Yearender 2025: Major NTA Reforms Ahead of 2026, JEE Main Exam Pattern Changes, NEET APAAR ID

The NTA has made the JEE Main 2026 APAAR ID (Automated Permanent Academic Account Registry ID), a unique 12-digit student tracker, available on jeemain.nta.nic.in. Candidates appearing for the JEE Main 2026 exam can check here whether the APAAR ID is mandatory for the examination. The exam is scheduled to be held from January 21-30, 2026.

JEE Main 2026 APAAR ID

The National Testing Agency (NTA) has released the Joint Entrance Examination - Main (JEE) 2026 APAAR ID on its official website, jeemain.nta.nic.in. The APAAR ID (Automated Permanent Academic Account Registry ID) is a unique 12-digit number assigned to each student, which helps in tracking their entire academic record.

According to the official notification on the NTA website, entering the APAAR ID in the JEE Main application form for the 2026 examinations is optional for candidates. As per the notification, it is not mandatory. The JEE Main 2026 examination is scheduled to be held from January 21 to 30, 2026.

What is the APAAR ID?

APAAR ID stands for Automated Permanent Academic Account Registry ID. It is a unique number assigned to students in India that helps them track their academic credit points through the Academic Bank of Credits (ABC) platform. It facilitates seamless academic transfers and simplifies record verification. It contains a student's academic details, such as their mark sheets, degrees, and awards, all available on a single secure platform that is integrated with DigiLocker and linked to Aadhaar.

An academic "credit" is defined as a standard measure of one hour of theory or one hour of tutorial or two hours of lab work per week for a semester (13-15 weeks), resulting in one credit; this is awarded by the Higher Education Institution to which these regulations apply; and, for internships, one credit will be awarded per week, up to a maximum of six credits.

How can I create my APAAR ID?

To create their APAAR ID (Automated Permanent Academic Account Registry), candidates must have an Aadhaar card. Candidates can create their APAAR ID through DigiLocker or the Academic Bank of Credits (ABC) website. School students often receive a provisional ID from their school with parental consent, which they later verify and download on DigiLocker.

How to generate APAAR ID for Higher Education?

To obtain higher education and create your APAAR ID for various purposes through self-registration, follow these steps:

1. Visit the portal at abc.gov.in or digilocker.gov.in.
2. In "My Account," click on "Student" and sign up/log in through DigiLocker using your mobile number and Aadhaar.
3. Authorize e-KYC through DigiLocker.
4. In the 'Search Documents' section, search for "Academic Bank of Credits" or "APAAR ID Card."
5. Enter your institution, year of admission, and roll number, and submit carefully.
6. Your APAAR ID card will appear in 'Issued Documents' for download.
7. Review it, download it, and save it for future use.

How to generate APAAR ID for School Students?

School students will be issued their provisional APAAR ID through their respective schools using the UDISE+ system. This will require parental consent for using their Aadhaar details for verification and creating a DigiLocker account. Therefore, the ID will be generated under the parent's account.

What is ABC?

The Academic Bank of Credits (ABC) is a flagship initiative of the Ministry of Education (MoE), regulated by the University Grants Commission (UGC). This digital platform is developed and maintained by the Digital India Corporation under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY). It facilitates the secure storage, accumulation, transfer, and redemption of academic credits earned by students from accredited educational institutions. It functions as a 'credit bank' where academic achievements are digitally recorded and can be accessed through the learner's unique APAAR ID.

How are ABC and APAAR related?

APAAR (Automated Permanent Academic Account Registry) assigns each student a unique lifetime APAAR ID, which serves as their digital identity across educational platforms. ABC uses this APAAR ID to track and manage academic credits. Without an APAAR ID, a student cannot access ABC's services, including credit transfer and academic progress tracking. APAAR and ABC are deeply integrated, and together with platforms like DigiLocker and the National Academic Depository (NAD), they form part of a unified digital public infrastructure for education. Collectively, these systems enable seamless interoperability, providing a single, verified source for academic records and achievements.

Is APAAR ID Mandatory for JEE Main 2026 Registration?

According to the information brochure available on the NTA's official website, it is not mandatory for candidates to enter their APAAR ID while filling out the JEE Main 2026 registration form. However, candidates should ensure they have their APAAR ID before starting the registration process, as it is included in the candidate's personal and academic details.

How to Enter the APAAR ID in the JEE Main 2026 Application Form?

Candidates will need to complete a few more steps to enter their APAAR ID in the JEE Main 2026 application. Candidates will be able to enter their APAAR ID in the 'Additional Section' details. After uploading, they will need to validate their number, after which the details will be automatically fetched by the server.