If you’re wondering about the service offered by the NAD, it’s because you want to know how India’s academic record system helps students and institutions in real-world scenarios. The National Academic Depository (NAD) is a government-run platform designed to digitally issue, store, and verify academic documents in a tamper-proof format.

Integrated with DigiLocker, NAD ensures that degrees, certificates, and mark sheets are accessible, verifiable, and secure—anytime, anywhere. This system is essential for admissions, job applications, overseas education, and background checks.

What Is the National Academic Depository (NAD)?

The National Academic Depository is an initiative of the Ministry of Education, Government of India, created to digitally manage academic credentials. Its core purpose is to eliminate document fraud, make certificate access faster, and streamline verification across institutions.

All NAD services are now routed through the DigiLocker platform, which acts as the access point for both students and verifiers. Through this system, institutions issue official records directly to the student’s DigiLocker account.

Why Understanding the Service Offered by the NAD Matters

It’s essential for students, academic institutions, recruiters, and verifiers to understand every service offered by the NAD, since it impacts how records are managed and authenticated in the digital education ecosystem.

By using NAD, institutions reduce manual processes, and students avoid long delays or loss of important credentials. Verifiers gain a reliable and fast method to check the authenticity of academic documents.

List of Core Services Offered by the NAD

NAD delivers a range of services that benefit all stakeholders in the academic ecosystem—from document issuance to digital verification.

1. Digital Issuance of Academic Certificates

NAD allows institutions to issue digital versions of degrees, diplomas, mark sheets, and other academic documents directly to students’ DigiLocker accounts. These documents are digitally signed, tamper-proof, and accessible for life.

2. Online Verification of Academic Records

Third parties like employers, universities, and government departments can verify the authenticity of a student’s document via NAD. This is done through DigiLocker, using the document's metadata or QR code—without physical copies.

3. Secure Storage of Academic Data for Students

Students receive lifetime access to all verified documents in their DigiLocker profile. These records are stored securely and can be downloaded, printed, or shared at any time for admissions or job processes.

4. Support for Academic Bank of Credits (ABC) Integration

NAD supports integration with the Academic Bank of Credits (ABC), enabling institutions to record, store, and track student credit history across programs and institutions. This facilitates seamless academic mobility and credit transfer.

5. Automated Certificate Distribution by Institutions

Academic institutions onboarded to NAD can automate the process of certificate issuance after result publication. Students don’t have to apply or wait—their certificates are uploaded and linked instantly via DigiLocker.

6. Real-Time Verifiability With Blockchain-Like Security

Every document issued through NAD can be verified instantly by third parties through metadata and embedded QR codes. This system prevents manipulation, forgery, or manual errors in documentation.

7. Integration With National Education Portals

NAD is linked with national portals such as DigiLocker and the Unified Student Repository. This ensures synchronization with educational frameworks and simplifies document sharing for scholarships, internships, and government schemes.

8. Credential Accessibility for Remote and Distance Learners

Students enrolled in open universities, skill programs, or remote learning platforms can access their records digitally—removing the need to visit campuses or wait for postal delivery.

Benefits of Using Each Service Offered by the NAD

Each service offered by the NAD has direct advantages that improve efficiency, trust, and user experience in India's education system.

• Reduces certificate forgery with digitally signed, tamper-proof documents issued directly by authorized institutions.
  
  

• Eliminates long verification delays in job applications, college admissions, and study abroad processes with real-time credential checks.
  
  

• Empowers students with 24/7 access to official records through their DigiLocker accounts without recurring requests or approvals.
  
  

• Supports India's digital and paperless education infrastructure under NEP 2020 and Digital India mission initiatives.
  
  

• Builds trust between institutions, employers, and students by offering one standard, national-level certificate verification platform.

TruScholar and NAD: Expanding the Value of Digital Credentials

TruScholar helps institutions take NAD services to the next level by offering blockchain-verified academic credentials. TruScholar-issued certificates align with NAD standards but are also secured for global sharing and validation.

How TruScholar Adds Value Alongside NAD Services:

• Allows institutions to issue digitally verifiable blockchain credentials integrated with DigiLocker and NAD.
  
  

• Offers tamper-proof, secure digital certificates that can be validated instantly by any third-party verifier.
  
  

• Enables micro-credentialing, modular course certification, and non-degree program records aligned with NEP guidelines.
  
  

• Automates issuance and verification workflows for institutions, reducing paperwork and boosting administrative efficiency.

Service Offered by the NAD

Understanding the service offered by the NAD is essential for every student, institution, and employer involved in academic processes. From instant certificate access to automated verification, NAD brings transparency, speed, and security to the heart of Indian education.

With platforms like DigiLocker and TruScholar enabling smoother access and advanced verification, NAD isn't just a storage system—it's a national infrastructure that empowers learners and institutions for the digital future of education.