How to Link APAAR ID with Aadhaar Online: A Complete Step-by-Step Guide

November 6, 2026

The Automated Permanent Academic Account Registry (APAAR) ID is a unique 12-digit lifelong academic identifier issued to students in India under the Ministry of Education’s “One Nation, One Student ID” initiative. The APAAR ID and the Academic Bank of Credits (ABC) ID refer to the exact same 12-digit identity system. Linking your APAAR ID with Aadhaar relies on an online e-KYC authentication process that automatically pulls and verifies your demographic details across central educational registries.

Higher education students can link Aadhaar and generate or refetch their APAAR ID online free of cost using the official DigiLocker platform or the ABC Portal (abc.gov.in). For school students, the linking process is initiated at the institutional level by school administrators via the UDISE+ portal using the student’s Permanent Education Number (PEN) along with verified parental consent. Online e-KYC requires an active mobile number linked with Aadhaar to receive an Authentication One-Time Password (OTP).

Prerequisites and Mandatory Documents for Linking APAAR ID with Aadhaar

Before initiating the online linking process, ensure that you meet all eligibility requirements and have the necessary credentials ready. The linking service across all official platforms is completely free (₹0 application fee).

Academic Enrollment: You must be currently enrolled in a recognized Indian school, college, university, or skill training institution.
Valid Aadhaar Number: A valid 12-digit Aadhaar number issued by the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI).
Active Aadhaar-Linked Mobile Number: You must have physical access to the mobile number registered with your Aadhaar to receive the mandatory e-KYC verification OTP.
Exact Demographic Match: Your name and date of birth in your official academic identity records must match your Aadhaar card details exactly. A mismatch will cause e-KYC authentication to fail.
Academic Identity Values:
- School Students: Permanent Education Number (PEN).
- Higher Education Students: Roll Number, Enrollment Number, Registration Number, or Admission Number along with the Admission Year and Institution/Board name.
Parental Consent (Minors): For school students under 18 years of age, signed parental consent is required before the school administrator can complete the registration on UDISE+.

Step-by-Step Guide to Link APAAR ID with Aadhaar Online

Depending on your current level of education, choose the applicable method below to complete your e-KYC authentication and link your Aadhaar with your APAAR ID.

Method 1: Linking via DigiLocker Portal or App

Visit the official DigiLocker website at digilocker.gov.in or launch the mobile application on your device.
Log into your account using your registered mobile number or Aadhaar number, your security PIN, and the OTP sent to your phone. If you do not have an account, register one using your Aadhaar number.
Navigate to the search bar under the Search Documents section.
Type APAAR ID or Academic Bank of Credits into the search field and select the service from the search results.
Tick the e-KYC consent box allowing DigiLocker to share your Aadhaar demographic details for identity creation. Basic details such as your name and date of birth will auto-populate from your Aadhaar profile.
Select your relevant Identity Type (such as Roll Number, Registration Number, or Enrollment Number) and enter the corresponding Identity Value.
Select your Admission Year and pick your specific school board, university, or academic institution from the drop-down list.
Click on Get Document. The system will run an online Aadhaar e-KYC authentication check, generate or update your 12-digit APAAR ID, and add the card to your digital profile.

Method 2: Linking via the ABC Portal (abc.gov.in)

Go to the official Academic Bank of Credits portal at abc.gov.in.
Click on the My Account option located at the top right corner of the homepage and select Student.
Sign in using your existing DigiLocker user credentials (mobile/Aadhaar and PIN) followed by OTP verification.
Grant explicit authorization for Aadhaar e-KYC verification when prompted by the portal.
Select your academic institution type, choose your specific university or college name, and enter your academic identity credentials.
Submit the information to link your verified Aadhaar-backed identity to your ABC student dashboard.

Method 3: APAAR ID Creation for School Students (UDISE+ Portal)

The school administration provides a parental consent form to parents or legal guardians of students under 18 years of age.
Parents review and sign the consent form, authorizing the school to use the student’s Aadhaar data for educational e-KYC purposes.
The school administrator logs into the centralized UDISE+ portal.
The administrator locates the student profile using their Permanent Education Number (PEN) and uploads the verified demographic details and Aadhaar information.
Once authenticated through the central portal system, the student’s 12-digit APAAR ID is generated and linked to their official academic profile.

