Lucknow University puts 21,268 student ID cards on DigiLocker
By TUF News Desk · Published 15 October 2026 · 3 min read
Fact-checked against 2+ independent sources · Editorial policy
The 21,268 students University of Lucknow admitted this year will not have to queue up at their departments to collect an ID card. The university has uploaded QR-code-based official identity cards for all of them on DigiLocker, the Centre’s digital document platform. The announcement came on Wednesday, October 14.
The university says it is the first state university in the country to issue student ID cards on DigiLocker at this scale. The rollout covers undergraduate and postgraduate students, PhD scholars, and students on diploma and Shastri programmes.
How the digital card works
Each card carries a QR code linked to the university’s authorised server and the student’s registered APAAR ID. To fetch it, a student logs in to the DigiLocker app or the official DigiLocker portal with their registered details and APAAR ID, clicks the “Generate vCard” option below the profile photo, and the QR-based ID appears for viewing or download.
DigiLocker is the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology’s cloud platform for storing official documents in digital form. Lucknow University joined it as an issuing authority for the 2026-27 session, and students receive the card after completing admission and fee formalities.
Where the QR card is accepted
The digital ID is legally valid under the Information Technology Act, which puts it at par with a physical card. Officials say the QR code can be scanned for instant verification of identity at national and competitive examinations, for railway, bus and metro travel concessions, and by banks and other government institutions.
Why the university moved to digital IDs
Spokesperson Prof Mukul Srivastava said the step is meant to make student services more convenient and reduce paperwork. All 21,268 newly admitted students can now access their ID cards through DigiLocker without standing in queues at departments or administrative offices to collect them.
Because the card lives on the phone, it stays available round the clock, and the usual problems with plastic cards stop mattering: loss, damage and theft. Linking the cards to APAAR IDs under the “One Nation, One Student ID” framework also consolidates a student’s identity and academic records on one platform, which the university says will keep forged or duplicate cards out.
The move has been building since August. Vice-chancellor Prof JP Saini has linked it to the Digital India programme and the National Education Policy 2020. New students sorting out their enrolment paperwork can keep things straight with our admission documents checklist, which covers the IDs and certificates most Indian universities ask for.
Frequently asked questions
How do Lucknow University students get their digital ID card?
Log in to the DigiLocker app or portal with your registered details and APAAR ID, then click the “Generate vCard” option below your profile photo. The QR-based official ID card appears and can be downloaded on your phone.
Where can the QR-based digital ID card be used?
It is legally valid under the Information Technology Act, at par with a physical ID. University officials say the QR code can be scanned for instant identity verification at national and competitive examinations, for railway, bus and metro travel concessions, and by banks and other government institutions.
Do students still get a physical ID card from Lucknow University?
The university has not said physical cards are being scrapped. The digital card is an alternative that carries the same legal validity, so students are no longer dependent solely on a physical card that can be lost or damaged.
What is an APAAR ID and why does Lucknow University need it?
APAAR stands for Automated Permanent Academic Account Registry, the framework behind “One Nation, One Student ID”. Lucknow University has made it mandatory, and each digital ID card is linked to the student’s registered APAAR ID for security and authenticity.
Frequently asked questions
How do Lucknow University students get their digital ID card?
Log in to the DigiLocker app or portal with your registered details and APAAR ID, then click the 'Generate vCard' option below your profile photo. The QR-based official ID card appears and can be downloaded on your phone.
Where can the QR-based digital ID card be used?
It is legally valid under the Information Technology Act, at par with a physical ID. University officials say the QR code can be scanned for instant identity verification at national and competitive examinations, for railway, bus and metro travel concessions, and by banks and other government institutions.
Do students still get a physical ID card from Lucknow University?
The university has not said physical cards are being scrapped. The digital card is an alternative that carries the same legal validity, so students are no longer dependent solely on a physical card that can be lost or damaged.
What is an APAAR ID and why does Lucknow University need it?
APAAR stands for Automated Permanent Academic Account Registry, the framework behind 'One Nation, One Student ID'. Lucknow University has made it mandatory, and each digital ID card is linked to the student's registered APAAR ID for security and authenticity.
Sources: Hindustan Times, The Times of India