified student resource center can help monitor enrollment, reduce dropouts and help better implement government policies.
APAAR is affiliated with Aadhaar ?
One of the main points of controversy surrounding APAAR is its link with Aadhaar. Although the government has repeatedly stated that APAAR is a voluntary process, the identification process often relies on Aadhaar verification to establish the student’s identity. This has led some parents and legal experts to say that students are being forced to obtain Aadhaar in order to participate in the system.The petition in the present Supreme Court argues that such communication would undermine legal protection, especially if APAAR is required for examinations, admissions or other courses.
APAAR reached the Supreme Court: Why
The case before the Supreme Court was brought by the parents of four schoolchildren, who challenged the legality of the policy.This request raises several issues, including:
- Whether students are being forced in some way to get Aadhaar.
- Whether parents are given specific, informed consent prior to enrollment.
- Whether children’s information is adequately protected.
- Whether students should have the right to withdraw consent or request that their data be deleted.
The petitioners said that the current consent system is not fully compliant with the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023, especially in terms of informed consent and data privacy.
What did the Orissa High Court say?
In December 2025, the Orissa High Court ordered the Ministry of Education to revise the APAAR approval form.The court said that if the scheme is voluntary, parents should have the opportunity to opt-out or release their child’s data before it is collected. It also observed that education cannot be set up to obtain Aadhaar and allowing parents to withdraw consent later is not a substitute for obtaining informed consent earlier.The Supreme Court has now said that these guidelines should be followed across the country as the Center did not challenge the Supreme Court order.
Supreme Court opinion
In Monday’s case, the Supreme Court acknowledged that APAAR serves a legitimate public role in helping to create reliable educational information for students and improving the administration of education.Chief Justice Surya Kant opined that this would help the authorities to maintain accurate records of students, implement educational reforms effectively and improve planning in all schools.However, the Bench also made it clear that the system cannot operate outside the laws governing personal information. It also said that CBSE should look into issues related to parental consent and ensure that implementation is in line with the provisions of the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023.
What does this mean for students and parents?
The Supreme Court’s recent observations do not stop the APAAR scheme. Instead, they assert that its implementation should be accompanied by strong privacy protections and informed consent.For parents, the decision could mean clearer admissions forms and greater choice before enrolling their children. For education authorities, it shows that while the digital revolution is welcome, it must be implemented in a way that respects legal rights and data protection laws.As the legal challenge continues, APAAR remains one of the most important digital education programs under NEP 2020—which aims to simplify the management of educational records and balance privacy, consent and accountability requirements.