The Supreme Court will request that CBSE permit parents to refuse the release of APAAR ID data.

The Supreme Court said today that it will direct the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) to implement an Orissa High Court ruling requiring changes to the APAAR (Automated Permanent Academic Account Registry) ID consent form. The proposed change will ensure that parents across India have a clear option to refuse consent or opt out of the APAAR ID scheme for their children. The case was heard by a bench led by Chief Justice Surya Kant along with Justice Joymalya Bagchi and Justice V. Mohana.

The petition was filed by the parents of four students, who argued that although the government describes APAAR as a voluntary scheme, its link with Aadhaar and school processes makes it effectively compulsory. They also raised concerns about children's privacy and the handling of personal data. The Supreme Court observed that since the Centre did not challenge the Orissa High Court's 2025 judgment, it would ask CBSE to implement that ruling across the country. The Court also indicated that CBSE should examine issues related to informed consent, data protection, and compliance with the Digital Personal Data Protection (DPDP) Act, 2023.