Current Context: The APAAR ID, introduced under the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, aims to streamline student records but has raised concerns over Aadhaar linkage, data privacy, and potential mandate issues.

Key Facts:

• Objective: Establish a “One Nation, One Student ID” system to standardize academic records and link them to DigiLocker and Academic Bank of Credits.
• Implementation: Schools upload data, while higher education and skill institutions access verified records for admissions and recruitment.

Concerns:

• Aadhaar Linkage Issues: Spelling mismatches complicating data updates.
• Mandate Concerns: CBSE’s push for 100% APAAR enrolment contradicts Supreme Court rulings against mandatory Aadhaar for basic education access.
• Data Privacy Risks: Inadequate safeguards for minors’ sensitive data; potential non-compliance with Data Protection Act, 2023 (requires free and informed consent).