Is an APAAR ID the same as an ABC ID?

Yes. DigiLocker says the ABC ID and the APAAR ID refer to the same unique ID, which the Ministry of Education renamed.

Can a parent refuse an APAAR ID?

Yes. On 20 July 2026 the Supreme Court directed that an Orissa High Court direction, to consider amending the model consent form so parents or guardians can expressly withhold or refuse consent, be given effect across India. The revised form has a refuse option.

Glossary

APAAR ID

An APAAR ID is a permanent 12-digit student ID in India, linked to DigiLocker and the Academic Bank of Credits. A child's ID needs a parent's consent.^{[1, 2, 3, 4]}

Last reviewed 21 October 2026
7 sources, each dated
By the ProEMS team

Full form: Automated Permanent Academic Account Registry
Also called: ABC ID, One Nation, One Student ID
Length: 12 digits, unique to the student^[1]
Generated by: The school, from its SDMS login, or a Common Service Centre^{[2, 4]}
Consent: A parent signs a consent or refusal form. The refuse option follows a High Court direction that the Supreme Court extended across India on 20 July 2026^[3]
Status for school students: Optional, as of October 2026: parents can refuse, and CBSE's Class X and XII candidate lists don't require it^{[3, 5]}
Cost: No charge, says DigiLocker^[6]

What is an APAAR ID used for?

It gives each student one permanent number, under the idea of “One Nation, One Student ID”.^{[1, 2]} The number links to the student's DigiLocker and to the Academic Bank of Credits, so academic records and credits can sit in one place.^[2] The Press Information Bureau reported 26.30 crore verified IDs by June 2026.^[2]

APAAR stands for Automated Permanent Academic Account Registry.^[7] DigiLocker says the older ABC ID and the APAAR ID are the same ID, renamed by the Ministry of Education.^[6]

How does a school generate an APAAR ID?

From its SDMS login, after the parent has signed the consent form. The school picks the student, records whether the father, mother or legal guardian is consenting, enters that person's ID details, and notes the place and date of the signed consent.^[4] A student under 16 can't create their own ID through DigiLocker and is told to contact the school.^[6]

The details tied to an APAAR ID are fetched from Aadhaar.^[6] Our guide to UDISE+ and APAAR ID for schools covers the steps and the consent form.

Is an APAAR ID mandatory for school students?

No. As of October 2026 it's optional. CBSE's circular of 17 September 2026 on Class X and XII candidate lists says “Filling of APAAR is optional.”^[5] On 20 July 2026 the Supreme Court directed that an Orissa High Court direction, to consider amending the consent form so parents can expressly refuse, be given effect across India.^[3]

We haven't checked every state board's rules, so ask yours. For colleges the Ministry said in February 2024 that an ABC ID is necessary for admission.^[7] We haven't checked whether that has changed.

Sources

Every fact on this page about rules, prices or other products comes from one of these. We read each one on the date shown and will update this page when they change.

Press Information Bureau. Shri Dharmendra Pradhan inaugurates National Conference on APAAR: One Nation One Student ID Card (pib.gov.in). 13 February 2024. Read 21 October 2026.
Press Information Bureau (backgrounder). Academic Bank of Credits and APAAR: Building India's Lifelong Learning Ecosystem (static.pib.gov.in). 30 June 2026. Read 21 October 2026.
Supreme Court of India. Abhishek Baxi & Ors. v. Union of India, W.P.(C) No. 832/2026, record of proceedings (api.sci.gov.in). 20 July 2026. Read 21 October 2026.Paragraphs 4 to 6 record what the petitioners argued. Paragraphs 7 to 9 are the Court's own directions.
Ministry of Education, SDMS portal. User Manual for SDMS (School User) (sdms.udiseplus.gov.in). PDF dated December 2024. Read 21 October 2026.Written before the consent form was revised in 2026, so the on-screen steps may have changed.
Central Board of Secondary Education. Submission of List of Candidates (LOC) for Class X and Class XII Main Examinations 2026-27, circular CBSE/LOC/X-XII/2026-2027 (cbse.gov.in). 17 September 2026. Read 21 October 2026.
DigiLocker. Answers to questions asked during the 'Ask our Experts' show on DigiLocker (digilocker.gov.in). 18 October 2024. Read 21 October 2026.
Press Information Bureau. Academic Bank of Credit launched through CSCs (pib.gov.in). 7 February 2024. Read 21 October 2026.

FAQ

Questions about APAAR ID

Short answers. The sections above have the detail and the sources.

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What does APAAR stand for?: Automated Permanent Academic Account Registry.
Is an APAAR ID the same as an ABC ID?: Yes. DigiLocker says the ABC ID and the APAAR ID refer to the same unique ID, which the Ministry of Education renamed.
Can a parent refuse an APAAR ID?: Yes. On 20 July 2026 the Supreme Court directed that an Orissa High Court direction, to consider amending the model consent form so parents or guardians can expressly withhold or refuse consent, be given effect across India. The revised form has a refuse option.

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