Use DigiLocker to upload, share and validate documents

This will reduce paper trail and tampering of documents

When applying for a bank loan or for college admissions today, you have to submit multiple copies of your income tax (I-T) certificate, marksheet, migration certificates, passport, etc. Many a time the original documents get damaged. There is also a fear of tampering if the documents go through unknown people. These issues can be solved using the DigiLocker. This is a service provided by the Government of India for issuing and storing documents in digital form. Using this facility, individuals can access documents issued by various government agencies, upload documents, self-attest these by e-signing and share documents as and when required.

Currently, the Digilocker has 31 issuer organisations and nine requestor organisations. There are 7.6 million registered users and 9.4 million uploaded documents. Though the service has been in existence for over a year, there is not enough awareness about it. 

How it works: DigiLocker is aimed at the concept of paperless governance. A document can be directly issued into the DigiLocker. For instance, the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has been instructed to issue marksheets directly into the DigiLockers of students. The marksheet will be visible in that particular folder of the individual student. When the student wants to apply to a college, he has to share his DigiLocker link with the college. The college authorities will be able to see the marksheet in the folder, with the consent of the student. Since it is issued by CBSE, the college will know it is authentic and approve the admission. Similarly, passport authorities will issue soft copies of passports, rationing authorities will issue soft copies of ration cards, etc, into the DigiLocker. 

You can also scan your marksheet and upload it yourself. The maximum file size that can be uploaded is 10MB. The type of files that can be uploaded include PDF, JPEG and PMG. When you want to submit your marksheet to a college, you can attest it using e-sign. This is done with Aadhaar number. Using DigiLocker individuals can access their documents anywhere, anytime and share it online. 

“The aim behind the DigiLocker is to reduce the pace at which documents move and approvals happen. This has also reduced the chances of the documents being tampered,” says Amit Jaju, partner, fraud investigation and dispute services, EY India.

The individual has to give permission for the document to be accessed and viewed. A lot of institutions will have read only access, based on your approval. You will get an e-mail saying these people have requested, please approve. Once approved they can access the documents. Since it is a read only document, it is not a problem. Since the document in the locker is issued by a government authority, those viewing it can be sure it is valid. “In physical attestation, there is still a probability of fraud and tampering. But in DigiLocker, the certificate is directly issued by originator or issuer,” explains Jaju.

Today, to get a DigiLocker an Aadhaar number is a must. You have to register using your mobile number. Once you register, you have to link your Aadhaar number to it. Or if your bank permits, you can access it using your net banking account, provided you have linked your bank account with your Aadhaar number. 

Going ahead, banks could directly issue statements in the DigiLocker, once all accounts are linked to Aadhaar, says Deepak Sharma, chief digital officer, Kotak Mahindra Bank.

“Right now, we are trying to get more customers to adopt DigiLocker. In the next stage, we will take basic customer consent to provide other documents, which customers can give either to their employer, hospital, bank and also include other records in the Digilocker,’’ he says. 

The service is not restricted to identity documents. Individuals can upload any kind of document, sign it and share it. For instance, salary slips or rental receipts. If a non-government entity, say a bank or a corporate, wants to become either an issuer or a requestor, they have to seek DigiLocker’s approval. Once that is done, they can issue documents directly into the DigiLocker. So, a bank could issue statements or a company could issue salary slips directly into the DigiLocker. 

Safety and legal validity: It is as safe or vulnerable as Aadhaar, says Abhishek Sharma, co-founder, Innefu Labs, a cyber-security start-up. “One major issue for any password-based authentication is in terms of phishing attack. In this regard, Aadhaar is kind of phishing proof because it is a dynamic password, not a static one. It is an OTP that will change after every usage. Whenever you access DigiLocker and any link on DigiLocker, check the validity of the certificate of the issuing authority,’’ he explains.

And, make sure you give consent to or share a document with the right authority or person. Observe basic security-related hygiene, adds Sharma.