DigiLocker – How can Educational Institutions leverage it?

An enthralling article by

Amit Ranjan,

'Nandan Nilekani of PM Narendra Modi'

To avail any government service today, you need to visit the corresponding government office and provide few documents – your proof of identification, proof of address and other supporting documents. Imagine a future where you do not have to visit a government office to avail any government service. What if you can provide your proof of identity and supporting documents using mobile phone and internet? This may happen sooner that we realize. Aadhaar with its electronic authentication service has already provided a solution to tender your proof of identity remotely. Now DigiLocker is filling in the gap to provide supporting documents in digital manner. DigiLocker not only aims at providing authentic digital documents to citizens but also facilitates digital delivery of e-Governance services.

What is DigiLocker?

DigiLockeris a key initiative under Digital India, Government of India's flagship program aimed at transforming India into a digitally empowered society and knowledge economy.

DigiLocker is available at https://digilocker.gov.in. A DigiLocker Android and iOSappsare also available.

How does it Work?

Indian citizens who sign up for DigiLocker get a dedicated account in cloud. Citizens receive their authentic digital documents in their DigiLocker. Government departments and organizations as issuers can issue and verify documents and certificates digitally and thus eliminate the use of physical documents and promote paperless governance. Citizens can store scanned copies of their documents and access those anytime. They can also share the documents online with government departments to avail government services in a speedier manner.

Many documents including Aadhaar, Driving License, Vehicle Registration, LPG Subscription Vouchers,PAN Verification Record, Educational Certificates, Birth Certificate, Income Certificate etc. are now available in DigiLocker in digital format.The issued documents in DigiLocker are directly made available in citizens' locker from the issuer repository through a secure mechanism. Any updated to your documents will immediately reflect in the certificate in your DigiLocker account. So, if your marksheet is updated, the updates on the marksheet will automatically reflect in your DigiLocker account. The Ministry of Electronics and IT has also made necessary amendments in the IT Act through Digital Locker Rules so that the documents made available through Digital Locker can be treated at par with the original paper documents.

Sounds exciting? Here's how you sign up for DigiLocker:

1. First you provide your mobile number. You mobile number will be validated through a onetime pin (OTP).
2. You then create a username and password for your DigiLocker account.
3. You will be given an option to link your Aadhaar with DigiLocker. If you link your Aadhaar, you will get access to authentic documents such as Aadhaar and digital driving license. You also get a facility to electronically sign the documents uploaded by you for digital self attestation.

Over 1 crore citizens have already signed up on DigiLocker. Many important documents from various departments of central and state government are now available in DigiLocker. Following are some significant of them: 

50 departments and organizations from various central and state departments are already issuing digital certificates through DigiLocker and many are in the process. DigiLocker is being adopted in innovative ways to make citizens lives hassle free.

DigiLocker usage in the Education Sector

Lately, DigiLocker has been focusing a lot on educational documents since students are the future of New India. Students of present generation are technology savvy and adopt any new technology with ease. These educational documents combined with other documents available on DigiLocker will enable the students to avail various online government/private services such as eDistrict applications, passport application, employment exchange, document verification, background verification etc. from their home itself. It'll not only save time but also ensures that the documents are shared securely with no involvement of any third party.

Educational Institutions start using DigiLocker

The marksheets/certificates issued through DigiLocker are also Digitally Signed to ensure highest level of authenticity.Organizations such as CBSE, CISCE, State/Technical Boards such as Maharashtra, Haryana, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, and Bihar are already on-board DigiLocker and many more are in advance stages of integration. DigiLocker is working in the direction wherein students will be able to apply for admissions to higher education across India with their authentic DigiLocker documents.

A startup named NoPaperForms is already providing online admissions for its client universities namely SRM University (Chennai), Bennett University (Greater Noida), Manav Rachna International University etc. Very soon students will be able to apply for education loans through banks using DigiLocker issued documents itself.

To know how educational institutions can use DigiLocker, please see this embedded presentation below: 

​Amit Ranjan

Advisor SCCNCo-Founder of Slide ShareAn architect for DigiLocker and Openforge, 

the National e-Governance Division,Ministry of Electronics & IT, Government of India