National Academic Depository review
A focused, free platform for academic award storage, retrieval, consent-based sharing, and verification.
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
National Academic Depository (NAD) is a government-backed online repository for academic awards. It serves academic institutions that lodge and publish digital records, students retrieving awards through DigiLocker, and authorized employers or other entities verifying records with student consent. Supported documents include digital certificates, degrees, diplomas, mark sheets, and evaluation reports, with standardized templates for published records.
NAD’s pricing is straightforward: the Free plan covers the digital repository, access to academic awards, and issuing, accessing, verifying, and validating records. There are no paid tiers to compare. The platform runs on the web and connects with DigiLocker for student retrieval and API Setu for API-based verification access by authorized verifier organizations. That combination fits institutions and verification partners working within India’s academic-record ecosystem, while the web-only delivery keeps the product centered on browser-based access rather than a wider application platform.
The product’s strongest focus is the academic award lifecycle, from institutional publication and secure storage to retrieval, consent-based sharing, and verification. Its scope makes it a sensible choice for universities, colleges, boards, training institutions, students, and verification partners that need standardized academic records and controlled access. Organizations seeking custom branding or a broader credentialing system beyond academic awards may need a different option. NAD is best suited to structured academic-document workflows where DigiLocker retrieval, authorized verification, and API access matter more than branded credential presentation.
National Academic Depository pros and cons
- Where it wins
- Free access for issuing, accessing, verifying, and validating awards
- DigiLocker retrieval and consent-based record sharing
- API-based verification through API Setu integration
- Where it doesn't
- No custom branding for published records
- Web platform only
- Focused on academic awards rather than broader credentials
National Academic Depository fact sheet, pricing and score →
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