Digital India Crosses 110 Crore Academic Records, Making Student Verification Faster and Paperless

India’s digital education ecosystem has reached a major milestone, with more than 110 crore academic records now available through government backed digital platforms, making student verification faster, paperless and more secure. The achievement comes as the Digital India programme completes eleven years, highlighting the growing role of technology in transforming education administration across schools, colleges and universities.

According to the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, the country’s digital academic infrastructure is helping students access verified educational records while simplifying admissions, scholarships, internships and employment verification. The system is built around the Academic Bank of Credits (ABC), National Academic Depository (NAD) and APAAR, creating an integrated framework that supports lifelong learning and academic mobility.

One of the biggest developments is the rapid expansion of the Academic Bank of Credits (ABC), a digital platform regulated by the University Grants Commission under the Ministry of Education. ABC allows students to securely store, transfer and redeem academic credits earned from recognised higher education institutions, supporting flexible learning pathways under the National Education Policy 2020.

The platform is integrated with APAAR, the Automated Permanent Academic Account Registry, which provides every learner with a unique lifelong academic identity. Rather than maintaining multiple paper documents throughout their education, students can securely access their academic records through a single digital profile linked with DigiLocker.

Government data shows that 2,963 higher education institutions have already joined the Academic Bank of Credits platform. More than 26.29 crore APAAR IDs have been created, while over 110.65 crore academic records have been uploaded to the system, reflecting its growing adoption across India’s education sector.

The initiative is expected to significantly reduce administrative delays during admissions and transfers between institutions. Students changing schools or universities no longer need to repeatedly submit physical certificates, mark sheets or transcripts for verification. Educational institutions, employers and government agencies can verify digital records more efficiently, reducing paperwork and minimising the risk of forged documents.

The digital ecosystem also supports the National Education Policy’s emphasis on flexible learning. Through the Academic Bank of Credits, students can accumulate credits from recognised institutions over time, making it easier to transfer between programmes or resume studies after a break. The framework also works alongside initiatives such as the National Credit Framework and Multiple Entry Multiple Exit provisions introduced under NEP 2020.

Officials say the digital transformation is not limited to universities. The National Academic Depository provides a secure repository for degrees, diplomas, certificates and mark sheets, enabling verified digital access anytime and anywhere. Integration with DigiLocker further strengthens security while improving convenience for students.

As India’s education system continues to embrace digital governance, the growing adoption of ABC, APAAR and the National Academic Depository is expected to create a more connected, transparent and student friendly ecosystem. By replacing paper based verification with trusted digital records, the country is moving closer to a future where academic credentials can be securely accessed and recognised throughout a learner’s educational and professional journey.