Why in News?
The Academic Bank of Credits (ABC) is in the news because the University Grants Commission (UGC) mandated all Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) in India to upload student credit data on the ABC portal latest by 30 June 2026. This massive push forms a core part of India's evolving Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) for education.
Administrative Framework
- Parent Ministry: Launched by the Ministry of Education, Government of India, under the National Education Policy (NEP 2020).
- Regulatory Body: Directly monitored and managed by the University Grants Commission (UGC).
- Core Function: Acts as a virtual/digital storehouse that records, manages, and stores academic credits earned by students.
Primary Features & Benefits for Students
- Multiple Entry and Exit (MEE): Allows students to drop out of a degree programme in any year and re-enter later without losing their progress.
- Earn Certification on Exit: Exiting after 1 year awards a Certificate, after 2 years a Diploma, and completing the full term awards a Degree.
- Credit Redemption: Earned credits remain valid and active in the "bank" for a maximum shelf-life of 7 years.
- Inter-Institutional Mobility: Enables students to seamlessly transfer their academic credits if they switch from one college or university to another.
- Online Learning Inclusion: Students can fulfil up to 40% of their total course credits through recognized online platforms like SWAYAM.
Technology and Integration
- Digi Locker Ecosystem: The platform is deeply integrated with Digi Locker, giving students an authorized dashboard to track their credits safely.
- Unified Student Identity: Works hand-in-hand with the 12-digit APAAR ID card which maps a student’s lifelong educational achievements from school to higher learning.
- Data Transparency: Restricts higher education institutions from holding students' original credentials or holding them back against their will for financial exploitation.
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