Pune: Maharashtra has emerged as the top state in the nation, with over 5 crore students registering on the Academic Bank of Credit (ABC) platform, a key initiative under the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020.

Designed to store academic credits for students pursuing higher education, the ABC has seen registrations from 302.7 million students nationwide, with Maharashtra contributing 51.24 million of those.

The ABC system, implemented by the Ministry of Education, aims to enhance educational flexibility through multiple entry and exit options, allowing for easier credit transfers and completion.

However, despite the growing number of student registrations, the mapping of credits to student accounts has been slow. UGC Secretary Manish Joshi has urged higher education institutions to accelerate the crediting process to ensure timely academic progress.

As per the ABC portal, 448 state universities, 55 central universities, 122 deemed universities, 434 private universities, 423 autonomous colleges, 361 standalone institutions, 42 skill institutions, and 129 central higher education institutions across the country have joined the platform.

Maharashtra leads the chart, followed by Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, and Rajasthan.

The Academic Bank of Credit serves as a digital repository, tracking the credits students earn throughout their academic careers.

This system is crucial for undergraduate and postgraduate students, with the ABC number being as vital as an Aadhaar number. It is especially important for the transfer of credits across various disciplines and elective subjects.