APAAR ID vs ABC ID
The names look like two different student IDs, but the current system is more connected than that. This guide explains the real difference, who should register through a school or DigiLocker, and where to correct wrong details or missing credits.
Quick answer: You should not create one APAAR ID and another separate ABC ID. Official NAD guidance states that the ABC ID has been renamed APAAR ID and the same 12-digit number is used. APAAR describes your lifelong academic identity, while ABC describes the credit-management system connected to it.
APAAR ID
IdentityYour lifelong academic identity for records, credentials and educational movement.
ABC System
CreditsThe Academic Bank of Credits stores and manages credits uploaded by registered institutions.
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Are APAAR ID and ABC ID the same?
For the student number, yes. The official NAD data guidance says APAAR ID and ABC ID are the same and that ABC ID has been renamed APAAR ID. This is why some college portals, old notices and forms still use the term ABC ID while newer pages display APAAR ID.
The terms still describe different functions. APAAR is the student's permanent academic identity. The Academic Bank of Credits is the system that receives, stores, transfers and redeems academic credits through that identity. Think of APAAR as the account number and ABC as one important service connected to it.
APAAR ID vs ABC ID difference
The safest way to understand the difference is to separate the student identifier from the credit service.
| Point | APAAR ID | ABC or Academic Bank of Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Full form | Automated Permanent Academic Account Registry | Academic Bank of Credits |
| What it means today | The current name of the student's permanent academic ID | The digital credit system linked to the student's APAAR ID |
| Main purpose | Identify the learner and connect academic records across the education journey | Accumulate, account for, transfer and redeem credits uploaded by institutions |
| Number | A unique 12-digit ID | Uses the same 12-digit APAAR ID; older systems may call it ABC ID |
| Coverage | School education, higher education, skilling and lifelong academic records | Primarily credit records and academic mobility within the participating education ecosystem |
| Where students see it | APAAR card in DigiLocker and official education systems | ABC portal, institutional credit records and dashboards linked with APAAR |
| Who adds credits | The ID itself does not let a student upload official credits | Registered academic institutions and awarding bodies submit verified credits |
| Should you create both? | No. Use your existing 12-digit APAAR or ABC number and avoid creating a duplicate ID. | |
Do not ignore an older ABC ID. If you already generated an ABC ID through DigiLocker or your college, first check whether that same 12-digit number is now shown as APAAR ID. Creating another ID can cause duplicate-account problems.
Who should register and where?
The correct route depends mainly on whether the learner is in school or higher education.
Work through the school
The official school process uses UDISE+ and the student's PEN. The school verifies demographic details, obtains parental consent for a minor, authenticates the student and generates the APAAR ID. The card is then pushed to DigiLocker.
Use DigiLocker and the ABC portal
Higher education students are commonly directed by their institution to create or access the APAAR ID through an authenticated DigiLocker account or the official ABC portal. Share the existing number with the college nodal officer when requested.
Use the number you already have
Do not start a new registration only because the name changed from ABC ID to APAAR ID. Open DigiLocker or the ABC dashboard and confirm the existing 12-digit number first.
Check the record before raising a request
If you have completed a course, sign in to DigiLocker and the ABC portal to check your ID and available credits. Missing credits normally need correction by the college or university that awarded them.
APAAR and ABC ID registration guide
Use only the route meant for your education level. Portal labels can change, so read the current on-screen instructions before submitting.
Route A: School student
School and UDISE+ assisted creation
- Ask the school for the APAAR process. The school handles the initial creation and status through the APAAR module in UDISE+.
- Verify the school record. Check name, date of birth, gender, mobile number and parent details before authentication.
- Match the Aadhaar name. The student's name in UDISE+ must match the name recorded in Aadhaar.
- Confirm the PEN. The student's Permanent Education Number is mandatory for the school route.
- Submit consent where required. A parent or guardian provides voluntary consent when the student is a minor.
- Let the school authenticate and generate the ID. Do not use an unofficial agent or a random form shared in a message.
- Check DigiLocker. After successful generation, the virtual APAAR card should appear in the Issued Documents section.
Route B: College student
DigiLocker and ABC portal access
- Read your institution's notice. Confirm whether the college wants creation, verification or only submission of an existing ID.
- Sign in to an authenticated DigiLocker account. Use your own account and registered mobile access.
- Open the education category or official ABC portal. Select the current APAAR ID creation or access service shown on the portal.
- Check the account-owner details. Review the name and other personal information before confirming.
- Select institution details carefully. Where the form asks for institution, admission year or identity type, use the information in your college record.
