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One nation, One Student ID initiative

Context
Recently, the National Conference on APAAR: One Nation One Student ID Card was held in New Delhi.

What is APAAR ID?

• Under this initiative, every student would receive a lifelong APAAR ID, streamlining the process of tracking their educational journey, from pre-primary education to higher education.
• The APAAR ID also serves as a gateway to Digilocker, a digital platform where students can securely store essential documents and achievements, such as exam results and report cards, in a digital format for convenient access in the future.

Working of APAAR ID

• Each individual will be assigned a unique APAAR ID, which will be linked to the Academic Bank Credit (ABC).
• The Academic Bank Credit (ABC) serves as a digital repository containing information about the credits earned by students throughout their educational journey.
• With the APAAR ID, students have the ability to store all their certificates and credits, whether they are from formal educational institutions or informal learning experiences.
• When a student completes a course or attains an achievement, it is digitally certified and securely stored in their account by authorized educational institutions.
• In cases where a student changes schools, whether within the state or to a different state, all relevant data stored in the Academic Bank Credit (ABC) is seamlessly transferred to the new school, simply by sharing the APAAR ID.

Rationale Behind APAAR:

• The introduction of APAAR aims to simplify the education process and minimize the necessity for students to carry physical documents.
• This initiative is an integral part of the National Education Policy 2020, implemented by the Education Ministry, with the objective of bringing about positive changes. It enables state governments to monitor literacy rates, reduce dropout rates, and facilitate educational improvements.
• APAAR also addresses the issue of fraudulent and duplicated educational certificates by establishing a single, reliable reference for educational institutions. Only trusted sources that issue certificates will be permitted to deposit credits into the system, ensuring authenticity.

Procedure for Creating APAAR ID

• To register for an APAAR ID, students are required to provide basic information, including their name, age, date of birth, gender, and a photograph.
• This information is then verified using their Aadhar number, a unique identification number issued by the Indian government.
• Students are presented with a consent form, and they have the option to either agree or decline to share their Aadhar number and demographic information with the Ministry of Education for the purpose of creating the APAAR ID.
• In the case of minors, parents are required to sign the consent form, authorizing the Ministry to use the student’s Aadhar number for authentication with the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI).
• It’s important to note that registration for the creation of an APAAR ID is voluntary and not mandatory, allowing students and their families the choice to participate.

Concerns Surrounding APAAR

• Government’s Assurance:
  • The government asserts that the information shared by students will be kept confidential and will not be disclosed to any third party except for organizations involved in educational activities.
  • These entities include the Unified District Information System for Education Plus (UDISE+) database, scholarship programs, academic records maintenance, educational institutions, and recruitment agencies.
• UDISE+ Database:
  • The UDISE+ database is the government’s repository containing data related to schools, teachers, and students.
• Control Over Data Sharing:
  • Students have the option to cease sharing their information with the mentioned parties at any given time, and data processing will be stopped.
  • However, any personal data that has already been processed will remain unaffected if consent is withdrawn.

Administrative Burden:

• School authorities raise concerns about the additional administrative workload associated with pending Aadhaar verification of students, which is currently optional.
• The introduction of the APAAR registry may potentially increase the administrative responsibilities placed on teaching faculty.

World Governments Summit 2024

Context
Prime Minister Modi participated in the World Governments Summit in Dubai as Guest of Honour. He also delivered the special keynote address on the theme of the Summit – “Shaping the Future Governments”.

World Governments Summit 2024: PM Modi’s Key Points

Participation at the Summit:

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi participated in the World Governments Summit in Dubai as the Guest of Honour, upon the invitation of Sheikh Mohamed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister, Defence Minister, and the Ruler of Dubai.

Minimum Government, Maximum Governance:

• Shared thoughts on the changing nature of governance.
• Highlighted India’s transformative reforms based on the mantra of “Minimum Government, Maximum Governance.”

Human-Centric Approach to Governance:

• Shared the Indian experience leveraging digital technology for welfare, inclusivity, and sustainability.
• Called for a human-centric approach to governance.
• Emphasized India’s focus on people’s participation, last-mile-delivery, and women-led development for achieving an inclusive society.

Collaboration in the Interconnected World:

• Emphasized the need for collaboration among governments in the interconnected world to address future challenges.

Model of Governance:

• Stressed the need for governance to be Inclusive, Tech-smart, Clean, Transparent, and Green.
• Prioritized “Ease of Living, Ease of Justice, Ease of Mobility, Ease of Innovation, and Ease of Doing Business” in public service approach.

India’s Commitment to Climate Change:

• Elaborated on India’s steadfast commitment to Climate Change action.
• Called for people to join Mission LiFE (Lifestyle for Environment) to create a sustainable world.

Leadership Role Played by India:

• Discussed the leadership role played by India as the chair of G-20, addressing global issues and challenges.
• Highlighted India’s efforts to bring development concerns facing the Global South to the center stage.
• Called for reform of multilateral institutions, advocating for greater voice for the Global South in decision-making.
• Reiterated India’s commitment to contribute to global progress as a “Vishwa Bandhu” (Friend of the World).

World Governments Summit Overview

• The World Government Summit is a global platform committed to shaping the future of government worldwide.
• An annual event held in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, the Summit focuses on setting the agenda for the next generation of governments.
• Emphasis is placed on how governments can leverage innovation and technology to address universal challenges facing humanity.
• Since its establishment in 2013, the Summit has championed the mission of shaping future governments and contributing to a better future for humanity.

World Governments Summit Organization:

• The World Governments Summit Organization is a global, neutral, and non-profit organization dedicated to shaping the future of governments.
• Headquarter:
  • The headquarters of the World Governments Summit is located in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
• 2024 Summit Theme:
  • The theme for the 2024 Summit is ‘Shaping Future Governments,’ indicating a focus on envisioning and influencing the trajectory of future governmental structures and functions.