this Supreme Court The Central Board of Secondary Education (Central Board of Secondary Education) was directed on MondayCBSE) to implement the directions of the Orissa High Court on the APAAR ID consent process across the country. The court also asked the commission to examine issues related to parental consent and data protection when hearing a petition challenging the constitutional validity of the scheme.These observations once again put the Center for Automated Permanent Academic Account Registration (APAAR) in the spotlight. While the government describes it as an important step in building a digital education ecosystem, the plan has also sparked debate over privacy, consent and the use of students’ personal data.So, what exactly is APAAR, how does it work, and why is it the subject of legal scrutiny?
What is APAAR?
APAAR, short for Automated Permanent Academic Account Registration, is a nationwide student identification system introduced under the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. It aims to provide every student in India with a unique 12-digit lifelong academic identification number.Unlike a school roll number, an APAAR ID stays with a student throughout their education, from pre-school to higher education and skills development programs. The goal is to create a single, authenticated academic identity that can securely store education records in digital form.The Department of Education said the system was designed to reduce paperwork, simplify records management and make it easier for students to access their academic certificates when needed.
APAAR ID Consent Form: What it means
The APAAR ID Consent Form is a document that requires a parent or legal guardian (or adult student, if applicable) to provide informed consent before the student’s details are used to create an APAAR (Automated Permanent Academic Account Registration) ID.
How does APAAR work?
APAAR ID serves as a digital repository of a student’s educational achievements. Once created, it can be linked to records generated by schools, colleges and accredited educational institutions.IDs can store the following information:
- Scoresheets and Report Cards
- Board Exam Certificate
- Degrees and Diplomas
- credit
- Scholarships and Awards
- Extracurricular and Extracurricular Achievements
- Skill certification and vocational training records
Much of this information is designed to integrate with DigiLocker and Academic Credit Bank (ABC), giving students digital access to verified educational documents rather than relying on physical certificates.
Reasons for introducing APAAR
The government says APAAR is part of its broader efforts to modernize India’s education system through digital technology.According to the Department of Education, the system is expected to:
- Create a single academic identity for each student.
- Reduce duplication and errors in education records.
- Make transfers between schools and institutions easier.
- Enables seamless verification of certificates.
- Help students preserve academic records throughout their lives.
- Improving policy planning through accurate education data.
Education authorities also believe that a unified student database can help monitor enrollment, reduce dropouts and support better implementation of government programs.
Is APAAR linked to Adhar ?
One of the biggest points of controversy surrounding APAAR is its connection with Aadhaar. Although the government has repeatedly stated that APAAR is a voluntary initiative, the identification process usually relies on Aadhaar-based verification to establish the identity of students. This has led some parents and legal experts to believe that students are indirectly forced to obtain Aadhaar in order to participate in the system.The petition currently before the Supreme Court argues that such a connection could undermine constitutional protections, especially if APAAR is necessary for testing, admissions, or other educational services.
APAAR goes to Supreme Court: why
The case was brought to the Supreme Court by the parents of four students who challenged the constitutional validity of the scheme.The petition raises a number of concerns, including:
- Whether students are indirectly forced to obtain Aadhaar.
- Whether parents are given true, informed consent prior to enrollment.
- Whether children’s personal information is adequately protected.
- Whether students have the right to withdraw consent or request deletion of their data.
The petitioners believe that the current consent mechanism is not fully compliant with the Digital Personal Data Protection (DPDP) Bill, 2023, especially in terms of informed consent and data rights.
What did the Odisha High Court say?
In December 2025, the Orissa High Court directed the education department to revise the APAAR consent form model.The court held that if the program is indeed voluntary, parents must be given the option to refuse enrollment or opt out before their children’s data is collected. It also states that education cannot be made conditional on obtaining Aadhaar and that allowing parents to withdraw consent later is not a substitute for obtaining informed consent in the first place.The Supreme Court has now said that since the Center did not challenge the high court ruling, the directions should be implemented across the country.
Supreme Court’s View
During Monday’s hearing, the Supreme Court recognized that APAAR serves a legitimate public purpose by helping create reliable academic identities for students and improving educational administration.Chief Justice Surya Kant noted that the initiative could help authorities maintain accurate student records, implement education reforms more effectively, and improve planning across the school system.However, the judge also made it clear that the scheme cannot operate outside the legal framework governing personal data. It said CBSE must review issues related to parental consent and ensure implementation is compliant with the provisions of the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023.
What does this mean for students and parents?
The Supreme Court’s latest opinion does not suspend the APAAR program. Instead, they stressed that its implementation must be accompanied by stronger guarantees of privacy and informed consent.For parents, the decision could mean clearer consent and more choices before enrolling their children in school. For education authorities, this shows that while digital reforms are welcome, they must be implemented in a way that respects constitutional rights and data protection laws.As legal challenges continue, APAAR remains one of the most important digital education initiatives under NEP 2020, which aims to streamline academic records management while balancing equally important issues of privacy, consent and accountability.