The Jharkhand Academic Council (JAC) has introduced a significant change in the examination registration process, making it mandatory for students to furnish their Permanent Account Number (PAN) while filling up forms for secondary and intermediate annual exams. This new requirement, which is being strictly enforced from the upcoming Class X and XII board examinations, has triggered widespread concern among students, parents, and school administrations across the state.
New JAC Guidelines and the Documentation Bottleneck
According to the updated guidelines, students of Classes IX and XII are now required to provide their Apaar ID and PAN during registration. Specifically, those appearing for the crucial Class X and XII board exams must include both details in their application forms. Furthermore, educational institutes are mandated to submit their U-DISE Plus code. While the Aadhaar card remains optional, the compulsory PAN rule has created a major bottleneck for many students who have not yet obtained the number due to various technical and documentation challenges.
The council has announced an even stricter future policy: starting from the 2026–27 academic session, all student registrations will be fully PAN-based. Alongside this, JAC has also instituted a 75% minimum attendance rule for a student to be eligible to appear for the examinations. These changes have collectively exposed a significant gap in documentation preparedness among the student community.
Technical Hurdles and Rural Challenges
School officials report that a substantial number of students are struggling to generate their PAN. The primary issue stems from mismatches between the details on their Aadhaar cards and their school records. Discrepancies in names, dates of birth, and parents' names are leading to repeated rejections of PAN applications, leaving many students in a lurch and unable to complete the form-filling process.
The situation is particularly dire given the tight deadline. The form submission window, which opened on November 18, is set to close on December 5. This short timeframe is causing rising anxiety statewide. Principals note that despite continuous guidance and support, the process of correcting Aadhaar details and obtaining subsequent PAN approvals is moving far too slowly to meet the impending deadline.
Students in rural areas face an even steeper uphill battle due to limited access to reliable online services and overcrowded facilitation centres. Madan Mohan Tiwari, a teacher at Chotanagpur Raj +2 High School in Ratu, highlighted the pressure. "The PAN requirement has placed immense pressure on schools and families. Despite our continuous efforts, Aadhaar corrections and PAN approvals are moving far too slowly. Many students may miss the deadline through no fault of theirs, which is deeply concerning," he said. He added a note of hope, stating, "We are hopeful that new guidelines will be issued for students who are still unable to obtain their PAN."
Student Voices and Official Silence
The human impact of this policy shift is palpable. Anushka Kumari, a Class X student, shared her distressing experience: "I’ve tried to apply for my PAN, but it keeps getting rejected because of small errors in my Aadhaar details. I’m worried I won’t be able to fill out my exam form on time. It feels unfair that the paperwork might stop me from sitting for my board exams." Her sentiment echoes across countless students who are caught between bureaucratic procedures and crucial academic milestones.
Despite the growing chorus of concerns from the educational community, officials from the Jharkhand Academic Council have refrained from issuing any statement or clarification on the matter. This silence has only added to the uncertainty and stress as the December 5 deadline rapidly approaches.
