The APAAR ID system, a digital registry for students’ academic records, is voluntary despite pressure from the CBSE for full enrollment. It securely links records with DigiLocker and ABC, but raises data privacy and bureaucratic concerns, prompting calls for robust legal frameworks, enhanced security measures, and clear, strict consent guidelines.
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The Education Ministry stated that obtaining an APAAR ID is voluntary.
APAAR (Automated Permanent Academic Account Registry) ID is a digital platform for students to store and manage their academic records, including credits, degrees, and achievements.
Each student to receives a unique and permanent 12-digit APAAR ID.
It is designed to create a centralized, digital storage of students' academic records, by linking them to DigiLocker and the Academic Bank of Credits (ABC).
It allows students to store and access their academic records, including scorecards, marksheets, gradesheets, degrees, diplomas, certificates, and co-curricular accomplishments, in a secure digital format.
It allows easy transfer of academic data between institutions.
Schools need parents' permission to register students into the registry.
Concerns
The Ministry of Education said that APAAR ID enrollment is optional, and parents must have an option of opting out. However the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) sent a circular requesting schools to attain "100% saturation" of APAAR IDs, which places pressure on students and parents.
Linking APAAR to Aadhaar raises concerns about the collection and handling of sensitive personal data, especially for minors.
Differences between names in school records and Aadhaar databases create hurdles for enrollment. Parents are directed to Common Service Centres for corrections, adding bureaucratic burdens.
The Supreme Court's Puttaswamy ruling, which states that Aadhaar cannot be mandatory for basic education, is also a legal challenge to the linking of APAAR to Aadhaar.
Way Forward
Pass a legal framework for the APAAR ID mechanism to identify the data protection norms, consent parameters, and grievance redressal mechanisms.
Comprehensive security features to safeguard the private information contained in the APAAR system.
The government has clarified the voluntary nature of APAAR ID registration. Specific guidelines have to be given to schools and state education departments to avoid coercive practices.
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APAAR INITIATIVE BY MINISTRY OF EDUCATION
AUTOMATED PERMANENT ACADEMIC ACCOUNT REGISTRY (APAAR)
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PRACTICE QUESTION Q. Discuss the key features of APAAR ID and how it aligns with the National Education Policy 2020. 150 words |
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