What is the Use of DigiLocker and its Importance?

Personal documents like PAN, Aadhaar, or driving licence are important anytime and anywhere. People have to carry them knowing the risks of losing. However, DigiLocker makes it easier with government-initiated cloud storage of documents and certificates for free. It stores a range of accessible important documents verifying their credentials. Thus, it is a legally valid application for issuance and verification in a paperless way.

Now, let’s find out the uses of DigiLocker to understand the varied purposes it serves. This article discusses DigiLocker usage and its benefits while filling out applications.

DigiLocker is an Indian Government's flagship program that aims to end the usage of hard copies. It provides a dedicated cloud storage place linked to the Aadhaar card. Moreover, these digital documents are treated as valid as per the Indian Information Technology Act 2000.

Furthermore, Rule 9 A of The Information Technology (Preservation & Retention of Information by Intermediaries Providing DigiLocker Facilities) of 2016 confirms that DigiLocker documents will hold the same value as original physical documents.

Let’s look at these uses of DigiLocker:

• Online Access: DigiLocker offers an online account of 1 GB to every user with Aadhaar holders. An individual can upload multiple files online, each of 10 MB maximum.
• Cloud Wallet: This cloud storage wallet safely stores government-issued documents in one place.
• E-Sign Facility: Users can upload their original documents and store their digital signatures through an e-sign facility.
• Hassle-Free Access: Individuals can share these e-documents from their cloud storage with agencies anytime and from anywhere.
• Fast Service: DigiLocker allows faster services regarding government certificates verifying an individual’s credentials.
• Health Record Storage: Digilocker keeps health records of issuers with their consent under Ayushman Bharat ID (ABHA ID).
• Educational Certificates: It provides digital copies of pass certificates and mark sheets of ICSE and ISC examinations, according to the Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations (CISCE).
• Several IDs at One Place: DigiLocker consumers do not need to carry several physical IDs or digital IDs from multiple applications.

These uses of DigiLocker will help one better understand the flagship initiative of the Ministry of Electronics & IT (MeitY) under Government’s Digital India programme. Now, let’s dive into how to use this cloud wallet.

Individuals can register themselves on DigiLocker wallet with their mobile number and Aadhaar number. However, for anyone who is starting to use DigiLocker, its registration process goes as follows:

Step 1: Go to the DigiLocker website or download its application on your mobile phone.

Step 2: Click on "Sign Up" at the top of the page.

Step 3: Enter a mobile number, then click on "Continue".

Step 4: Now, set a username and password with the given instruction and click on "Sign Up" to create an account.

Step 5: Enter the Aadhaar number on the box and submit the Aadhaar details.

DigiLocker has associated with some government and central government institutions for the citizens’ readily accessibility of digital documents. These documents include:

• UIDAI Aadhaar Verification Record
• Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) for mark sheets of classes 10 and 12
• The Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations (CISCE) for mark sheets of classes 10 and 12
• Digital Driving License (DL) and Vehicle Registration Certificates (RC) by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways
• PAN Verification Record
• Voter ID
• Ration Card
• Passport
• Birth Certificate
• Covid Vaccination Certificate

These uses of DigiLocker reduce the practice of carrying several physical or digital identity records. As a consumer of DigiLocker, one has to memorise the login information to access the documents. Some places or situations that require these identity-verifying documents are:

• For a passport application
• To secure government benefits
• For domestic and international travel
• To get a mobile phone SIM card
• To apply for a job
• For educational registration

These benefits of DigiLocker ease the modern lifestyle aiming for paperless governance both for users and the government. According to the DigiLocker National Statistics, 137.39 Million users have registered themselves in this programme.

This government initiative of the DigiLocker application emphasises Digital India's empowerment. This digital wallet allows sharing of electronic documents with government agencies. Further benefits that citizens and government agencies can enjoy are as follows:

Benefits of Citizens:

1. Easy Access: One can access an important document from anywhere at any time.
2. Easy Document Exchange: One can easily exchange digital documents with others.
3. Authenticate Document: An individual can authenticate documents equally as original physical documents.
4. Faster Service Delivery: Faster service of delivery on Govern Benefits, Education, Employment, Financial Inclusion and Health.
5. Simple Usage: It has a simple, secure and customer-friendly interface.

Benefits of Agencies:

• Reduced Administrative Overhead: Eliminating the physical use of documents, this initiative minimises administrative overhead by reducing the use of paper and lessening the verification procedure.
• Reliable Document Gateway: DigiLocker offers reliable issued documents directly from issuing organisations.
• Real-Time Verification: It enables real-time verification from issuers after a user consents.
• Secure Documents Exchange: DigiLocker allows a secure document exchange between a reliable issuer and verifier or requester with an individual’s consent.