Last updated on: February 27, 2026
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Yuvika Rathi
College Student
Until recently, transferring from one Indian university to another meant starting over. Every credit, every exam, every semester — gone. The Academic Bank of Credits (ABC), launched under NEP 2020, dismantled that wall entirely. Today, a student in Jaipur can transfer to a college in Bengaluru and carry their academic record with them like a digital passport.
But here's the problem: most students have no idea how to actually use it.
The ABC is a UGC-established digital repository that stores academic credits earned by students across registered higher education institutions (HEIs) in India. Think of it as a bank — except instead of money, it holds verified credit units representing courses you've completed.
Every registered student gets a unique ABC ID. Every course completion gets deposited. Every transfer gets processed through this system.
As of 2024, over 1,000 institutions are registered on the ABC platform — including central universities, IITs, NITs, and a growing number of state universities.
Step 1 — Create Your ABC Account Visit abc.gov.in and register using your DigiLocker credentials. Your ABC ID is generated immediately. This ID is your academic identity across all registered institutions.
Step 2 — Verify Your Institution Is Registered Both your current institution and your target institution must be registered on the ABC platform. Check the live registry on the ABC portal before initiating any transfer request. This is the step most students skip — and regret.
Step 3 — Earn and Deposit Credits Your current institution deposits your completed course credits into your ABC account after each semester. You can view your credit balance anytime on the portal. Credits are categorized as Core, Elective, Skill-Based, or Value-Added — and each category has transfer implications.
Step 4 — Apply for Transfer at Target Institution Contact the admissions or academic office of your target university. Submit your ABC ID and request a Credit Equivalency Assessment. The target institution reviews your deposited credits against their own curriculum framework.
Step 5 — Credit Mapping and Approval The target institution maps your transferred credits to their course equivalents. Not all credits transfer at full value — a 4-credit elective at University A may be recognized as a 3-credit course at University B. Get this mapping document in writing before confirming your transfer.
Step 6 — Formal Enrollment and Credit Adjustment Once approved, you enroll at the new institution. Your transferred credits are formally recognized, reducing the number of courses you need to complete. Your ABC account is updated to reflect the transfer.
You'll typically need your ABC ID and credit statement, original mark sheets and transcripts, a migration certificate from your previous institution, a character certificate, and proof of identity. Some institutions also require a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from your previous university's registrar office — confirm this requirement early.
Assuming all credits transfer equally. They don't. Skill credits, internship credits, and value-added course credits often face partial recognition at receiving institutions.
Not checking ABC registration status. A surprisingly large number of state-affiliated colleges are still unregistered. If your source institution isn't on ABC, your credits aren't digitally deposited — making transfer exponentially harder.
Waiting until the last minute. Credit assessment takes time. Initiating the process at least one full semester before your intended transfer date is the minimum safe window.
Kavya was a second-year B.A. English student at a private university in Hyderabad. Her family relocated to Mumbai. Instead of repeating Year 2, she logged into her ABC account, confirmed both institutions were registered, and submitted her credit statement to the University of Mumbai's admission office. After a two-week equivalency review, 18 of her 22 credits were recognized. She entered Year 3 having lost only one semester's worth of elective credits — not an entire year.
Credit transfer in India is no longer a bureaucratic fantasy. It's a functional, government-backed system — but only for students who understand the process and move proactively. The ABC is the infrastructure. Knowing how to use it is your advantage.