UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — APAAR: SC to direct CBSE to comply with HC order

Q1. With reference to the APAAR (Automated Permanent Academic Account Registry) system, consider the following statements: 1. It assigns a permanent 12-digit academic identifier to every student. 2. It was rolled out as part of the 'One Nation, One Student ID' initiative aligned with NEP 2020. 3. It is administered by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY). 4. Its policy basis includes the National Credit and Qualifications Framework (NCrF). Which of the above is/are correctly identified?

  1. It assigns a permanent 12-digit academic identifier to every student.
  2. It was rolled out as part of the 'One Nation, One Student ID' initiative aligned with NEP 2020.
  3. It is administered by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY).
  4. Its policy basis includes the National Credit and Qualifications Framework (NCrF).
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 1, 2 and 4
  • C. 2, 3 and 4
  • D. 1, 3 and 4

Q2. The mandate for a 'One Nation, One Student ID' realised through the APAAR framework is drawn primarily from which one of the following?

  • A. The Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009
  • B. The National Education Policy, 2020
  • C. The National Curriculum Framework for School Education, 2023
  • D. The Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan guidelines

Q3. Regarding APAAR's integration with India's digital education ecosystem, consider the following statements: 1. APAAR is linked with the Academic Bank of Credits (ABC) and DigiLocker. 2. A student's academic credits are received into the account through the National Academic Depository (NAD). 3. The Academic Bank of Credits is a component of India's Digital Public Infrastructure under the Digital India Programme. 4. The technical implementation is carried out by the National Informatics Centre (NIC) under the Ministry of Education. Which of the above is/are correctly identified?

  1. APAAR is linked with the Academic Bank of Credits (ABC) and DigiLocker.
  2. A student's academic credits are received into the account through the National Academic Depository (NAD).
  3. The Academic Bank of Credits is a component of India's Digital Public Infrastructure under the Digital India Programme.
  4. The technical implementation is carried out by the National Informatics Centre (NIC) under the Ministry of Education.
  • A. 1, 2 and 3
  • B. 1 and 4 only
  • C. 2, 3 and 4
  • D. 1, 2 and 4

Q4. The unique lifelong academic identifier generated under APAAR and used to link a student's records across DigiLocker and the Academic Bank of Credits consists of how many digits?

  • A. Ten digits
  • B. Eleven digits
  • C. Twelve digits
  • D. Sixteen digits

Q5. With reference to the Orissa High Court's judgment in Rohit Anand Das v. State of Odisha (2025) on APAAR, consider the following statements: 1. The writ petition was decided by the Orissa High Court in December 2025. 2. The Court directed that the APAAR model consent form must include an opt-out/refusal of consent option. 3. The Court grounded its reasoning in the fundamental right to privacy. 4. The Court held that a post-facto right to withdraw consent is a complete substitute for the right to refuse consent at the outset. Which of the above is/are correctly identified?

  1. The writ petition was decided by the Orissa High Court in December 2025.
  2. The Court directed that the APAAR model consent form must include an opt-out/refusal of consent option.
  3. The Court grounded its reasoning in the fundamental right to privacy.
  4. The Court held that a post-facto right to withdraw consent is a complete substitute for the right to refuse consent at the outset.
  • A. 1, 2 and 3
  • B. 2, 3 and 4
  • C. 1 and 4 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 4

Q6. The Orissa High Court distinguished between the 'right to withdraw consent' and the 'right to refuse consent' in the APAAR matter. Consider the following statements: 1. The Court held that a right to withdraw consent after submission is not equivalent to a right to refuse consent at the outset. 2. The Court found that the mere availability of a withdrawal mechanism was, by itself, sufficient to render the scheme voluntary. 3. The absence of an opt-out option in the consent form created an apprehension that the scheme was mandatory. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. The Court held that a right to withdraw consent after submission is not equivalent to a right to refuse consent at the outset.
  2. The Court found that the mere availability of a withdrawal mechanism was, by itself, sufficient to render the scheme voluntary.
  3. The absence of an opt-out option in the consent form created an apprehension that the scheme was mandatory.
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 1 and 3 only
  • C. 2 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q7. In the 2026 proceedings, the Supreme Court's indication that CBSE implement the Orissa High Court ruling 'on a pan-India basis' most precisely means which one of the following?

  • A. The opt-out/refusal option in APAAR consent forms is to be extended to students throughout the country, not confined to Odisha.
  • B. APAAR enrolment is to be made uniformly mandatory across all States and Union Territories.
  • C. All APAAR IDs already generated across the country are to be cancelled and re-issued afresh.
  • D. The Orissa High Court judgment is itself to operate as a statute binding on every High Court.

Q8. With reference to the Supreme Court's July 2026 proceedings on APAAR, consider the following statements: 1. The Bench was headed by the Chief Justice of India, Surya Kant. 2. The Court noted that CBSE circulars would remain subject to the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023. 3. The Court held that APAAR must be made permanently and exclusively mandatory for all school students. 4. The Court declined to extend the Orissa High Court ruling beyond the State of Odisha. Which of the above is/are NOT correct?

  1. The Bench was headed by the Chief Justice of India, Surya Kant.
  2. The Court noted that CBSE circulars would remain subject to the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023.
  3. The Court held that APAAR must be made permanently and exclusively mandatory for all school students.
  4. The Court declined to extend the Orissa High Court ruling beyond the State of Odisha.
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 3 and 4 only
  • C. 2 and 3 only
  • D. 1 and 4 only

Q9. Regarding the binding effect of judgments in India's court hierarchy, consider the following statements: 1. Under Article 141, the law declared by the Supreme Court is binding on all courts within the territory of India. 2. A High Court's judgment is ordinarily binding as a precedent only within that High Court's territorial jurisdiction. 3. Under Article 141, a High Court's judgment is automatically binding on all other High Courts across India. 4. The Supreme Court can hear appeals by special leave under Article 136 of the Constitution. Which of the above is/are NOT correct?

  1. Under Article 141, the law declared by the Supreme Court is binding on all courts within the territory of India.
  2. A High Court's judgment is ordinarily binding as a precedent only within that High Court's territorial jurisdiction.
  3. Under Article 141, a High Court's judgment is automatically binding on all other High Courts across India.
  4. The Supreme Court can hear appeals by special leave under Article 136 of the Constitution.
  • A. 3 only
  • B. 1 and 3 only
  • C. 2 and 4 only
  • D. 3 and 4 only

Q10. In India, the requirement that a Data Fiduciary obtain the verifiable consent of a parent or legal guardian before processing the personal data of a child is a provision of which one of the following?

  • A. The Information Technology Act, 2000
  • B. The Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009
  • C. The Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023
  • D. The Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015

Q11. Which one of the following most accurately describes the institutional status of the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE)?

  • A. A statutory body established by a dedicated Act of Parliament, functioning under the Ministry of Education
  • B. A constitutional body established directly under a provision of the Constitution of India
  • C. An autonomous body registered as a society under the Societies Registration Act, 1860, functioning under the Ministry of Education
  • D. A Central Public Sector Undertaking incorporated under the Companies Act, functioning under the Ministry of Education

Q12. The nationwide generation and validation of APAAR IDs is tracked and reported by which one of the following?

  • A. The Department of Higher Education, Ministry of Education
  • B. The Department of School Education & Literacy, Ministry of Education
  • C. The National Informatics Centre, which exclusively controls all APAAR enrolment data
  • D. The University Grants Commission, Ministry of Education