A marriage certificate is an official acknowledgement required to carry out many processes. However, one cannot always have a marriage certificate in hand as there is a chance of misplacing it. Hence, DigiLocker offers a safe option to store all important documents.

This article provides a step-by-step guide to adding or downloading a marriage certificate in DigiLocker. Now, let’s look at these steps to understand their importance and how they are beneficial for individuals.

DigiLocker is a government-initiated cloud storage of e-documents of the Ministry of Electronics & IT (MeitY) under the programme ‘Digital India’. On this platform, one can add a marriage certificate or download a certificate directly issued from government institutions.

There are two methods of adding a marriage certificate in this cloud, i.e., via mobile application and the official website:

1. Steps to Add Marriage Certificate From Mobile Application

The following are the steps to add a marriage certificate in DigiLocker:

Step 1: Go to "Playstore" and download the "DigiLocker" application.

Step 2: Open the application.

Step 3: Choose a convenient language.

Step 4: Tap on “Next” until DigiLocker’s Home comes.

Step 5: Click on "Sign Up" if new to this platform, or "Sign In" if already created a username and password.

For signing up, enter your full name, date of birth (according to the Aadhaar card), e-mail ID, mobile number, and Aadhaar details in the blank spaces. Create a 6-digit PIN for a password and submit.

Step 6: After signing up or signing in, tap on the burger menu (three horizontal dashes) from the left side of the screen.

Step 7: Select “Uploaded Documents”.

Step 8: Choose the "Upload" option.

Step 9: The application will ask permission to access your mobile storage.

Step 10: Select the marriage certificate document file from storage.

Step 11: Click on “Upload”.

Step 12: Tap on “Open” to upload the file in DigiLocker.

Step 13: Click on “Save” and select the document type.

Step 14: Select “Save” to register the document type for that certificate.

The marriage certificate will now be available in your DigiLocker app in the "Uploaded Documents" section. As a result, the type of document will be visible on the front of the document.

2. Steps to Add Marriage Certificate From Official Website

To add a marriage certificate in DigiLocker through its official website, proceed as follows:

Step 1: Go to the official website of DigiLocker.

Step 2: Select “Sign Up” if you do not have a username and password, or else "Sign In".

Enter all the details for documentation on the website for signing up as a DigiLocker user and submit. Users will be redirected to the homepage after a separate username and password are created.

Step 3: After successfully signing up or signing in, click on “Uploaded Documents” from DigiLocker’s homepage.

Step 4: Select "Upload" and choose the type of document, for instance, a marriage certificate. If there is no such option in the list, select “Others”.

Step 5: Click on "Files" to select the file from the desktop.

Step 6: Click on “Open” and upload the file.

Step 7: Select "Save" to save the type of document.

Now, the digital version of a marriage certificate is available on DigiLocker’s cloud.

There are some things to keep in mind while adding an important document in DigiLocker. They are as follows:

• The document size should be within 10 MB.
• An individual can get storage of up to 1 GB.
• The file should be in .pdf, .jpeg, .jpg, .bmp, .gif and .png format.

Now, follow these steps to add a marriage certificate or download the certificate in DigiLocker.

Either one can download the DigiLocker application or go to the official website:

Step 1: Click on "Sign Up" to get registered and create a username and password.

Step 2: An OTP will arrive on the phone number linked with the Aadhaar card for verification.

Step 3: Click on “Submit” to allow.

Step 4: Proceed to the "Search Documents" tab on the left side of the web page.

Step 5: Go to the list of “State Government” and select “View All”.

Step 6: Choose the State.

Step 7: Go to the search bar and write “marriage certificate”.

Step 8: Tap on “Marriage Certificate” and enter all the details of marriage registration.

Step 9: Go to the checkbox and move forward to “Get Document”.

Now, the marriage certificate will be available in the DigiLocker account in PDF form. Save the document for future usage.

Presently, individuals can easily download their marriage certificate online through DigiLockers in some states. These states include:

• Jammu and Kashmir
• Himachal Pradesh
• Madhya Pradesh
• Chandigarh
• Delhi
• Arunachal Pradesh
• Assam
• Meghalaya
• Tripura
• Sikkim
• Odisha
• Jharkhand
• Chhattisgarh
• Kerala
• Tamil Nadu
• Rajasthan
• Punjab

The importance of e-documents is increasing with the rising demand for paperless governance in government and private institutions. Also, countries outside India do not acknowledge traditional marriages.

A marriage certificate plays a crucial role in establishing the relationship between two individuals after their wedding. This evidence of marriage provides security for both parties. Moreover, since it is uploaded online in DigiLocker you can easily use it for the following purposes:

• Provides validation for marriage.
• Gives access while applying for passports or visas for both husband and wife.
• It can be used to apply for a joint bank account digitally.
• Helps in claiming life insurance or savings deposits online in the demise of the depositor without a nominee.
• Makes administrative work hassle free as the digital marriage certificate allows you to digitally apply for government schemes and services.
• Allows you to have a digital certificate on the go without having to worry about losing the physical certificate.

DigiLocker is a flagship initiative of the government to empower citizens. The verified marriage certificate shared via DigiLocker is treated as an original document as per the Rule 9A of Information Technology. Thus, it caters for a large number of benefits to the citizens. These include:

• Easy Exchange: Individuals can easily share the marriage certificate over digital platforms if there is an internet connection.
• Fast Service: One can experience a comparatively faster delivery service on government benefits, such as financial inclusions and others.
• Authentic Document: DigiLocker provides a reliable source of authentic documents like a marriage certificate that is legally at par with the original hard copies.
• Easily Available: One's e-document of marriage registration is readily available everywhere.
• Consumer Friendly: DigiLocker is a secure online platform for storing and sharing marriage certificates with a simple interface.

A marriage certificate is legal proof of marriage under the Special Marriage Act and the Hindu Marriage Act in India. Here, DigiLocker offers a convenient way for users to safely keep their important documents. Individuals can opt for adding a marriage certificate in DigiLocker through all the discussed stages of uploading or downloading. So, follow it carefully to avoid any mistakes.