Sat Mar 22 05:10:00 UTC 2025: ## Concerns Rise Over India’s Student ID System, APAAR

**New Delhi, March 2025** – India’s Automated Permanent Academic Account Registry (APAAR) ID, a key component of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, is facing growing criticism despite being officially labelled voluntary. Intended to streamline student data management and facilitate seamless transitions between educational institutions, the system, linked to Aadhaar and DigiLocker, is generating controversy due to perceived pressure on parents and schools to participate.

While the government promotes APAAR as a means of improving educational data collection and creating a “One Nation, One Student ID,” many parents report unclear information regarding its voluntary nature. Circulars from the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) and state authorities strongly encouraging adoption have led to confusion and concerns. This, coupled with reported threats of consequences for non-compliant schools in some states, is fueling the perception that participation is mandatory.

Significant anxieties surround data security and privacy. Critics, including the Internet Freedom Foundation (IFF), argue that the large-scale collection of minors’ data without sufficient legal backing is unconstitutional and violates existing data protection laws prohibiting the tracking and monitoring of children. The IFF has raised alarms about potential data misuse.

While parents technically have the right to opt out, digital rights advocates are providing templates to assist with this process, as local pressures may make exercising this right challenging. The complexities of the registration process, including potential issues with discrepancies in student information, further add to the challenges. The lack of widespread awareness among parents regarding their rights contributes to the ongoing concerns. The implementation of APAAR, therefore, is facing significant hurdles and sparking debate on data privacy and individual rights.

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