Academic Bank of Credits and APAAR ID Initiative

Academic Bank of Credits and APAAR ID Initiative

#GS-2 #Governance & Social Justice #Education #E-Governance #Current Events #National

Why in News

  • The Ministry of Education is advancing lifelong learning across India through digital systems like the Academic Bank of Credits (ABC) and APAAR ID.

Key Features of ABC and APAAR

  • The Academic Bank of Credits (ABC) serves as a digital repository under the Ministry of Education and regulated by the University Grants Commission (UGC) to store, manage, and redeem academic credits.
  • The Automated Permanent Academic Account Registry (APAAR) provides a unique 12-digit student ID under the One Nation, One Student ID initiative to connect records from school to higher education.
  • Students can easily access or generate their APAAR ID through DigiLocker and Common Service Centres (CSCs), which expands access for learners in rural areas.
  • Learners can accumulate and transfer earned credits across recognized institutions, where credits stay valid for up to 7 years and expire after redemption.

Implementation and Working Mechanism

  • Students can complete up to 40% of their total course credits online through SWAYAM, with 388 universities accepting SWAYAM regulations and 170 universities adopting the National Credit Framework (NCrF).
  • To start using the system, students register on the ABC portal with their Aadhaar-linked APAAR ID, while educational institutions directly upload credit details to student accounts.
  • The platforms protect student privacy and data integrity by using strong encryption, robust security protocols, and Aadhaar verification integrated with DigiLocker.

Significance

  • These tools strengthen India's education setup by connecting platforms like DigiLocker, CSCs, SWAYAM, SAMARTH ERP, and blockchain-based credentials into a transparent system.