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In a significant development, the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has granted a one-time relaxation to CBSE-affiliated schools in West Bengal, allowing them to submit the List of Candidates (LOC) for the 2025–26 academic session without a mandatory APAAR ID.

The decision comes after weeks of mounting pressure and repeated concerns from schools across West Bengal, who were unable to proceed with LOC registration due to technical incompatibility between the national UDISE+ database and the state’s own Banglar Shiksha Portal.

🔹 What is APAAR ID?

The Automated Permanent Academic Account Registry (APAAR) is a unique academic identifier introduced by the Ministry of Education and CBSE to:

• Provide each student with a lifelong academic identity.
• Consolidate school-to-higher education records in one place.
• Enable seamless mobility and credit transfers.
• Reduce duplicity, fraud, and data mismatches.
• Simplify authentication for admissions, jobs, and scholarships

Earlier this year, CBSE had made APAAR ID mandatory for LOC submission for Classes X and XII starting from the 2025–26 session.

🔹 The Problem in West Bengal

Despite its advantages, schools in West Bengal found themselves in a unique crisis:

• The Banglar Shiksha Portal, mandated by the state government, is integrated only with UDISE and not UDISE+, which APAAR relies upon.
• As a result, many schools could not generate APAAR IDs for their students.
• While some schools managed, a large section reported being completely stuck during the LOC registration process.

🔹 CBSE’s Response and Relief

Responding to the growing concerns, CBSE issued a circular on September 4, 2025, stating:

“Having an APAAR ID would be very beneficial to students in their future, but in case it is not available due to circumstances beyond control and looking into the time-bound nature of activities involving the Registration of Candidates for Class IX and XI and filling of LOC for Class X and XII 2025–2026, CBSE is granting a one-time relaxation to affiliated schools in West Bengal.

This means:

• Schools in West Bengal can now submit LOC data without APAAR IDs.
• All other information (student details, subjects, photographs, etc.) must still be submitted as per CBSE’s circular dated 27.08.2025.
• The relaxation applies only for the 2025–26 session and only to CBSE schools in West Bengal.

 CBSE LOC Guidelines 2025–26: Complete Guide for Schools, Students, and Parents

🔹 Why This Matters

West Bengal became the only state in India where APAAR implementation ran into such hurdles. With deadlines approaching fast, the relaxation ensures that students’ futures are not jeopardised by administrative or technological roadblocks.

For students and parents, this announcement provides relief, but it also underlines the importance of APAAR IDs in the long run, as they will play a crucial role in India’s education ecosystem.

📌 Conclusion

The CBSE’s decision balances practical ground realities with its push for digital transformation in education. While West Bengal schools get temporary relief, the broader message remains clear – APAAR ID will be the future of student academic identity in India.

Schools in West Bengal must now focus on completing LOC submissions within the stipulated deadlines while preparing for eventual APAAR integration in the coming years.