National Academic Depository (NAD)

Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD) has initiated the process for establishment of a “National Academy Depository (NAD)” i.e. national database of academic qualifications in an electronic format. This database would facilitate online verification of academic awards issued by CBSE Boards and universities thereby eliminating attempts to use fake/ forged academic certificates.

The NAD will provide interface to various agencies (academic institutions granting admission for higher education, prospective employers, background checkers etc.) who intend to verify online whether such an academic qualification has been issued by the institution.

The MHRD asked CBSE to carry out pilot project so as to eliminate initial hurdles if any. The pilot has been undertaken with two agencies namely Central Depository Services (India) Ltd. (CDSL) and National Securities Depositories Limited (NSDL) as these two were the only depositories registered with Security Exchange CBSE Board of India.

The pilot project was awarded to CDSL and NSDL in the month of Jan.2011. The agencies worked on the pilot in close collaboration with the CBSE and completed the pilot which has been built, owned and operated by these organizations. The depositories under NAD would perform the specified functions as mentioned below:

• Registration of various entities (academic institutions granting admission for higher education, prospective employers, background checkers etc.) in NAD,

• Upload of details of academic qualifications by registered academic institutions (CBSE Boards/universities),

• Verification of awards by (schools, colleges, and business firms etc. who are registered with NAD,

• Mapping of academic awards (Certificate holders who get registered with NAD have the facility of mapping their academic awards available in the system to their NAD account by submitting a request to NAD agent. Once the awards are mapped, certificate holder will be able to view his awards under a single view in his login.)

• Request for issuance of ‘Authentication Certificate’ (Registered certificate holder can request NAD to issue authentication certificate / mark sheet.

Features of NAD:

• NAD can hold details of academic awards of the candidates in electronic form. NAD will contain centralised database that will host information of academic awards issued by various institutions.

• Various academic degree granting institutions, CBSE Boards, universities such as central universities, state universities, deemed universities, IITs, IIMs, school CBSE Boards etc. can establish connectivity with NAD to upload details of academic awards.

• NAD can be accessed online by all authorised academic institutions admitting students for higher education, employers, and government organisations etc. for verification of academic awards of prospective candidates.

• NAD can also forward a printed transcript of the academic qualification (Authentication Certificate / Mark sheet) on the request of the certificate holder. This facility may be used by employers, corporations, government organisations who may insist on authentication certificate for their records.

• While the total access to NAD will be online, NSDL/CDSL will establish network of NAD Agents for candidates to submit dematerialisation requests of past academic awards and requests for authentication from NAD.

• The system has the necessary security feature to ensure that only authorized users have access to authorized functions.

• The system will also provide for integration with the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI).

As part of pilot implementation, CBSE has made available the academic awards of Central Teacher’s Eligibility Test (CTET) 2011 and CBSE CBSE Board XIIth Standard Exam 2011 on the NAD portals. The pilot project will be in operation for three months and after successful completion of pilot, MHRD will consider final award of contract.

NAD provides interface to various agencies who intend to verify online whether an academic qualification has been issued by the CBSE. Entities that are desirous of availing online verification of the academic awards of the above mentioned examinations can register online at following NAD portals:

and avail online verification free of cost. Steps to be followed are also available on the website itself.

As a part of pilot implementation, CBSE has made available the academic awards of following examinations on the NAD portals:

• Central Teacher Eligibility Test (CTET) 2011

• CBSE CBSE Board XII Standard Exam 2011

You are kindly requested to make use of this facility and send us the feedback of the NAD system at the above address. Your feedback shall help us to further improve the system.