The Supreme Court On Monday he directed the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) to implement the directions of the Orissa High Court on APAAR (Automated Permanent Academic Account Register) identification consent process across the country. While hearing a petition challenging the scheme, the court also asked CBSE to look into concerns related to parental consent and data protection.The observations came after the bench noted that the Center had accepted the Orissa High Court’s December 2025 judgment by not appealing against it. The court said CBSE must implement the High Court’s directions across the country and ensure that the scheme complies with the Digital Personal Data Protection (DPDP) Act, 2023.The ruling has brought the APAAR back into focus. Introduced under the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, the initiative aims to create a lifelong digital academic identity for all students in India. Here’s what the scheme is, how it works and why it has come under legal scrutiny.
what is ID OFF ?
APAAR is a unique 12-digit student identification number designed to remain with a student throughout their academic journey.Unlike a school registration number, which changes with institutions, an APAAR ID is intended to serve as a permanent academic identity. It enables students to maintain a digital record of their educational achievements from school to higher education and skill development programmes.The initiative is part of the government’s broader effort to digitize the education system and facilitate access, verification and transfer of academic records.
How does APAAR ID work?
Once an APAAR ID is generated, it acts as the central repository for a student’s verified academic records.The system can digitally store:
- Note sheets and report cards
- Board examination certificates
- Degrees and diplomas
- Academic credits
- Scholarships and awards
- Complementary and extracurricular achievements
- Certificates of competence and professional qualifications
The records are designed to integrate with platforms such as DigiLocker and the Academic Bank of Credits (ABC), allowing students to access verified educational documents online.
Benefits of the APAAR
According to the Ministry of Education, APAAR has been designed to simplify the management of academic records and reduce paperwork.Some of its key benefits include:
- A single academic identity throughout the life of the student.
- Easy access to verified educational documents.
- Faster transfer of records when changing schools or universities.
- Reduced chances of duplicate or lost certificates.
- Better tracking of academic progress and achievements.
- Improving planning and policy-making through reliable education data.
The Supreme Court also noted during the hearing that a unified student ID could help authorities maintain accurate records, implement educational reforms and monitor indicators such as teacher-student ratios.
APAAR consent form: Meaning
The APAAR Consent Form is the document through which parents or legal guardians are asked to provide permission before creating a student’s APAAR ID.The form explains why student information is being collected, how it will be used, and how academic records will be stored. Since the program primarily covers school-going children, parental consent is considered an important part of the enrollment process.The current consent process has become the focus of legal debate because petitioners argue that parents do not have a meaningful opportunity to opt out of enrollment before their child’s data is collected.
Why is parental consent checked?
The petition before the Supreme Court argues that although the APAAR qualifies as voluntary, it is effectively linked to Aadhaarleaving parents with little real choice.The petitioners have also questioned whether the existing consent process complies with the Digital Personal Data Protection (DPDP) Act 2023, particularly with respect to informed consent, withdrawal of consent and protection of children’s personal information.Another concern relates to the long-term storage of student academic data. The petitioners claim that parents and students should have the option to withdraw consent and exercise the “right to be forgotten”.
What did the Orissa High Court rule?
In December 2025, the High Court of Orissa asked the Ministry of Education to revise the model APAAR consent form.The court ordered that parents should have the option to refuse consent before enrollment or opt out. He also noted that if APAAR is voluntary, the consent form must clearly reflect that position.The High Court further held that education cannot be made conditional on obtaining Aadhaar and said that the ability to withdraw consent later cannot be a substitute for the right to refuse enrollment in the first place.what happens nextThe Supreme Court has not suspended the APAAR scheme. Instead, it has asked CBSE to implement the Orissa High Court’s directions across the country and look into concerns related to privacy and parental consent.For students, the program continues to function as a digital academic identity designed to make educational records portable and easily accessible. However, the latest court proceedings indicate that its implementation will now face greater scrutiny to ensure it complies with India’s constitutional protections and data protection law.