The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has eased the submission process for the List of Candidates (LOC) for Class 10 and 12 board examinations by allowing schools to record ‘REFUSED’ or ‘NOGEN’ entries in place of Automated Permanent Academic Account Registry (APAAR) IDs when these cannot be provided.

The decision comes as schools across the country reported mounting difficulties in generating APAAR IDs, which are linked with Aadhaar.

Principals flagged that mismatches between school records and Aadhaar details, spelling errors, and delays in UIDAI corrections were making it impossible to finalise student data within deadlines.

They also cautioned that if names were forcibly altered to match Aadhaar, the same version would reflect on marksheets, leaving no room for later rectification.

Under the new directive, if parents withhold consent for creating an APAAR ID, schools must keep written proof of refusal and enter “REFUSED” against the student’s name in the LOC.

If technical or data-related hurdles prevent generation despite attempts, the entry “NOGEN” (not generated) will be accepted. In all other cases, schools are expected to furnish the APAAR ID as mandated.

APAAR was launched under the govt’s ‘One Nation, One Student ID’ initiative aligned with the National Education Policy 2020. It aims to provide every learner with a lifelong, unified academic identity to ease mobility between schools, ensure smooth credit transfers, and simplify verification for higher education and jobs.

While the policy promises efficiency, its rollout has been slowed by integration challenges, parental resistance, and practical issues in matching records with Aadhaar.

Officials said the latest relaxation is meant to ensure error-free and timely completion of LOC submission, safeguarding students from disruptions at a crucial stage. Regional offices have been directed to extend support to schools that still face unresolved difficulties.