The Indian government is gearing up to launch the ‘One Nation One Student ID’ platform in February, a pioneering initiative stemming from the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. Under this initiative, unique Aadhar-verified digital IDs will be assigned to students, teachers, and educational institutions, spanning from pre-primary to higher education.
The first phase of the initiative has already commenced, with the issuance of Automated Permanent Academic Account Registry (APAAR) IDs to over 20 million students in the higher education system. The system is poised for extension to school students, teachers, and all educational institutions in the near future.
Anil Sahasrabuddhe, Chairperson of the National Educational Technology Forum (NETF), a division under the Ministry of Education (MoE), announced that the digital platform consolidating data from various higher education bodies is set to go live in February. This platform aims to streamline and centralize information currently scattered across agencies such as the University Grants Commission (UGC), National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC), National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF), and National Board of Accreditation (NBA).
‘The platform’s first task will be to validate data collected from these agencies, enabling accrediting and ranking bodies to access information from a unified source,’ stated Sahasrabuddhe.
To ensure the authenticity of the collated data, NETF is developing a ‘peer crowdsourcing’ software. This innovative approach involves verifying information through questionnaires sent to various stakeholders associated with an institution, including industry partners, competing institutions, and visiting faculty.
‘The goal is to have authentic data that enables a real analysis of the quality of education provided by institutions and identifies any existing gaps,’ explained Sahasrabuddhe. The ‘peer crowdsourcing’ software, currently in its early stages of development, is expected to take six months to a year before becoming fully operational.
The software will act as a scale, continuously assessing the credibility of information shared by institutions. This approach is anticipated to establish the highest level of transparency in the education sector, paving the way for informed decision-making and fostering accountability. The ‘One Nation One Student ID’ initiative aligns with broader efforts to enhance the overall quality and effectiveness of education in India.
