CBSE Introduces APAAR ID as Primary Identifier for Students

New Delhi, January 25, 2025 - The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has officially mandated the implementation of the Automated Permanent Academic Account Registry (APAAR) ID as the primary identifier for students across its affiliated schools. This initiative, part of the broader 'Digital India' vision and in alignment with the National Education Policy 2020, introduces a unique 12-digit ID to centralize students' academic and extracurricular records. However, the rollout has sparked discussions around data security measures and parental concerns.

APAAR ID: Overview and Implementation

The APAAR ID system is designed to provide students with a lifelong academic identity, tracking achievements, exam results, and participation in various activities like Olympiads and sports. Here's how it's being implemented:

• Parent-Teacher Meetings: Schools are organizing PTMs to explain APAAR ID, highlighting its benefits and addressing queries.
• Consent Process: Physical consent forms are distributed to parents, requiring them to authorize the use of their child's Aadhaar details for ID generation.
• ID Generation: Using the UDISE+ portal, schools generate APAAR IDs, which are then linked to students' Digilocker accounts, followed by a confirmation SMS to parents.
• Integration: The IDs will feature on school ID cards and be integrated into school IT systems for seamless educational tracking.

Security Measures for APAAR ID

To address data security, CBSE and the Ministry of Education have outlined several measures:

• Sensitive Data Masking: When sharing data with authorized entities, sensitive information is masked to protect privacy.
• Secure Storage: All data is stored securely within the Digilocker ecosystem, which is designed to meet high standards of data protection.
• Access Control: Only authorized educational institutions and stakeholders have access to specific data based on need and consent.
• Consent Withdrawal: Parents and students can withdraw consent at any point, stopping further data processing, although data already processed remains.

Parental Concerns and Community Response

The introduction of APAAR ID has not been without its controversies:

• Privacy Concerns: Many parents are worried about the potential misuse of their children's personal information. Despite assurances of secure data handling, there's skepticism about how well these assurances will hold in practice.
• Voluntary vs. Mandatory: Although officially voluntary, numerous reports suggest that schools are pressuring parents into compliance, making the process feel mandatory.
• Aadhaar Integration: The linkage of APAAR ID with Aadhaar raises additional privacy issues, especially given past controversies around Aadhaar data security.
• Rural and Less Tech-Savvy Areas: Concerns are particularly pronounced in rural areas where there might be less understanding of digital consent and privacy, potentially leading to uninformed consent.

CBSE's Response to Concerns

The CBSE has responded to these concerns by:

• Emphasizing Consent: Reiterating that the APAAR ID is voluntary and requires explicit parental consent, alongside providing mechanisms for consent withdrawal.
• Public Education: Committing to educational campaigns to inform parents and students about the system's benefits and security measures.
• Support Systems: Establishing a toll-free helpline (1800-889-3511) for queries and an APAAR ID Monitoring (AIM) platform for schools to oversee ID generation.
• Legal Framework: Stating that the system operates under guidelines that respect privacy laws, even as the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023, has yet to be fully implemented.

This initiative by CBSE reflects a move towards digital transformation in education but has also highlighted the need for robust dialogue between educational bodies, parents, and privacy advocates to ensure the safeguarding of student data while advancing educational access and efficiency.