NEP 2020 Hub
Academic Bank of Credits — Store, Transfer, Reuse Your Credits
Imagine if every credit you earned stayed with you forever — even if you changed colleges. With ABC, it does.
The basics
What is the Academic Bank of Credits?
The Academic Bank of Credits (ABC) is a digital credit storage system launched by the UGC under NEP 2020. Think of it as a “credit wallet” for your education — earn credits at any UGC-recognised college, store them, transfer them, and reuse them if you re-enter education later.
- Launched July 2021 (pilot), national rollout 2023
- Operated by UGC + National Informatics Centre (NIC)
- Auto-linked to your APAAR ID
- Lifetime storage — credits never expire
- Covers all UGC-recognised universities and affiliated colleges
How it works
The 5-step credit flow
Open ABC account
Sign in at abc.gov.in or DigiLocker with Aadhaar OTP. Your unique ABC ID is generated and linked to APAAR.
Earn credits
Complete courses and earn credits (1 credit ≈ 15–30 hours). Your college uploads them to your account in real time.
Store credits
Credits stay in your account even if you leave college. No expiry — lifetime, encrypted storage.
Transfer credits
Change college and your new institution withdraws credits from ABC. No re-doing subjects, no wasted year.
Reuse credits
Re-enter education years later and your credits are still there. Lifelong learning becomes real.
Why it matters
ABC for Indian students
- 01
No more wasted years
Failed a year or dropped out? You don’t lose what you’ve already learned.
- 02
Freedom to switch
Discovered you love Biotechnology but stuck in Mechanical? Switch streams without restarting.
- 03
Multi-institution degrees
Earn credits at different institutions and keep them all in one ABC account.
- 04
Pandemic-proof
Education must be flexible — ABC makes that flexibility permanent.
- 05
Cost savings
Don’t pay for subjects you’ve already passed. Students save ₹20,000–₹1,00,000+.
- 06
Career flexibility
Take a job after two years and return for completion later — your credits are preserved.
Credits explained
How many credits do I need?
| Degree | Minimum credits | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Diploma | 80 | 2 years |
| Bachelor’s (3-year) | 120 | 3 years |
| Bachelor’s (Hons, 4-year) | 160 | 4 years |
| Bachelor’s (Hons with Research) | 160 + research | 4 years |
| Master’s | 80+ (post-grad) | 2 years |
Exact credit requirements vary by university — always confirm with your institution.
The perfect pair
ABC + APAAR work together
| APAAR | ABC | |
|---|---|---|
| Created by | Ministry of Education | UGC |
| Linked to | Aadhaar | APAAR + Aadhaar |
| Used for | One ID for life | One wallet for credits |
| Holds | Marksheets, certificates | Course credits |
Together, they are your education’s digital backbone.
Questions
Frequently asked questions
Is an ABC account free?
Yes, completely free. There is no government fee.
Is ABC mandatory?
Not yet, but strongly recommended. By 2027, most colleges will require ABC for new admissions.
What if I don’t open ABC?
You can still study, but you lose access to credit transfer — switching colleges would mean starting over.
Can I have credits from multiple degrees in one ABC?
Yes, ABC keeps all credits from all your programmes in one place.
How long are credits valid?
Lifetime. They never expire.
Can colleges see my ABC credits?
Only if you give consent. Privacy is built in.
Is ABC ID the same as APAAR ID?
No. APAAR = identity. ABC = credits. You can have both.
Can I use ABC for skill courses (NSDC, NSQF)?
Yes. NEP 2020 allows skill credits to count toward degrees, and ABC supports this.
Explore the NEP 2020 Hub
Open your ABC account in 5 minutes
EduPath helps you open your ABC account for free, link it to your APAAR ID, track credits in real time, and plan credit transfers — all in one place.