Board Exams 2026: Is it mandatory to register on APAAR? Here’s what CBSE said

APAAR, short for Automated Permanent Academic Account Registry, is a unique student identification number created under the government’s ‘One Nation, One Student ID’ initiative. The system, aligned with the National Education Policy 2020, is intended to provide students with a lifelong academic identity. It is also meant to support seamless transitions across schools and higher education institutions, simplify admission and job verification, enable credit transfers, and help in analysing skill gaps for targeted development.

While CBSE has been encouraging schools to generate APAAR IDs for every student, the process has not been without hurdles. Several schools reported problems in integrating their systems, mismatches between school and Aadhaar records, delays in updating or correcting information, and, in some cases, lack of parental consent.

Responding to these concerns, CBSE has temporarily allowed schools to proceed with LoC submission without the APAAR ID in specific situations.

If the ID cannot be generated because parents have refused consent, schools must record a copy of the denial and mark the entry as ‘Refused’ in the LoC. Where the delay is due to technical or administrative reasons other than consent, the entry should be made as ‘NOGEN’. In all other cases, schools are expected to provide the APAAR ID as usual. CBSE has made it clear that this arrangement is meant to ensure error-free LoC submissions for the upcoming cycle and that, going forward, the APAAR ID will be mandatory for board exams.

For those who still need to complete the process, APAAR IDs are generated through DigiLocker. The process requires Aadhaar-based verification and parental consent.

How to register for an APAAR ID

Step 1: Visit the DigiLocker website or download the DigiLocker app.

Step 2: Sign in using the student’s Aadhaar-linked mobile number.

Step 3: Open the education services section and select APAAR ID.

Step 4: Enter the required student details as prompted.

Step 5: Provide parental consent digitally or submit a signed consent form to the school.

Step 6: After verification, the APAAR ID will be generated and linked to the student’s academic profile.

Alongside this clarification, CBSE has also reminded schools of upcoming deadlines. Registrations of both regular and private candidates for the 2026 examinations are already underway. The final date for submission of the List of Candidates is October 3, 2025, with late fees applicable beyond the standard window. Schools have been instructed to follow these revised APAAR guidelines while ensuring timely submissions.