The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has released a new notice regarding Class 9 to 12 students planning to appear in the 2026 board examinations - linking of the APAAR ID will now be mandatory. No registration of candidates for Class 9 or Class 11 or preparation of the List of Candidates (LoC) for CBSE Class 10 or CBSE 12th can take place until the students' records have been linked to an APAAR ID.
From the 2026 academic session, students will need to create their APAAR ID before registration begins. Schools have been instructed to collect these IDs in advance for smooth registration to take place.
The CBSE has also revised the board exam and registration fees for students from India, Nepal, and other countries. The updated fee structure without late fees is as follows:
| Category/Subjects | India | Nepal | Other Countries |
| Exam Fee (Class 10, 12) – 1 Theory Subject | ₹320 | ₹1,100 | ₹2,200 |
| Exam Fee (Class 10, 12) – 5 Theory Subjects | ₹1,600 | ₹5,500 | ₹11,000 |
| Practical Subjects (Class 12 only) | — | ₹160 | ₹375 |
| Registration Fee – Class 9 | ₹320 | ₹550 | ₹550 |
| Registration Fee – Class 11 | ₹320 | ₹660 | ₹660 |
The board also plans to create an AI-powered Digital Experience Centre to improve students’ access to resources.
What is APAAR?
The Automated Permanent Academic Account Registry (APAAR) is a 12-digit unique identification number developed under the Ministry of Education’s One Nation, One Student ID initiative. APAAR provides students with a lifelong digital academic profile, and securely maintains students' academic learning and records in DigiLocker through the Academic Bank of Credits (ABC).
