CBSE Announced New Rules: Cause confusion among parents and students

CBSE Announced New Rules: Schools affiliated with the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) in the UAE have started requesting Aadhaar card details from Indian expat students. This is a recent development causing confusion and concern among parents and students.

The requirement stems from the Ministry of Education in India’s mandate to create an Automated Permanent Academic Account Registry (APAAR) ID for all school students.

The APAAR ID is a unique identification number that will track a student’s academic journey from pre-primary to higher education, aligning with India’s New Education Policy (NEP) 2020. To generate this ID, an Aadhaar number is required.

Who Needs to Comply?

While the APAAR ID is intended for all students, CBSE has currently made it mandatory for students who will be appearing for their Class 10 and 12 board exams starting in 2026. Some schools are already asking for this information to prepare for board exam registrations.

This new requirement presents a challenge for many Indian expat students in the UAE because most do not have an Aadhaar card.

Here’s what you need to know:

Eligibility: Non-Resident Indians (NRIs), whether minors or adults, with a valid Indian passport are eligible to apply for an Aadhaar card.

The Process: Unlike residents in India, NRIs do not need to fulfill the 182-day residency condition. However, the application process requires a visit to an Aadhaar enrolment center in India to provide demographic details and biometric data (fingerprints and iris scans).

Official Stance: In the past, CBSE has waived the Aadhaar requirement for students in foreign schools, allowing them to use their passport number instead. It’s expected that CBSE will soon issue an official advisory with specific instructions for schools outside India, but as of now, some schools are already moving forward with the new requirement.

Also Read: CBSE Class 10 Exams 2026 complete schedule