- Generate or retrieve the 12-digit ID. If an existing number appears, use it instead of creating another account.
- Share it with the authorised college office. Submit the number to the ABC or NAD nodal officer so verified credits can be mapped.
- Check credits later. Registration creates or connects the identity; credits appear only after the institution uploads valid records.
Registration is not the same as credit upload. The official APAAR terms state that ABC does not accept course-credit documents directly from students. Credits are treated as genuine when they come from the appropriate registered academic institution.
Details and documents you may need
The exact screen depends on the route, but these details should be checked in advance.
Spelling matters more than formatting. Do not add initials, remove a surname or change the order of names only to make one form submit. First identify which official record is incorrect, correct that source and then retry.
APAAR ID and ABC benefits for students
The shared identity supports a wider academic journey, while ABC focuses strongly on recognised credits.
Benefits connected with APAAR ID
- A permanent 12-digit academic identity that stays with the learner.
- Digital access to eligible academic records and credentials through integrated platforms.
- Easier record verification for transfers, admissions, entrance processes and job applications.
- A connected view of marksheets, degrees, diplomas, certificates and recognised achievements where the issuer has published them.
- Support for student mobility from school education to higher education and later learning.
- Use in education-related services such as scholarships, subject to the rules of the specific scheme.
Benefits provided by the ABC system
- Digital accumulation and accounting of academic credits issued by registered institutions.
- Support for credit recognition and approved transfers between participating institutions.
- Better visibility of credits earned from eligible programmes and courses.
- Support for flexible learning paths and multiple-entry or multiple-exit arrangements where regulations and institutional rules allow them.
- Reduced dependence on manually carrying credit statements between institutions.
- A verified route because official credits come from the awarding institution, not a student upload.
APAAR does not guarantee a benefit. Having the ID does not automatically approve an admission, scholarship, credit transfer or job application. The relevant institution, scheme and regulator still apply their own eligibility and verification rules. Students applying for financial support can separately read the NSP Scholarship OTR and application guide.
APAAR ID and ABC ID correction guide
The correction point depends on whether the error is in personal identity data, school records, DigiLocker or academic credits.
Compare the Aadhaar name with the student's UDISE+ record. Correct the record that is wrong, then ask the school to resubmit the APAAR generation request. The official FAQ specifically requires the two names to match.
Contact the school with the proof it requires. The school is responsible for updating demographic and academic records in UDISE+ and retrying the process after correction.
Review the personal-information and authentication route available in DigiLocker. The APAAR privacy policy says users can access and update personal information through DigiLocker and may contact support for inaccuracies.
Check the Issued Documents section in the student's DigiLocker account. Ask the school to verify the generation status in the APAAR module of UDISE+. If the status is successful but the card is missing, raise an official support request.
Do not create another ID. Correct the inaccurate source record first, then contact the school, DigiLocker or APAAR support according to the route through which the ID was created.
Contact the ABC or NAD nodal officer of the college or university that awarded the credits. Share your APAAR ID, enrollment details, semester and course information. Students cannot add official credits themselves.
Collect the official marksheet or transcript and report the mismatch to the awarding institution. ABC displays data submitted by the institution, so the source institution must verify and correct it.
Do not submit repeated creation requests. Ask the institution's nodal officer whether the mapping can be corrected at its end. If the dashboard does not provide a correction route, raise a ticket with the official APAAR support centre.
Stop using both numbers and contact official support with the two IDs and identity details. APAAR's terms warn that duplicate IDs can lead to an earlier ID being disabled and associated records becoming inaccessible.
Do not remove the starting zero or shorten the ID. Keep the full 12-digit number and raise a support ticket with a screenshot of the error and the registered account details.
Keep this correction proof ready
Protect personal data. Share Aadhaar details, screenshots and academic records only through the authorised school, institution or official secure support channel. Never send an OTP, DigiLocker PIN or account password to a person claiming to fix the ID.
How to find your APAAR or ABC ID in DigiLocker
The exact button name can change, but the identity should remain the same.
If the ID already exists
- Sign in to your own authenticated DigiLocker account.
- Open the Issued Documents section.
- Look for APAAR ID or an older Academic Bank of Credits card.
- Confirm that the full number has 12 digits.
- Use the same number when a college form asks for ABC ID.
If the ID is not visible
- For a school student, ask the school to check the UDISE+ generation status.
- For a college student, check the official ABC portal with DigiLocker authentication.
- Confirm that you did not sign in to another family member's DigiLocker account.
