Context:

The implementation of the Automated Permanent Academic Account Registry (APAAR) under NEP 2020 has raised concerns among parents, activists, and educators regarding its impact and data security. Designed as a digital tool to manage students' academic records, APAAR has sparked debates on its potential risks and benefits.

What is the APAAR ID?

• The APAAR ID is an initiative designed to give every student a unique digital identity, intended to facilitate smoother transitions between educational institutions.
• According to the government, this ID will store students’ academic records, such as marksheets, school affiliations, and more, in a standardized format.
• The APAAR ID is also linked to Aadhaar and stored in DigiLocker, making it easily accessible for both students and educational authorities.

Is the APAAR ID Mandatory?

Despite the government promoting the APAAR ID as a beneficial and voluntary system, many schools and state authorities are pushing for students to enrol, leaving parents unclear about its optional status.

According to official documents, the APAAR ID is not mandatory, but circulars from educational bodies, such as the CBSE and certain states like Uttar Pradesh, have been pressuring schools to ensure 100% saturation in registrations.

Major Concerns: 

·        One of the biggest concerns about APAAR is data security. Critics, including the Internet Freedom Foundation (IFF), highlight the lack of transparency in its creation and implementation. While the system collects personal and academic data, there is no clear legal framework to protect it, raising fears of potential misuse.

·        Privacy risks are also a major issue, as the data may be shared across educational platforms or third-party entities. The Digital Personal Data Protection Act (2023) prohibits tracking, behavioral monitoring, and targeted advertising for children under Section 9(3), yet the IFF warns of insufficient safeguards to prevent such risks under APAAR.

·        Additionally, there are concerns about cybersecurity, as weak data protection could expose student records to cyber threats. Another issue is data duplication, since much of the information already exists in the Unified District Information System for Education Plus (UDISE+), leading teachers to question the necessity and efficiency of APAAR.

The Way Forward

While the APAAR ID may streamline administrative processes and benefit students in terms of academic records management, the lack of clarity around its mandatory status and the privacy risks it poses must be addressed. Transparency, clear communication, and robust data protection mechanisms are essential to ensure that the benefits of the system outweigh the potential risks.