The terms that come up in every institutional software conversation
24 definitions, written for somebody who has to make a decision rather than pass an exam. If a vendor uses one of these without explaining it, this is what they meant.
ABC
Academic Bank of Credits
A national store of course credits a student has earned, so credits move with them between institutions under NEP 2020.
Relevant to: Higher education
AICTE
All India Council for Technical Education
The national regulator for technical and management education. Approves institutions and programmes, and requires an annual data return.
Relevant to: Engineering, management and pharmacy institutions
AISHE
All India Survey on Higher Education
The annual government survey every higher education institution files, covering enrolment, staff, infrastructure and finance.
Relevant to: All higher education institutions
APAAR
Automated Permanent Academic Account Registry
A permanent lifelong ID for each learner, linking their academic records across institutions. Sometimes called the "One Nation One Student ID".
Relevant to: Schools and higher education
AQAR
Annual Quality Assurance Report
The yearly report an accredited institution submits to NAAC covering its quality initiatives for that year.
Relevant to: NAAC-accredited institutions
Bonafide certificate
A letter confirming a person is a currently enrolled student. Requested constantly, usually for a bank, visa or scholarship application.
Relevant to: Schools and higher education
CO / PO / PSO
Course, Programme and Programme Specific Outcomes
The statements of what a student should be able to do after a course or programme. Attainment is measured from real assessment marks and reported to accreditors.
Relevant to: Colleges and universities
DEB
Distance Education Bureau
The UGC body that recognises institutions offering distance and online programmes.
Relevant to: Institutions with online or distance programmes
DigiLocker
The government document wallet. Boards and universities issue marksheets into it, so a document shared from DigiLocker arrives already carrying the issuer signature.
Relevant to: Schools and higher education
DLT
Distributed Ledger Technology registration
The TRAI registration every sender and template must have before commercial SMS can be delivered in India.
Relevant to: Anyone sending SMS to families
DVV
Data Validation and Verification
The NAAC stage where submitted data is checked against evidence before the peer team visit.
Relevant to: Institutions undergoing NAAC assessment
ERP
Enterprise Resource Planning
In education, the system covering everything after admission: academics, attendance, examinations, fees, payroll, hostel, transport and stores.
Relevant to: All institutions
Internal assessment
Marks earned during the term from tests, assignments and practicals, as opposed to the final examination.
Relevant to: Schools and higher education
IQAC
Internal Quality Assurance Cell
The internal team responsible for quality processes and for assembling accreditation evidence.
Relevant to: NAAC-accredited institutions
LMS
Learning Management System
Where teaching content, assignments and online assessment live. Distinct from an ERP, which holds the official record.
Relevant to: Institutions delivering blended or online teaching
Management quota
Seats an institution fills at its own discretion, within the limits its regulator sets, separately from the central counselling process.
Relevant to: Private colleges
NAAC
National Assessment and Accreditation Council
The body that grades higher education institutions. Assessment runs across seven criteria and results in a CGPA and grade.
Relevant to: Colleges and universities
NAD
National Academic Depository
The national store of issued academic awards, so degrees and marksheets can be verified digitally.
Relevant to: Higher education
NBA
National Board of Accreditation
Programme-level accreditation for technical disciplines, focused on outcome attainment rather than the institution as a whole.
Relevant to: Engineering and technical programmes
NEP 2020
National Education Policy 2020
The policy introducing multiple entry and exit points, credit banking and multidisciplinary study. Its practical effect is on how student records must be structured.
Relevant to: Schools and higher education
SIS
Student Information System
The system of record for the academic side of a student: enrolment, timetable, attendance and marks. Often used interchangeably with ERP.
Relevant to: All institutions
SSR
Self-Study Report
The document an institution submits to NAAC describing itself against the seven criteria, with evidence attached.
Relevant to: Institutions undergoing NAAC assessment
Supernumerary seats
Seats added above the sanctioned intake for specific categories, counted and reported separately.
Relevant to: Colleges and universities
Transfer certificate
The document issued when a student leaves, required before another institution can admit them.
Relevant to: Schools
Regulatory frameworks change. Always check the current manual or notification that applies to your category of institution.
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Send us a sample before the call: a term of enquiries, a fee structure, or a class list. We load it and set up your programmes, so you see your own institution on screen rather than a demo account.
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