‘Some don’t even have Aadhaar’: CBSE’s APAAR ID mandate sends students scrambling before board exams

CBSE Board Exams 2026: “They just told us to bring our Aadhaar and school ID. Some of my friends don’t even have their Aadhaar linked yet. We’re scared our exam forms will get stuck,” said Krithika*, a Class 12 student at a Kendriya Vidyalaya in Karnataka. And she’s not the only one concerned.

The Central Board of Secondary Education’s (CBSE) sudden decision to make joining the Automated Permanent Academic Account Registry (APAAR) ID mandatory for board examinations has left thousands across the country, with students, parents and teachers racing to link Aadhaar, verify documents and navigate the new registration system on a short notice.

The stakes are high – without the APAAR ID, students risk losing access to board exams, raising urgent questions about data privacy, fairness and whether those from government schools, low-income families or without ready internet access will be able to register in time.

A National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 initiative, APAAR is managed by the Ministry of Education through the Academic Bank of Credits framework. It aims to give every student a unique, permanent academic ID that will consolidate all their educational achievements – from early schooling to higher education – in one secure location, typically accessible via DigiLocker. Officials say APAAR is meant to simplify admissions, track progress, and reduce paperwork across the education system. It is now mandatory for being included in the CBSE board exam 2026’ LOC or list of candidates.

CBSE Board Exams: APAAR, Aadhaar confusion

Krithika (name changed) said that the school had given them only a week to register. She said one of her friends, Sheela (name changed), comes from a poor background and has only one parent. With limited resources and no clear guidance, she felt a lot of stress.

Krithika said some people are supporting the move without really understanding the loopholes in the system, simply because it has been presented as a rule rather than a suggestion.

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She said many parents in her school have decided to comply since “it’s a rule, so we might as well go with it,” while others are concerned about possible privacy violations. They think it is a gateway to making not just the student’s information, but all information public.

APAAR ID: ‘Progressive step’ with riders

“I think APAAR is a really progressive step for the education system,” said Avantika Khajuria from Delhi. “Instead of running around for documents at every stage, students will have one lifelong academic ID that keeps everything safe and accessible.”

But, teachers stress careful onboarding. “If your school is insisting, go ahead and register, but double-check details — name, date of birth, Aadhaar link — to avoid future issues,” said Rishi S, a parent of two from Gurgaon.

“Make sure all the information matches official documents exactly. Ask for a government circular if anyone claims it’s mandatory, and don’t feel pressured by school staff or notices that aren’t backed by official guidelines. Parents should also understand how their child’s data will be used, who can access it, and what safeguards are in place,” he said.

“For years, we’ve struggled with verifying marksheets, migration certificates, and transfer documents,” said Priya M, the daughter of a vice-principal at a private CBSE school in Bengaluru. “A well-secured, government-verified system could save hours of administrative work and reduce errors in record-keeping — provided parents are properly informed and the system remains secure.”

However, she adds that parents could be given more time to register instead of rushing the process by a week’s notice.

“Technology should empower, not intimidate,” said Rajiv, a former lecturer from Pune, but settled in Chennai. “If APAAR becomes something families feel forced into without clear benefits explained to them, it will erode trust. Parents need to know what data is stored, who can access it, and what rights they retain. Only then can this become the reform it was meant to be.”

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Legal experts suggest it could even curb exploitative practices. “This unique ID should replace the admit card for board exams,” said Advocate Shikha Sharma Bagga, director of Forum for Indian Parents. “That may help stop schools from confiscating documents to pressure parents for unlawful fees.” Bagga, however, emphasised that private institutions must not be allowed to misuse it.

APAAR ID: Parents, students struggle with rollout

A mother of two from Bengaluru pointed to data security risks and possible bias. “If they have an automated history, there could be unfair admissions based on skill trends. There’s a risk of bias, safety issues, and unintended academic discrimination,” she said.

“If every score from every grade is tracked permanently, what if colleges start looking at trends instead of just board results?” asked Ishita R, a student from Kolkata now studying in Gurgaon.

“Right now, Class 10 and Class 12 board marks are what matter most for admissions. But if institutions start analysing performance over the years, it could unfairly disadvantage students who had a slow start but improved later. Not every child peaks academically at the same time... If our entire academic history is always visible, there’s a risk that people stop seeing the person and only see the pattern,” she said.

“Some schools are telling parents it’s mandatory, others are waiting for circulars,” said Suresh, a former school teacher in Ranchi, now a freelance consultant in Chennai.

“The lack of uniform guidelines is creating unnecessary panic. We have calls almost daily from worried families asking whether they’ll face penalties if they don’t register right away given that it is mandatory for appearing in exams. The truth is, until there’s a clear directive from state or central boards with proper safeguards, schools are essentially operating on guesswork. Transparent data protection policies and official, consistent instructions would calm nerves, help schools implement this responsibly, and prevent spread of misinformation.”

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CBSE APAAR Move: A word of caution

“Centralised databases are attractive targets,” said Ankit (name changed), a Bengaluru-based data security consultant. “They draw attention not just from hackers looking to steal identities, but also from entities that might try to exploit the data for profiling or commercial gain. Without strong encryption, strictly tiered access controls, and well-enforced penalties for any breach or misuse, what starts out as a well-meaning reform can quickly turn into a vulnerability at scale. And children, who have no control over how their data is stored or shared, would be the ones paying the price for life.”

Digital rights group Internet Freedom Foundation (IFF) said CBSE’s decision “paves the way for mass digital exclusion”. It warned that students without Aadhaar or stable internet could be left out. It also raised privacy risks from keeping student data in one place without strong safety rules.

However, the education ministry has yet to publish a single national directive standardising APAAR. For now, experts recommend a cautious approach – verify details, share documents only when needed, and follow official channels for updates.