CBSE’s new APAAR ID rule sparks concerns among Indian expat students in the UAE

A new directive by India’s Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has stirred anxiety among Indian expat families in the UAE, as some schools have begun requesting students’ Aadhaar numbers to create mandatory APAAR IDs.
APAAR, or Automated Permanent Academic Account Registry, is a unique identification system designed to track a student’s educational journey from preprimary through higher education, an initiative central to India’s New Education Policy (NEP) 2020. Initially optional, the APAAR ID is now required for students registering for Class 10 and 12 board exams starting in 2026.
The APAAR registration process mandates several personal details, including name, date of birth, gender, photo, and Aadhaar number. While Aadhaar remains voluntary in India, many students in the UAE do not possess it, not being residents, they are ineligible, and obtaining it requires biometric enrollment in India.
This sudden requirement has caused panic. “Our school just informed us about the need for Aadhaar… after summer vacation. We could have completed the process if informed earlier, but traveling to India now just for Aadhaar is unfeasible,” shared a concerned Dubai parent.
Not all schools are unprepared. International Indian School in Abu Dhabi reportedly issued multiple notices and held sessions before summer, advising students to secure their Aadhaar cards ahead of time. In contrast, others, such as Gulf Asian English School in Sharjah, await further CBSE guidance due to the impracticality of enrolling students from diverse nationalities for Aadhaar.
CBSE’s regional director in Dubai, Dr. Ram Shankar, responded that the board will “maintain the status quo” for foreign schools and soon release advisories and support. For now, CBSE schools abroad aren’t required to collect Aadhaar details.