SFLC.in wrote a letter to National Testing Agency highlighting the concerns regarding the Public Notice issued by the National Testing Agency (NTA) dated 14th January 2025 and titled “Updating Aadhaar Details of Aspirants for NEET (UG) – 2025. The notice in effect mandates creation of an Automated Permanent Academic Account Registry (APAAR ID) for NEET (UG) 2025 registration, despite its voluntary nature as clarified by the Ministry of Education.
21st January 2025
To,
National Testing Agency
First Floor, NSIC-MDBP Building,
Okhla Industrial Estate,
New Delhi, Delhi 110020
Subject: Concern Regarding Mandatory Creation of APAAR ID Despite Voluntary Nature and Aadhaar for NEET (UG) – 2025 Examination
Respected Ma’am/Sir,
We write to express our concerns regarding the Public Notice issued by the National Testing Agency (NTA) on 14th January 2025, titled “Updating Aadhaar Details of Aspirants for NEET (UG) – 2025 Examination.” Specifically, we are concerned about the mandatory creation of an Automated Permanent Academic Account Registry (APAAR ID) as a prerequisite for registering for the NEET (UG) 2025 examination and the reliance on Aadhaar for this process.
The Ministry of Education (MoE), in a parliamentary response dated 4th December 2024, explicitly clarified that the creation of an APAAR ID is voluntary. Despite this clarification, NTA’s current guidelines appear to mandate the creation of an APAAR ID, thereby indirectly mandating the use of Aadhaar for NEET registration.
We at SFLC.in also received a response to our RTI application dated 16.12.2024 on the use of APAAR ID by the Ministry of Education wherein the Ministry has clarified that APAAR ID is not mandatory for any child and no adverse consequences will arise for students who do not provide consent for APAAR ID.
Further, the Circular dated 05/09/2018 issued by the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) states that “it must be ensured that no children are deprived/denied of their due benefits or rights for want of Aadhaar”. Furthermore, the Supreme Court in Justice K.S. Puttaswamy and Anr. vs. Union of India held that no child should be denied the right to education, including admission and other facilities for lack of Aadhaar. The abovementioned judgement has also held that Aadhaar cannot be made a mandatory requirement for NEET examination as they are outside the purview of Section 7 of the Aadhaar Act 2016 and are not backed by any law.
Additionally, the UIDAI website under the Aaadhaar Myth Busters section Point 7 explicitly states that “Aadhaar is not mandatory for school admissions or for the examinations conducted by the Central Board of Secondary Examination, National Eligibility cum Entrance Test for medical entrance or the University Grants Commission.”
By making Aadhaar the sole basis for APAAR ID creation, students without Aadhaar are excluded from registering for the NEET (UG) examination. This approach contravenes the principles of inclusivity, fairness, and accessibility, which are critical for conducting national-level examinations such as NEET.
In consideration of the above, we request that the NTA to :
- Issue clear guidelines that reiterate that APAAR ID enrollment is entirely voluntary and not mandatory.
- Provide alternative registration options for NEET aspirants, allowing the use of other identification documents besides Aadhaar.
We trust that the NTA will take prompt action to address these concerns, ensuring compliance with legal principles and inclusivity for all NEET aspirants.
Thank you for your attention to this matter. We look forward to your response.
About SFLC.in
SFLC.in is a donor-supported legal services organization that brings together lawyers, policy analysts, students, and technologists to protect freedom in the digital world. SFLC.in promotes innovation and open access to knowledge by helping developers make great Free and Open Source Software, protect the privacy and civil liberties of citizens in the digital world by educating and providing free legal advice and help policymakers make informed and just decisions with the use and adoption of technology. SFLC.in has been granted Consultative Status with the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations (ECOSOC).