How to Download Your Linked APAAR ID Card

Once your Aadhaar e-KYC authentication is successfully completed and your APAAR ID is generated, you can access your digital identity card at any time.

Log into the DigiLocker website or mobile app using your credentials.
Navigate to the Issued Documents tab.
Locate APAAR / Academic Bank of Credits ID Card in your list of verified documents.
Click the download icon to save your digital APAAR ID card as a PDF file, or view it directly on your device. The card securely displays your unique 12-digit number alongside your verified basic demographic information.

Key Benefits of Linking APAAR ID with Aadhaar

Linking your academic identity with Aadhaar via e-KYC offers several core structural and practical advantages across your educational lifecycle:

Lifetime Academic Identifier: Establishes a single, permanent 12-digit national student identity valid across all recognized Indian educational institutes.
Credit Tracking and Transfer: Seamlessly integrates with the Academic Bank of Credits (ABC) regulated by the UGC, logging and accumulating earned academic credit points so you can transfer them easily when changing institutions or pursuing multi-disciplinary courses.
Centralized Vault for Qualifications: Acts as a secure repository for verified marksheets, degrees, skill certifications, and co-curricular achievements.
Elimination of Document Fraud: Stores authentic, digitally signed documents, removing the risks associated with losing original paper certificates or dealing with fake credentials.
Streamlined Admissions and Exams: Simplifies verification processes for university admissions, scholarship disbursements, and registrations for national competitive entrance examinations.
Instant Institutional Verification: Enables universities and official bodies to digitally verify your educational credentials through DigiLocker, minimizing physical document submission.

Troubleshooting and Warnings: e-KYC Failures & Unlinked Mobile Numbers

Keep the following critical operational guidelines and constraints in mind during the linking process:

Aadhaar Mobile Linkage is Mandatory: Self-service online linking cannot be completed without access to the mobile number registered with UIDAI. If your current mobile number is not linked to your Aadhaar card, online e-KYC authentication will fail. You must visit an offline Aadhaar Enrolment Centre to update your mobile number before attempting online linking.
Demographic Data Mismatch: If your name or date of birth on your school/college records differs from the data on your Aadhaar card, the automated e-KYC check will reject the request. You must update your demographic details in either your Aadhaar record or your academic institution’s official database to ensure an exact match before proceeding.
Avoid Third-Party Portals: Perform your linking and document downloads strictly through official government portals (digilocker.gov.in, abc.gov.in, or apaar.education.gov.in). Avoid sharing your Aadhaar number, OTPs, or academic credentials on unauthorized third-party websites.
Legacy ABC IDs: If you created an ABC ID prior to the launch of the APAAR framework, you do not need a separate number. Legacy ABC IDs and APAAR IDs map directly to the same 12-digit system.

Official Sources

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the cost of linking Aadhaar with APAAR ID online?

The linking and generation process is completely free of cost across DigiLocker, the ABC Portal, and the UDISE+ system.

Can I link Aadhaar with APAAR ID if my mobile number is not updated in Aadhaar?

No. The online e-KYC authentication requires an OTP sent to your UIDAI-registered mobile number. If your mobile number is not linked or updated, you must first visit an Aadhaar Enrolment Centre to update it.

Are APAAR ID and ABC ID different?

No. The 12-digit APAAR ID and the ABC ID serve the exact same unified academic identification function under the Ministry of Education.

Where can I download the final linked APAAR ID card?

You can view and download your verified APAAR ID card under the ‘Issued Documents’ tab inside the DigiLocker app or web portal once authentication is completed.

Conclusion

Linking your APAAR ID with Aadhaar via online e-KYC creates a verified, lifelong digital record of your academic history and earned credit points. Whether you complete the process individually through DigiLocker or the ABC Portal, or via your school administration through UDISE+, ensure your demographic data matches your Aadhaar details and rely solely on official government platforms.

Sirf Such