In 30 Seconds
The cost: Nothing. The ABC ID is free to create.
Who it affects: Every student in a UGC-recognised college, from UG to PhD.
What to do: Make it on abc.gov.in or DigiLocker using your Aadhaar.
Still unknown: Whether every college enforces it the same way at exam time.
Every student in a UGC-recognised college now needs an ABC ID. It is a free 12-digit account that stores your degree credits online. Create it on abc.gov.in or DigiLocker using your Aadhaar. Colleges ask for it at admission and in exam forms.
The University Grants Commission has pushed this since 2021. UGC is the body that regulates higher education in India.
UGC notified the Academic Bank of Credits rules on July 28, 2021. From the 2023-24 year, UGC chairman M Jagadesh Kumar asked all universities to sign up every student.
ABC stands for Academic Bank of Credits. Think of it as a bank account for your marks. Each subject you pass adds credits to it. The account has one 12-digit number, and it is free to make.
In This Guide
Who needs an ABC ID and by when
How to create your ABC ID on DigiLocker
Can I make an ABC ID without DigiLocker?
What documents do I need for the ABC ID?
How long do the credits stay valid?
| Feature | Detail |
|---|---|
| What it is | A 12-digit digital account for your college credits |
| Who needs it | Every student in a UGC-recognised college |
| Cost | Free |
| Where to make it | abc.gov.in, DigiLocker, or UMANG |
| Credit validity | Up to 7 years |
Who needs an ABC ID and by when
Every student in a UGC-recognised college needs one. This covers UG, PG and PhD learners. It also covers students under the four-year degree and the Multiple Entry-Exit rules.
Online and distance learners face a harder deadline. From the 2025-26 session, their admission stays incomplete without it.
These students also need a DEB ID. The Distance Education Bureau issues it. It links to the same ABC account.
Many colleges already block exam forms until the ID is filled. UGC secretary Manish Joshi wrote to them in July 2024. The letter asked them to help students make IDs during admission.
How to create your ABC ID on DigiLocker
Open digilocker.gov.in or the DigiLocker app first. Sign up with your mobile number and Aadhaar. New users verify with a one-time password.
Go to the Search Documents tab. Type Academic Bank of Credits. Open the ABC Card result from the Ministry of Education.
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Fill in your name as per Aadhaar, date of birth, admission year and college. Tick the consent box and press Get Document. Your 12-digit ABC ID is made at once.
The card saves inside DigiLocker as a PDF. You can download it any time.
Can I make an ABC ID without DigiLocker?
No. The abc.gov.in portal still runs on DigiLocker underneath. You need a DigiLocker account either way.
To use the portal, open abc.gov.in and click My Account, then Student. Log in with your DigiLocker mobile number and 6-digit PIN. Grant consent and click Generate ID.
The UMANG app is a third route. Search ABC inside UMANG. Then follow the same Aadhaar steps.
What documents do I need for the ABC ID?
You need an Aadhaar card linked to a working mobile number. The OTP lands on that number. An unlinked phone stops the whole process.
You also need your admission year and college name. Keep the exact name ready, spelled as your college uses it.
How long do the credits stay valid?
Credits in your ABC account stay valid for up to 7 years. After that, unused credits can lapse.
This is what makes the Multiple Entry-Exit system work. You can leave a course, keep your credits, and rejoin within 7 years.
The Aadhaar OTP problem that stalls registration
Aadhaar verification is the single biggest blocker. UGC reviewed this in 2023. Several central universities flagged the same issue. Students could not register because Aadhaar was not linked to a phone.
Central University of Tamil Nadu had signed up 70 percent of its students by then. OTP failures held up the rest. Link your Aadhaar to your phone first, or the form will not move.
Is the ABC ID the same as the APAAR ID?
The ABC ID is now joined with APAAR. APAAR stands for Automated Permanent Academic Account Registry. It is the wider student ID from the same 2020 policy.
The APAAR ID is your permanent academic identity. It links your school and college records to the ABC credit account. In DigiLocker, both are usually fetched together.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the ABC ID free to create?
Yes, the ABC ID is completely free. There is no charge to create it on abc.gov.in, DigiLocker or UMANG. You only need an Aadhaar card linked to a mobile number.
Can I take college admission without an ABC ID?
Many UGC-recognised colleges ask for the ABC ID at admission and in exam forms. For online and distance courses, admission stays incomplete without it from the 2025-26 session. Make it before you apply.
How many digits is the ABC ID?
The ABC ID is a unique 12-digit number. It works as a digital account that stores the academic credits you earn across UGC-recognised institutions.
Do I need Aadhaar to make an ABC ID?
Yes, you need an Aadhaar card linked to a working mobile number. The verification code is sent to that number. An Aadhaar not linked to your phone is the most common reason registration fails.
How long do ABC ID credits stay valid?
Credits stored in your ABC account stay valid for up to 7 years. This lets you leave a course and rejoin later without losing them, under the Multiple Entry-Exit system.
Last verified: September 15, 2026
Disclaimer: Dates, fees and eligibility can change without notice. Check with UGC and your college before you act.
