The CBSE has introduced a new requirement for Indian students in UAE CBSE-affiliated schools: in order to generate their APAAR (Automated Permanent Academic Account Registry) ID for board exam registration, students must submit an Aadhaar number. This move has stirred concern among expatriate students and parents. Here’s what it means and how families can respond.
Dubai, UAE : A new mandate from India’s Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has sparked unease among Indian expatriates in the UAE. Schools have been directed to collect Aadhaar numbers from Grade 10 and 12 students to generate their APAAR IDs—identifiers essential for board exam registration starting from 2026.
APAAR, short for Automated Permanent Academic Account Registry, is a digital lifelong student tracking system envisioned in India’s National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. It aims to consolidate a student’s academic journey—from early schooling through higher education—under one unique identifier. However, for many UAE-based students, this requirement presents significant challenges.
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The APAAR ID is part of India's broader goal to streamline academic records under a unified digital infrastructure. Beginning with the 2026 board exams, CBSE will not list students without an APAAR ID for exam candidature. Consequently, schools have initiated data collection drives for Aadhaar numbers to generate these IDs efficiently.
CBSE believes APAAR IDs will curb fraudulent certificates, enhance transparency, and simplify academic verification across India. For Indian parents and students living in the UAE, the directive creates practical hurdles—especially since Aadhaar is not automatically granted to non-residents.
Aadhaar, India’s 12-digit unique identity number, is compulsory to generate an APAAR ID. Although enrollment is voluntary for NRIs, applying requires in-person biometrics and demography verification at an Aadhaar centre in India—something not easily accessible to UAE residents.
Many NRI students do not possess Aadhaar cards, nor is it a common document for them. The UAE’s foreign-location restriction, along with the fact that Aadhaar is typically issued based on residency, means students might find themselves ineligible or face complex logistics to comply.
This requirement has triggered anxiety among students and parents. Without an APAAR ID tied to Aadhaar, students may face delays or even be barred from appearing in board exams—jeopardizing their academic plans and timelines.
CBSE-affiliated schools in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and other emirates are coordinating with families to gather necessary data. Many have set up dedicated help desks, sent guidelines, and held parent meetings to explain the new rule and required documentation.
Yet, information gaps remain. Parents have raised concerns about feasibility, data privacy, and the timeline—asking whether alternate IDs, like passport numbers, could be accepted temporarily.
Schools are appealing to CBSE for clarity, relief, or guidance—especially for students who cannot travel to India in time to enroll for Aadhaar.
Although CBSE needs Aadhaar to generate APAAR IDs, experts argue there should be flexibility for NRIs. Past precedents show that international students have sometimes used passport numbers instead of Aadhaar. Such alternatives could ease the process while ensuring students are not penalized for circumstances beyond their control.
Parents are also exploring options like expedited trips to India, family visits to Aadhaar centres, or using enrollment camps—though these options can be costly or impractical for many families.
The Aadhaar system carries heightened sensitivity due to privacy implications. Parents in the UAE have voiced worries over sharing biometric-linked data for school purposes—especially when Aadhaar was not previously part of their planning.
CBSE and schools need to assure parents about data security, storage protocols, and the limited scope of Aadhaar usage—strictly for APAAR generation and exam registration.
With board exams approaching, the clock is ticking. CBSE and schools must urgently clarify options for non-resident students—whether via exceptions, alternative ID submission, or temporary extensions.
Parents, meanwhile, are actively seeking clarity and continuity. For affected Grade 9 and 11 students, the ability to sit for board exams in 2026 hinges on timely APAAR ID issuance—a requirement now bound to Aadhaar, making it an administrative hurdle for overseas Indian families in the UAE.
The CBSE’s requirement for Aadhaar-linked APAAR ID for UAE-based students marks a significant administrative shift. While the goal of integrated academic tracking has merit, the implementation raises practical, logistical, and privacy challenges for expatriate students.
Schools, parents, and CBSE must collaborate to ensure that no student misses out on board exam eligibility due to geographic or bureaucratic constraints. Clarity, flexibility, and timely communication will be key in navigating the new rule smoothly.
