New National Academic Credit Bank

The University Grants Commission (UGC) has operationalized the National Academic Credit Bank (NAC Bank), a digital repository of academic credits that allows students to accumulate, transfer, and redeem credits across institutions and courses in India. Part of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 reforms, the initiative aims to foster multidisciplinary education and flexible learning pathways. Through NAC Bank, students can pursue online and offline courses across universities, skill providers, and ed tech platforms and store earned credits for future degree or diploma programs. The platform is hosted on DigiLocker and linked to Aadhaar for secure access. It promotes lifelong learning and supports career breaks, mid career upskilling, and migration between disciplines. For example, a student pursuing a BSc in one university can transfer credits to another institution offering a blended program or even accumulate MOOCs (Massive Open Online Courses) for certification. Over 300 higher education institutions have already joined the system. The NAC Bank aligns Indian education with global credit frameworks, facilitating easier recognition of Indian qualifications abroad. Critics stress the need for transparent policies and equitable access, especially for rural students. Nonetheless, NAC Bank is a transformative step toward learner centric education.