APAAR ID

APAAR ID

News: Recently, the Union Education Ministry has directed states to begin implementing the Automated Permanent Academic Account Registry (APAAR), also known as “One Nation, one student ID.”

What is One Nation One Student ID Registration scheme?
• The Automated Permanent Academic Account Registry (APAAR) or One Nation One Student ID registration scheme is a system initiated by the Ministry of Education. It assigns a unique identification number to students using their Aadhaar number with parental consent. 
• It seeks to streamline the admission process when students transfer between educational institutions nationwide.
•  Additionally, teachers are required to update students’ blood group, height, and weight in the Unified District Information System for Education (UDISE) database. 
• This system, known as EduLocker, enables students to digitally track their academic progress and cocurricular achievements.

Concerns
• Data Security: Given the ongoing concerns about Aadhaar’s data security and the numerous instances of data breaches, many people have raised concerns about the One Nation One Student ID registration process.
• Administrative Burden on Schools: Schools have been asked to create awareness about APAAR ID among parents and to inform them about its uses before taking their consent. This has led to unrest among teachers due to the growing weight of non-academic tasks.
• Absence of an Option to Deny Consent: Many have questioned the absence of an option to deny consent. The consent form states that one can withdraw the consent in future, but it comes with a rider that any personal data which is already processed before withdrawal of the consent will remain unaffected.
• Potential Misuse of Data: The consent form mentions that the data through this ID will be made available to entities engaged in various educational activities, including educational institutions and recruitment agencies. This has raised concerns about potential misuse of student data