- Use the official support ticket route if generation is successful but the card is missing.
- Do not solve the problem by creating a second ID.
When a form says ABC ID: Enter the existing 12-digit APAAR or ABC number exactly as the form instructs. Some systems require all 12 digits without spaces or hyphens. A starting zero remains part of the number.
What APAAR ID does not automatically do
A digital identity helps connect verified records, but it does not replace every education process.
It does not upload credits by itself
Your college, university or awarding body must send verified credit data. If your semester credits are missing, registration again will not fix the source record.
It does not approve credit transfer automatically
The receiving institution and applicable regulations decide whether credits can be recognised or redeemed for a programme.
It does not guarantee scholarship selection
A scholarship portal may use academic identity or records, but eligibility, documents, verification and scheme deadlines still apply.
It does not replace every original requirement
DigiLocker records support digital verification, but students should follow the exact document instructions issued by the school, university, exam or employer.
Related student tools and guides
Use these only for their specific purpose; the issuing institution's official record remains final.
Frequently asked questions
All answers are visible. No question needs to be opened.
Is APAAR ID different from ABC ID?
The student number is not different in the current system. Official NAD guidance says ABC ID has been renamed APAAR ID and both refer to the same 12-digit identifier. ABC still describes the credit-management system.
Do I need to create both APAAR ID and ABC ID?
No. Check DigiLocker and the ABC portal for an existing ID. Use that number and avoid creating a duplicate account.
How many digits are in APAAR ID?
APAAR ID is a unique 12-digit academic identifier. Enter all digits, including any zero at the beginning.
Can a school student create APAAR ID alone?
The official school route is handled through the school and UDISE+. The school verifies data, uses the student's PEN, obtains parental consent for a minor and initiates generation.
How can a college student get the ID?
Follow the institution's notice and use an authenticated DigiLocker account or the official ABC portal. If an existing ABC or APAAR number is displayed, use it instead of generating another one.
Is parental consent required?
The official APAAR school workflow includes voluntary parental or guardian consent when the student is a minor.
What if the Aadhaar and school names do not match?
APAAR generation may fail. Correct the record that is inaccurate and ask the school to resubmit after the UDISE+ and Aadhaar names match.
Can I upload my marks or credits myself?
No. Official credits must come from the registered institution or awarding body. Contact its ABC or NAD nodal officer for missing or incorrect credits.
Why are my college credits missing?
Your institution may not have uploaded or mapped the credit record yet, or the submitted identity details may not match. Ask the institution to verify your APAAR ID, enrollment and semester data.
What should I do if the card is missing in DigiLocker?
Check Issued Documents. A school student should ask the school to check the UDISE+ status. If generation is successful but the card is missing, use official support.
What happens if two IDs are created?
Do not continue using both. APAAR's terms warn that duplicate IDs can result in an earlier ID being disabled. Raise an official support ticket and provide both numbers for review.
Is APAAR ID compulsory for every student?
Do not rely on a blanket claim. Schools, universities, examinations and schemes may issue specific instructions for their processes. Follow the current notice from your institution and the official APAAR guidance.
Does APAAR ID replace a marksheet or degree?
APAAR helps connect and access eligible digital academic credentials, but it does not create a missing marksheet or degree. The awarding institution must issue the original academic record.
Where can I ask for official help?
Use the APAAR support centre or the toll-free helpline 18008893511 shown on the official portal. For a school-data issue, contact the school; for a credit issue, contact the awarding institution first.
Official APAAR, ABC and DigiLocker links
Portal screens and institutional procedures can change. Use these links to check the latest official workflow.
Overview, benefits and school process APAAR official FAQs
Generation, PEN, UDISE+, DigiLocker and failure reasons Academic Bank of Credits
Student login and APAAR-linked credit services National Academic Depository
Academic documents and institutional records DigiLocker
Access issued APAAR and academic documents APAAR support centre
Open and track a support ticket APAAR contact page
Official helpline and help options Official NAD data guideline
Confirms the APAAR and ABC ID naming relationship
Final answer
APAAR ID and ABC ID should not be treated as two separate numbers that every student must create. The current 12-digit APAAR ID is the lifelong student identifier, while the Academic Bank of Credits is the connected system used to manage verified academic credits. School students should work through their school and UDISE+ process. College students should use DigiLocker, the official ABC portal and their institution's nodal officer.
If any detail is wrong, correct the source record instead of creating a second ID. For missing personal data, work with the school, DigiLocker or official APAAR support. For missing credits, contact the institution that awarded them.
