Managing academic records has always been a challenge in India’s higher education sector. Students frequently face issues such as misplaced certificates, verification delays, and difficulty in transferring credits when moving between institutions. According to reports, a significant number of students encounter delays in accessing their academic credentials, which affects their ability to secure admissions or employment.
To address these challenges, the Ministry of Education (MoE) introduced the Academic Bank of Credit (ABC)—a digital system designed to securely store, manage, and verify student records. At the heart of this initiative is the ABC ID Card, a 12-digit unique identifier assigned to students enrolled in UGC-recognized institutions.
The ABC ID Card is a secure, digital credential that allows students to:
- Store and track academic credits in a centralized, tamper-proof system.
- Seamlessly transfer credits when changing universities or resuming education.
- Enable instant verification of academic qualifications for higher studies or employment.
With the increasing adoption of digital credentials, secure and efficient student verification is more important than ever. The ABC ID system, linked to DigiLocker, provides a paperless solution that enhances accessibility and ensures data integrity. In this guide, we explore the importance, functionality, and benefits of the ABC ID Card in transforming academic record management.
What is an ABC ID Card?
The ABC ID Card is a digital academic credential issued to students as part of the Academic Bank of Credit (ABC) system. It serves as a unique identification number that allows students to store, manage, and transfer their academic credits in a secure, government-backed digital repository.
This initiative was introduced to streamline student record management and enable seamless credit transfers between universities without the risk of lost or forged certificates. The ABC ID Card eliminates the need for physical documentation, providing students with a lifetime digital record of their academic achievements.
Purpose of the ABC ID Card
The primary function of the ABC ID Card is to facilitate the digital storage and verification of academic records within the Academic Bank of Credit system. It ensures that:
- Academic records are stored securely and cannot be altered or misplaced.
- Students can transfer credits effortlessly when shifting between institutions.
- Universities and employers can verify student credentials in real-time with student consent.
- Dropout students can resume their education without losing previously earned credits.
By digitizing academic records, the ABC ID enhances transparency, efficiency, and security in student verification, making higher education more accessible and flexible.
Issuing Authority of the ABC ID Card
The ABC ID Card is an initiative launched under the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 and is managed by multiple government bodies:
- Ministry of Education (MoE) – Oversees the implementation of the Academic Bank of Credit system and policy framework.
- University Grants Commission (UGC) – Regulates institutions eligible for ABC participation and ensures compliance with academic credit standards.
- Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) – Provides technological infrastructure and security for the digital storage of student records.
The ABC ID is linked to DigiLocker, a secure cloud-based platform where students can store and access their academic documents digitally. Institutions can retrieve these records only with student consent, ensuring data privacy and security.
Why is the ABC ID Card Important?
The ABC ID Card is a game-changer in higher education, making academic records more secure, accessible, and verifiable. It benefits students, educational institutions, and employers, ensuring smooth credit transfers, secure record-keeping, and easy verification.
Benefits for Students
- Secure storage of academic achievements – Certificates, diplomas, and degrees are safely stored in a digital format, reducing the risk of loss or damage.
- Easy access to credits and academic records – Students can retrieve their academic history anytime, eliminating paperwork.
- Simplifies credit transfer – Moving between institutions is easier, as credits can be transferred digitally without delays.
- Supports lifelong learning – Dropout students can resume education without losing their past credits.
Benefits for Educational Institutions
- Reduces paperwork and administrative burden – Digital records streamline student verification and credit transfer processes.
- Ensures compliance with NEP – Institutions can easily align with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 and digital education reforms.
- Enhances academic integrity – Secure, tamper-proof digital records prevent forgery and unauthorized modifications.
- Faster admissions and academic processes – Student records can be verified instantly, improving institutional efficiency.
Benefits for Employers
- Reliable verification of academic credentials – Employers can instantly validate a candidate’s qualifications, ensuring authenticity.
- Reduces fraudulent claims – Eliminates the risk of fake degrees or forged certificates, improving hiring accuracy.
- Simplifies recruitment and background checks – Saves time and effort in credential verification, making hiring faster and more efficient.
How Does the ABC ID Card Work?
The ABC ID Card is a personal digital account that allows students to store, track, and transfer their academic credits within the Academic Bank of Credit (ABC) system. It provides a seamless way to manage academic progress, ensuring that students can pursue education across institutions without losing their earned credits. Here's how the system works:
1. Creation of an ABC ID
To start using the ABC system, students need to register for an ABC ID. This can be done through:
- The official ABC portal
- DigiLocker
- A participating university
Once the registration process is completed, a unique 12-digit ABC ID is generated. This ID is permanently linked to the student's academic profile, serving as a digital repository for academic achievements.
2. Credit Accumulation
Every time a student completes a course, whether from a college, university, or an accredited online program, the earned credits are automatically recorded in the ABC account.
Institutions that are part of the ABC network upload these credits directly to the system, ensuring that students can:
- Track their academic progress in real-time.
- Access their credit history anytime without needing physical documents.
- Store credits securely in a tamper-proof digital format.
3. Transferring Credits Across Institutions
One of the biggest advantages of the ABC ID Card is the ability to transfer academic credits. If a student decides to:
- Switch universities,
- Take a break and resume studies later, or
- Pursue courses from multiple institutions,
Their earned credits remain intact and transferable. The system eliminates manual paperwork and verification hassles, making the process of changing institutions smoother and more efficient.
