CBSE relaxes rules on mandatory APAAR ID linking to LOC data for 2025–26 session

The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has issued a notice granting partial relaxation in the mandatory submission of Automated Permanent Academic Account Registry (APAAR) IDs linked to the List of Candidates (LOC) data for the academic session 2025–2026.

APAAR, short for Automated Permanent Academic Account Registry, is a specialised identification system designed for all students in India. Introduced under the government’s One Nation, One Student ID programme and aligned with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, the APAAR initiative aims to provide each student with a lifelong academic identity.

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According to CBSE, APAAR IDs offer multiple benefits, including a unified academic identity, seamless transitions across education levels, credit transfers between institutions, simplified verification for admissions and employment, and skill gap analysis for targeted development.

Circulars and Challenges Reported

To provide schools with sufficient time for generating APAAR IDs, CBSE has earlier issued related circulars, including Circular No. CBSE/IT & Projects/APAAR ID/2025 dated January 24, 2025, along with subsequent circulars dated July 30, 2025, and August 27, 2025, regarding submission of LOC for Classes X and XII.

Despite these directives, CBSE has received representations from various schools across states highlighting technical and administrative challenges in generating APAAR IDs. These include integration issues between different portals, discrepancies between school records and Aadhaar data, delays in corrections and updates, and lack of parental consent.

Instructions to Schools

In view of these difficulties and the time-bound nature of LOC submission, CBSE has directed schools to take the following actions:

If APAAR IDs cannot be generated due to lack of parental consent, schools must maintain a copy of the denial of consent and mark “REFUSED” against APAAR in the LOC.

If APAAR IDs cannot be generated for other reasons, entry against APAAR should be marked as “NOGEN”.

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In all other cases, the APAAR ID must be indicated.

Ensuring Smooth LOC Submission

The Board emphasised that these instructions are aimed at facilitating error-free submission of LOC within the stipulated deadline. Schools facing further issues have been advised to approach their respective Regional Offices for assistance.