APAAR ID Now Mandatory for CBSE Board Exam Registration: What Students and Parents Need to Know

The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has introduced a significant new requirement for students registering for board exams: submission of the APAAR ID. Starting with the 2026 board exams, all students will be required to link their Automated Permanent Academic Account Registry (APAAR) ID with their board exam registration. This move, ratified in CBSE’s Governing Body meeting in June 2025, is designed to streamline academic data management and improve the integrity of educational records across India.

If you’re a student, parent, or educator wondering what the APAAR ID is, why it’s important, and how it impacts the board exam registration process, here’s a comprehensive guide to everything you need to know.

What is the APAAR ID?

APAAR stands for Automated Permanent Academic Account Registry. It is a unique identification number assigned to each student that stays with them throughout their entire academic journey—from pre-primary education all the way to higher education.

Developed as part of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, the APAAR ID serves as a lifelong digital academic record. It allows for seamless tracking of a student’s progress, attendance, grades, and results across different schools and educational boards. All report cards and exam results can be linked to this ID and accessed securely via Digilocker, the government’s digital document storage platform.

One of the most important benefits of the APAAR ID is its role in authenticating academic credentials. By providing a unique identifier that connects students’ official records, the APAAR ID helps prevent the circulation of fake certificates and fraudulent educational documents.

Why Has CBSE Made APAAR ID Mandatory for Board Exam Registration?

Before this decision, CBSE required schools to submit the list of students who would appear for Class 10 and 12 board exams along with their registration details during Classes 9 and 11. However, there was no unified system to link these details with a standardized identity, leading to inconsistencies and difficulties in verifying student information across different databases.

In the Governing Body meeting minutes from June 2025, it was noted that the lack of a standardized identity system had caused gaps in data accuracy and verifiability. To address this, the Ministry of Education has mandated the adoption of APAAR IDs as part of India’s Digital Public Infrastructure for Education.

The aim is to create a universally accessible digital academic record for every student that is maintained throughout their schooling. Linking the APAAR ID with board exam registrations will improve data accuracy, eliminate duplicate records, and make the registration process more transparent and verifiable.

The committee members unanimously agreed on this approach and decided to implement the APAAR ID linkage starting from the 2026 board exams.

How Does the APAAR ID Work?

The APAAR system assigns each student a unique ID by collecting key personal and academic information. This includes:

• Full Name
• Date of Birth
• Gender
• Photograph
• Aadhaar Number

All data is verified using Aadhaar authentication to ensure accuracy and prevent duplication. Once created, the APAAR ID remains constant throughout the student’s education journey, providing a comprehensive and secure record of all academic achievements.

How to Obtain an APAAR ID?

Schools across India, including those in Delhi, have been distributing consent forms to parents over the past two years to facilitate APAAR ID registration. Consultations and stakeholder meetings have been held to raise awareness and ensure smooth adoption.

Students or their parents will need to provide the necessary personal information mentioned above, which will be authenticated against Aadhaar data. The government had initially planned the APAAR registration to be voluntary, but linking the APAAR ID with board exam registration effectively makes it mandatory for all students appearing for CBSE board exams.

Concerns and Government Assurances Regarding Data Privacy

While many parents appreciate the convenience and security the APAAR ID system promises, some have raised concerns about potential misuse of personal information and data leaks.

The government has assured that access to the APAAR database will be strictly limited. Only authorized entities involved in educational processes will be able to access student information. These include:

• Educational institutions
• The Unified District Information System for Education Plus (UDISE+) database managers
• Scholarship authorities
• Recruitment agencies that require verification of academic credentials

The government emphasizes that no personal information will be accessible beyond these necessary educational and administrative bodies, ensuring that student data is protected and used responsibly.

What Does This Mean for Students and Parents?

Starting with the 2026 CBSE board exams, students will not be able to register without submitting their APAAR ID. This requirement ensures that:

• Students’ academic records are unified and traceable across institutions.
• Data discrepancies and duplicate registrations are minimized.
• The integrity of board exam registrations is strengthened.
• Students and parents can easily access academic records digitally via Digilocker.

For parents, it is essential to cooperate with schools during the APAAR ID registration process and ensure all information provided is accurate and authenticated. Maintaining the APAAR ID throughout a child’s academic career will simplify future admissions, scholarship applications, and recruitment processes.

The Bigger Picture: APAAR ID and India’s Education Digital Transformation

The APAAR ID initiative is a critical component of India’s broader vision to create a digitally integrated education system under the National Education Policy, 2020. By establishing a permanent academic record for every student, the government aims to:

• Enhance transparency and efficiency in educational administration.
• Reduce fraud related to academic credentials.
• Enable better policy-making through reliable data analytics.
• Facilitate seamless transition of students between different schools and boards.

This system ultimately empowers students by giving them lifelong access to their verified academic history.

Final Thoughts

The introduction of the APAAR ID as a mandatory requirement for CBSE board exam registration marks a significant step towards digitizing and securing India’s education records. While it may require some adjustment, especially in the initial phase, the long-term benefits for students, schools, and educational authorities are substantial.

By linking academic records through a unique, Aadhaar-verified ID, the government aims to create a robust and transparent educational ecosystem that supports merit, authenticity, and accessibility.

Parents and students should begin preparations early to ensure their APAAR ID registration is complete well before the 2026 board exam registration deadlines.