4. Redeeming Credits for Graduation
When students accumulate the required number of credits to complete a degree, diploma, or certification, they can redeem these credits for graduation. This ensures that:
- Academic progress is recognized regardless of where or how credits were earned.
- Students can combine credits from different institutions to meet graduation requirements.
- Non-traditional learning paths, such as online programs, vocational courses, or part-time studies, are integrated into a single academic record.
5. Lifetime Validity of Academic Credits
Unlike traditional systems where academic records are tied to a single institution, the ABC ID provides lifetime validity for stored credits. This means:
- Students can pause and resume education without losing progress.
- Switching between institutions is hassle-free.
- Academic records remain secure and easily accessible even after graduation.
By offering a centralized, secure, and transferable academic record, the ABC ID Card is revolutionizing higher education, ensuring greater flexibility and accessibility for students across India.
Step-by-Step Guide to Creating Your ABC ID Card
Students can create their ABC ID Card through two primary methods: via the ABC portal or through DigiLocker. Below is a detailed step-by-step guide for both options.
Option A: Registering on the ABC Portal
1. Visit the official ABC portal: Go to www.abc.gov.in
2. Click on "My Account": Locate this tab on the right-hand side of the homepage.
3. Select "Student" from the drop-down menu.
4. Sign in using DigiLocker:
- If you already have a DigiLocker account, log in using your credentials and verify via OTP.
- If you do not have a DigiLocker account, click "Sign up for Meri Pehchaan" ( www.digilocker.meripehchaan.gov.in ), enter your Aadhaar-linked mobile number, and complete the registration process.
5. Choose your university:
- Click on the "University" tab.
- Search for your institution from the drop-down list.
6. Complete the registration: Select your university and confirm the registration process.
7. Note down your ABC ID: After successful registration, a 12-digit ABC ID will be generated. Save it for future reference.
Option B: Registering via DigiLocker (For students who already have a DigiLocker account)
1. Visit DigiLocker: Open www.digilocker.gov.in
2. Search for "ABC ID": Click "Search Documents" on the left panel and type "ABC ID" in the search bar.
3. Select ABC ID Card: From the search results, click on "ABC ID Card - Academic Bank of Credits".
4. Choose your institution: Select "University" from the drop-down list under Institution Type and click OK.
Search for your university name and select it.
5. Consent & Verification: Check the consent box to authorize document retrieval.
Click on "Get Document" to generate your ABC ID Card.
6. Access & Save Your ABC ID: Open "Issued Documents" in DigiLocker.
Locate ABC ID Card, download it, and save your 12-digit ID for future use.
Understanding the "Identity Value" in Your ABC ID
Each ABC ID Card is assigned a 12-digit unique identification number, which acts as a permanent digital credential for students. This unique ID ensures that:
- Academic records remain centralized and accessible throughout a student’s education journey.
- Credit transfers between institutions are seamless and free from paperwork.
- Employers and universities can verify credentials instantly, reducing fraud and processing delays.
ABC ID Card Verification: Ensuring Authenticity
The Challenge of Verification
Traditionally, verifying academic credentials has been a time-consuming and inefficient process. Students often face delays in obtaining transcripts, certificates, and degree verifications, while institutions and employers struggle with fraudulent credentials, manual documentation, and verification backlogs. Some common challenges include:
- Lost or damaged certificates: Physical documents can be misplaced, requiring time-consuming re-issuance.
- Manual verification processes: Universities and companies rely on paper-based or email-based verification, causing delays.
- Fraudulent academic claims: Fake degrees and manipulated transcripts have made trustworthy verification difficult.
- Inter-institution credit transfers: Students transferring between universities need to submit multiple documents, often leading to errors and delays.
The Academic Bank of Credit (ABC) ID Card aims to solve these challenges by providing a secure, digital, and centralized system for academic credential verification.
How ABC ID Simplifies Verification
1. Centralized Digital Repository
The ABC ID system functions as a single source of truth for student academic records. Instead of relying on multiple institutions to verify a student's credentials, authorized entities can instantly access verified academic records from one platform.
- All student records, including degrees, diplomas, and academic credits, are stored in a centralized database linked to the ABC portal, DigiLocker or ZoopWallet.
- Students, universities, and employers no longer need to manually exchange documents, reducing administrative burdens.
- Secure digital verification eliminates the risk of tampering or forged documents.
2. Secure Access for Institutions and Employers
ABC ID ensures that only authorized entities can verify academic records, maintaining data security and privacy.
- Universities and colleges can securely verify a student’s academic history when processing admissions or credit transfers.
- Employers can authenticate degrees, diplomas, and certifications without needing direct university intervention.
- Verification is instant and tamper-proof, making it faster, more reliable, and fraud-resistant.
Automating Digital Certificate Verification
For institutions and businesses that require bulk or automated verification, API solutions provide a seamless way to authenticate student records.
How our DigiLocker API helps:
- Enables instant retrieval of verified student credentials from DigiLocker.
- Automates the background verification process for universities and recruiters.
- Detects fraudulent or tampered documents, improving trust in academic records.
- Reduces administrative burden, allowing institutions to process student applications faster.
Our DigiLocker API integration offers fraud prevention in education, helping universities and businesses automate verification workflows and enhance security.
