National Academic Depository

Indian Higher Education system is a large and growing system with approximately 55 school boards, 359 state universities, 123 deemed universities, 47 central universities and 260 private universities. Apart from these, there are 107 other institutions such as IISc/IITs/IIMs/NITs/IISERs/IIITs/NITIE and 12 other centrally funded institutions. These institutions issue academic awards to students including degrees, diplomas and certificates along with mark sheets and evaluation reports. Apart from these, institutions under various Ministries/Departments and other skill based institutions also dispense certificates, diplomas and advanced diploma.

Those who are entering into employment or pursuing higher studies require a credible, authentic and convenient mechanism for access, retrieval and validation of such academic awards. Retrieval of old academic records maintained in paper form is cumbersome. Academic records maintained in paper form are susceptible to hazards such as spoilage and forgery. Students often face difficulties in obtaining copies of their certificates/mark-sheets whenever they are lost or destroyed. Maintaining academic awards in a digital depository would enable educational institutions, students and employers online access/retrieval/verification of digitised academic awards and shall eliminate fraudulent practices such as forging of certificates and mark-sheets.

National Academic Depository (NAD) is a 24X7 online store house of all academic awards viz.certificates, diplomas, degrees, marksheets etc.duly digitised and lodged by academic institutions / boards / eligibility assessment bodies. NAD not only ensures easy access to and retrieval of an academic award but also validates and guarantees its authenticity and safe storage.

National Academic Depository (NAD) is an initiative of Government of India facilitated by Ministry of Human Resources Development (MHRD).

To access the NAD platform, click here.

Features of NAD

NAD will:

• Operate in fully online mode
• Allow lodging of Academic awards in a digital format, maintaining the integrity of access to the database and of the awards lodged in the database.
• Allow students to retrieve their lodged academic awards at any time.
• Allow employers and other person with prior approval of the concerned student to verify the authenticity of any academic award.
• Maintain the authenticity, integrity and confidentiality of the database.

Stakeholders in NAD

1. Students and other academic award holders
2. Academic Institutions/Boards/Eligibility assessment bodies
3. Verifying Entities i.e. banks, employer companies (domestic & overseas), Government entities, academic institutions/boards/eligibility assessment bodies (domestic and overseas) etc.
4. Ministry of Human Resource Development/ University Grants Commission
5. Depositories i.e. NSDL Database Management Limited (NDML) and CDSL Ventures Limited (CVL)

Services being offered by the NAD

The NAD shall:

• Register Academic Institutions/Boards/Eligibility Assessment bodies
• Register students based on Aadhaar / Unique NAD ID;
• Register verification users;
• Allow Academic Institutions/Boards/Eligibility Assessment bodies to upload the academic awards issued by them.
• Allow Academic Institutions/Boards/Eligibility Assessment bodies to map/link the academic award to the NAD Accounts of Students concerned.
• Allow students to view the academic awards linked to their respective account.
• Allow students to download/print an authenticated copy of the academic award.
• Allow verifying entities to verify the authenticity of the academic award (subject to prior student consent)

Benefits of NAD

For academic institutions

• Permanent and safe record of keeping all academic awards issued;
• No need for issuing duplicate academic awards, students can get it from NAD;
• Effective deterrence to fake and forged paper certificates;
• All academic awards verification needs can be addressed by NAD;
• Efficient, effective and transparent administration.

For students

• Immediate availability of academic awards upon upload by Academic Institution
• Online, permanent record of academic awards
• No risk of losing, spoiling, damaging the academic awards
• Anytime, anywhere and convenient access to academic awards

For verification Users (Employer Companies, Banks etc.)

• Online, quick and reliable verification of academic awards (with prior consent of the student concerned)
• Access to authenticated copy of academic awards
• No risk of fake and forged Certificates.
• Reduction in cost, time and efforts for verification

How it works

NAD comprises of two inter-operable digital depositories namely NSDL Database Management Limited (NDML) and CDSL Ventures Limited (CVL). These digital depositories have ensured hardware, network facilities and software of prescribed quality for smooth and secured operationalisation of NAD.

Roles & Responsibilities of Students

Students shall:

• Register on either of the depositories by providing Aadhar details.
• To register for the CVL repository, click here.
• To register for the NDML repository, click here.
• Avails Unique NAD ID in case of non availability of Aadhar Submits Aadhaar / Unique NAD ID to AI for verification and seeding into award data
• Views & accesses all awards online at any time in single account
• Student can
• View / download digitally signed awards
• Request printed copy of the certificate
• Approve / reject request of any verifier for access to his / her certificate
• Send copy of certificate to any verifier

Source : NAD platform