If your child's school has suddenly started asking for a signed consent form and an Aadhaar copy, it is almost certainly for the APAAR ID — a new permanent student ID that the Ministry of Education is rolling out across schools and colleges in India. This guide explains what it is, whether it is compulsory, and exactly how to complete the process without confusion.
What Is APAAR ID?
APAAR stands for Automated Permanent Academic Account Registry. It is a 12-digit unique ID assigned to every student, similar in spirit to Aadhaar but only for academic records. It was introduced under the 'One Nation One Student ID' (ONOSID) initiative of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, and is issued through the National Academic Depository (NAD), which is linked to DigiLocker.
The idea is to give each student one lifelong academic ID that stores marksheets, transfer certificates, degrees, co-curricular achievements and skill certifications in one digital locker, so records never get lost between school changes, board transitions or college admissions.
Who Needs an APAAR ID
- ●Students currently studying in any government or private school registered under UDISE+ (Unified District Information System for Education)
- ●College and university students whose institution has adopted the National Academic Depository
- ●Students appearing for board exams, competitive entrance exams, or scholarship applications that now ask for an APAAR ID
- ●Parents of minor students, who must give consent since minors cannot register on their own
| Full form | Automated Permanent Academic Account Registry |
| Issued by | Ministry of Education, via National Academic Depository (NAD) |
| ID format | 12-digit unique number, linked to Aadhaar |
| Fee | Free — no charge at any stage |
| Where it is stored | DigiLocker account, under 'Issued Documents' |
| Validity | Lifetime — one ID follows the student through school, college and beyond |
| Official portal | apaar.education.gov.in |
Documents Required for the Parent Consent Form
- ●Student's full name (exactly as in school records)
- ●School name and address, with UDISE code if available
- ●Father's or mother's full name (as on their ID proof)
- ●Identity proof of parent/guardian — Aadhaar, PAN, Voter ID (EPIC), Driving Licence or Passport
- ●Identity proof number (for example, the Aadhaar number)
- ●A photocopy of the parent's or guardian's Aadhaar card
- ●Date of submission and signature of the parent or legal guardian
APAAR ID registration is completely free. Do not pay anyone — at school, at a cyber cafe, or online — for APAAR ID creation, consent form printing, or download.
How to Register Through School (Recommended for Students Under 18)
- 1Collect the 'APAAR ID Consent Form' from your child's class teacher or the school office
- 2Fill in the student details and parent/guardian ID proof details exactly as printed on the identity document
- 3Sign the form as the parent or legal guardian — the student's own signature is not accepted for minors
- 4Attach a self-attested photocopy of the parent's or guardian's Aadhaar card
- 5Submit the signed form and Aadhaar copy back to the class teacher
- 6The school uploads the student's data to the UDISE+ portal (udiseplus.gov.in), which auto-generates the APAAR ID and links it to the National Academic Depository
- 7Once generated, the school will inform you, and the ID becomes visible in the student's DigiLocker account
How to Download Your APAAR ID via DigiLocker
- 1Open digilocker.gov.in or the DigiLocker mobile app
- 2Tap 'Sign In' and log in with your mobile number linked to Aadhaar, then verify with the OTP sent to that number
- 3On the dashboard, click 'Issued Documents' in the left menu
- 4Search for 'APAAR ID' or 'Academic Bank of Credits' in the document list
- 5Click 'Get Document' next to the APAAR ID entry to pull it into your DigiLocker
- 6Once it appears under Issued Documents, click the document to view, and use the download icon to save the PDF
The consent form must be signed only by the biological parent or legal guardian named in the student's admission records. Signatures by grandparents, elder siblings, or the student themselves (if a minor) will be rejected by the school and delay ID generation.
Benefits of Having an APAAR ID
- ●One permanent academic ID from school through college — no re-registration when changing schools or states
- ●Digital storage of marksheets, certificates, and transfer certificates that cannot be lost or damaged
- ●Faster verification for college admissions, scholarships and government exams that increasingly ask for APAAR ID
- ●Easier tracking of credits earned through the Academic Bank of Credits (ABC) for multiple entry-exit degree programmes
- ●Reduces duplicate or fraudulent academic records across institutions
APAAR ID vs Other Common Student Identifiers
| APAAR ID | Lifetime academic identity; stores all academic records; issued once by NAD/Ministry of Education |
| UDISE Student ID | School-level tracking number generated by the state education department; not carried to college |
| Aadhaar Number | General identity proof for all citizens; APAAR is linked to it but serves a different, education-only purpose |
| Roll Number | Temporary, resets every academic year or exam cycle |
Common Problems and How to Fix Them
- ●APAAR ID not generated after submitting the form: Confirm with the school that your student's data was uploaded on UDISE+; generation can take a few weeks after upload
- ●Name mismatch between Aadhaar and school records: Get the school records corrected first, since APAAR pulls the name exactly as entered by the school
- ●APAAR ID not visible in DigiLocker: Ensure the mobile number used to log in to DigiLocker is the same one linked to the student's or parent's Aadhaar
- ●Consent form rejected: Re-check that the signature is from the registered parent/guardian and the attached ID copy is self-attested and legible
Once your APAAR ID is generated, you do not need to repeat this process again — the same 12-digit ID stays with the student for life, across schools, boards and universities.
Helpline and Support
For issues with registration, missing IDs, or DigiLocker linking problems, call the official APAAR helpline at 1800-889-3511 (toll-free, all days), or ask your school to raise the issue through the UDISE+ portal. For DigiLocker login or OTP issues specifically, use the support option inside the DigiLocker app or website.
APAAR ID is still being rolled out state by state, so if your child's school has not yet started the process, there is no cause for concern — it will typically be introduced through a circular with the consent form attached. Keep a copy of the signed consent form and Aadhaar proof for your own records until the ID is confirmed generated.