Academic Bank of Credits (ABC): How to Create Account & Store Credits

The Academic Bank of Credits (ABC) is a flagship initiative under the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. It is a digital storehouse that holds academic credits earned by students from any registered higher education institution in India. ABC allows students to accumulate, store, and transfer credits seamlessly — enabling multi-disciplinary learning and multiple entry-exit options.

What is the Academic Bank of Credits?

ABC is a virtual bank established by the Ministry of Education, Government of India, under UGC guidelines. It works like a bank account but for academic credits instead of money. Every student enrolled in a higher education institution registered with ABC can:

• Store credits earned from courses across different institutions
• Transfer credits when moving between universities
• Redeem credits towards a degree, diploma, or certificate
• Access records anytime through DigiLocker integration

ABC is registered under the Companies Act and operates as a national-level facility.

Who is Eligible?

• Any student currently enrolled in a higher education institution in India
• The institution must be registered with ABC (most UGC-recognised universities are registered)
• Students of all levels — UG, PG, diploma, certificate, and doctoral programmes
• No age limit for creating an ABC account

Documents Required

• Aadhaar number (linked to mobile number)
• Mobile number registered with Aadhaar
• DigiLocker account (created using Aadhaar)
• Institution enrolment details (college/university name, course, year)

How to Create an ABC Account: Step-by-Step

Online Method (via DigiLocker)

1. Visit the ABC portal at abc.gov.in
2. Click "My Account" or "Student Registration"
3. You will be redirected to DigiLocker login
4. Log in to DigiLocker using your Aadhaar-linked mobile number or username
   • If you don't have a DigiLocker account, click "Sign Up" and create one using your Aadhaar number (see our DigiLocker guide for details)
5. Authorize ABC to access your DigiLocker account
6. Fill in your academic details:
   • Select your institution (university/college)
   • Enter your course name and enrolment/roll number
   • Select current academic year
7. Verify your identity via Aadhaar OTP
8. Submit the registration form
9. Your ABC ID will be generated and displayed on screen
10. You will receive a confirmation SMS and email

Getting Your ABC ID

• Your ABC ID is a 12-digit unique identification number
• It is linked to your Aadhaar and DigiLocker
• You can find your ABC ID by logging into abc.gov.in anytime
• Share this ABC ID with your institution for credit deposits

How Credit Accumulation Works

Credit Transfer Between Universities

1. Log in to your ABC account at abc.gov.in
2. Go to "Credit Transfer" section
3. Select the credits you wish to transfer
4. Enter the destination institution details
5. Submit the transfer request
6. The receiving institution verifies and accepts the credits
7. Transferred credits reflect in your ABC account under the new institution

Note: Both the source and destination institutions must be registered with ABC.

Benefits of ABC

• Multiple Entry-Exit: Leave a course and rejoin later without losing credits
• Multi-disciplinary Learning: Earn credits from different institutions and disciplines
• Credit Portability: Transfer credits seamlessly between universities
• Digital Record: All academic credits stored securely on a government platform
• Transparency: Students and institutions can verify credits anytime
• NEP 2020 Alignment: Supports the flexible learning framework of the National Education Policy

Fees

There are no charges for creating or maintaining an ABC account.

Processing Time

Important Tips

1. Keep your Aadhaar mobile number active — it is required for DigiLocker and ABC login
2. Share your ABC ID with your college so they can deposit your credits correctly
3. Check your ABC account regularly to ensure credits are deposited after each semester
4. Credits are valid for 7 years — plan your re-entry within this period if you take a break
5. Both institutions must be ABC-registered for credit transfer to work

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q1: Is ABC account mandatory for all students?

ABC account creation is being progressively made mandatory for students in UGC-recognised institutions. Many universities now require ABC ID at the time of admission. Check with your institution.

Q2: Can I create an ABC account without Aadhaar?

No, Aadhaar is mandatory as ABC registration is done through DigiLocker, which requires Aadhaar verification.

Q3: What happens to my credits if I drop out?

Your credits remain stored in your ABC account for up to 7 years. You can rejoin the same or a different institution and redeem those credits towards a degree.

Q4: Can I earn credits from multiple institutions simultaneously?

Yes, ABC supports multi-disciplinary and multi-institutional learning. You can accumulate credits from different registered institutions.

Q5: Is ABC the same as DigiLocker?

No. DigiLocker is a digital document storage platform. ABC is specifically for academic credits. However, ABC uses DigiLocker for identity verification and login.

Q6: How do I check if my university is registered with ABC?

Visit abc.gov.in and check the list of registered institutions, or contact your university's academic office.

Q7: Can working professionals use ABC?

Yes, there is no age restriction. Working professionals enrolled in any registered higher education programme can create an ABC account and accumulate credits.

Disclaimer: This guide is published by CitizenNest for informational purposes only. We are not affiliated with the Government of India, UGC, or any government body. Always verify details on the official ABC portal or UGC website.