CBSE Sets LOC Deadlines for Class 10 & 12; APAAR ID Rules Partially

The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has released important guidelines related to the List of Candidates (LOC) submission for Class 10 and 12 board examinations 2025-26. Alongside setting deadlines, CBSE has also provided partial relief on the APAAR (Automated Permanent Academic Account Registry) ID requirement to ease LOC submission pressures

Key Deadlines for LOC Submission

CBSE has announced that schools must adhere to the following timelines for LOC and related processes:

What is APAAR ID & What’s the Partial Relief?

APAAR is a unique student identifier meant to streamline academic records under the "One Nation, One Student ID" initiative. It is intended to be part of the data submitted in the LOC by schools. However, recognising difficulties faced by many schools and students in procuring or generating APAAR IDs (due to Aadhaar mismatches, technical issues, or lack of parental consent), CBSE has allowed partial relief:

• Schools may mark entries as “REFUSED” when parents do not consent to the creation of an APAAR ID.
• Schools may mark entries as “NOGEN” (Not Generated) if the APAAR ID could not be generated for other technical or administrative reasons.
• In all other cases, where APAAR IDs are available or successfully generated, schools are expected to continue submitting them.

This is meant to avoid the exclusion of students from appearing for board exams due to missing IDs.

CBSE’s Other LOC-Related Rules & Reforms

• Schools must ensure accurate student data — names, dates of birth, subject combinations — when submitting the LOC, because corrections post-deadline will be restricted.
• Schools must also upload correct photographs of students, especially those missing in prior registrations (e.g. from earlier grades), before LOC finalisation.
• For students with Special Needs (CWSN), a separate module is available for exemptions and accommodations. Those details must be uploaded in the given CWSN window.

What Students & Schools Should Do Now?

• Schools should verify whether APAAR IDs have been generated for all students; where they are not, use the “REFUSED” or “NOGEN” status correctly.
• Parents who have concerns about APAAR should follow school procedure and provide or withhold consent formally; schools should keep written proof.
• Ensure submission of the LOC well within the normal deadline to avoid late fees.
• Make use of the verification period, if provided, to correct any errors before final submissions are locked.