DigiLocker is a digital document wallet launched by the Government of India as part of its Digital India initiative. It provides a secure cloud platform where Indian citizens can store, access, and share digitized versions of important documents like educational certificates, ID proofs, vehicle registrations, etc.
The idea is to reduce reliance on paper-based documents and make document verification easier, faster, and more reliable. Issued documents in DigiLocker by government agencies are considered legally equivalent to physical originals under Indian law (per the Digital Locker Rules).
Why Did the Government Create DigiLocker?
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Paperless Governance: One of the main aims is to make governance more efficient and environmentally friendly by reducing paper usage. (Dictionary of India)
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Secure and Authentic Storage: It provides a trusted place for citizens to store documents that are issued by government or other trusted institutions. (GKToday)
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Easy Sharing & Verification: Through DigiLocker, users can share their documents digitally with requesting agencies, and those agencies can verify the documents directly with the issuing authorities — all with the user’s consent.
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Digital Identity Integration: It leverages Aadhaar for identity verification and secure sign-up. (Financial Express)
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Support for e-Sign: Users can digitally sign their uploaded documents using the eSign facility, making them legally valid and easier to share. (img1.digitallocker.gov.in)
Key Features of DigiLocker
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Secure & Private
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Documents are stored in a secure public cloud, and access is based on the user's consent. (Dictionary of India)
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DigiLocker does not read or interpret your stored documents; it's built with a privacy-centric architecture.
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Uses SSL encryption to secure data in transit.
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There’s a time-out feature: if the app is idle for a while, it logs out automatically.
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Anywhere, Anytime Access
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You can access your documents via mobile (Android or iOS) or through a web browser. (Wikipedia)
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This makes it very convenient: no need to carry physical documents all the time.
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Document Issuance & Upload
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Issuer organisations (like educational boards or government departments) can directly push e-documents into your locker. (Financial Express)
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You can also upload your own documents (e.g., scanned certificates, images) into your DigiLocker. (GKToday)
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Shareable Documents
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You can share documents securely with registered requesters (like government agencies or private organisations) with your permission.
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The shared document remains verifiable because its authenticity is backed by DigiLocker’s infrastructure.
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Legal Validity
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Documents issued via DigiLocker are legally acceptable under Digital Locker Rules, 2016.
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The e-sign facility adds another layer of legal validity when you digitally sign self-uploaded documents. (img1.digitallocker.gov.in)
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How to Use DigiLocker: Step-by-Step
Here’s a simple guide to start using DigiLocker:
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Sign Up / Create an Account
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Visit the DigiLocker website or download the mobile app. (img1.digitallocker.gov.in)
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You can sign up using your Aadhaar number (recommended), where you’ll get OTP-based verification. (Financial Express)
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If you don’t use Aadhaar, there are other ways to verify identity (depending on your mobile number and address proof).
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Set a PIN / Secure Your Account
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Once signed in, set a 6-digit PIN for quick access.
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This PIN helps ensure that even if someone gets physical access to your phone, they cannot open your locker without the PIN.
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Fetch Issued Documents
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From the app or site, go to the “Issued Documents” section.
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You’ll find a list of “Issuing Agencies” (for example, CBSE for mark sheets, Ministry of Road Transport, etc.). (GKToday)
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Choose the document (e.g., mark sheet), and with a few clicks + OTP, you can fetch it into your locker.
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Upload Your Own Documents
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Go to the “Uploaded Documents” section in DigiLocker.
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Upload scanned copies or photos of your documents (PDF, JPEG, etc.). (Tax2win)
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Optionally, you can use the eSign facility to sign the document digitally. (img1.digitallocker.gov.in)
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Share Documents
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When a requesting agency needs a document, they can ask you for access.
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You approve which document to share, and the agency can fetch a verified version.
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Shared documents are secured and verifiable because they come "from DigiLocker" rather than a random upload.
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Benefits of Using DigiLocker
Using DigiLocker comes with many advantages for both citizens and government / organisations.
For Citizens:
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Always Accessible: No need to carry physical certificates; you access them whenever needed.
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Safe from Loss or Damage: Physical documents can be lost, torn, or damaged. In DigiLocker, they remain safe.
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Legally Valid: e-documents from DigiLocker are legally recognized, just like the physical ones. (Financial Express)
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Easy Sharing: Sharing documents for government forms, college applications, or job applications becomes much simpler.
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Green & Eco‑friendly: Reduces paper usage significantly. (Dictionary of India)
For Government / Agencies:
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Efficiency: Since documents are issued digitally and verified online, the administrative process becomes faster.
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Cost Saving: Less paper, less physical storage, and fewer verifications reduce overall cost. (Tax2win)
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Trusted Verification: Agencies can rely on DigiLocker-verified documents, reducing fraud. (GKToday)
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Secure Exchange: DigiLocker acts as a “document gateway” where issuers and requesters exchange documents in a secure way.
Is DigiLocker Safe?
Security is one of the biggest concerns when storing important documents. Here’s what makes DigiLocker relatively safe, and what are some concerns:
Safety Measures:
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Uses SSL encryption to secure data transmission.
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Accounts are linked to your Aadhaar or verified mobile number, making impersonation harder. (Financial Express)
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Session timeout: If you don’t use the app for some time, it logs you out automatically. (Tax2win)
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The infrastructure is audited and adheres to certain international security standards. (BankBazaar)
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User retains full ownership of uploaded content; DigiLocker does not “read” or analyze your documents.
Some Criticisms / Risks:
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A few users on Reddit have raised concerns about whether DigiLocker uses zero-knowledge encryption (i.e., whether the service itself can access content). > “Personal cloud providers always mention… but digilocker never mentions anything like these … Strange!” (Reddit)
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Inactive or old sessions might pose security risks if not managed properly by the user.
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As with any cloud service, there’s always some risk of a breach, though there has been no widely confirmed major data leak publicly acknowledged.
Legal & Regulatory Status
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The Digital Locker Rules, 2016 (and its 2017 amendment) provide the legal framework. Under Rule 9A, e-documents stored in DigiLocker that are “issued” by registered issuers are legally valid.
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User data privacy is taken seriously. According to DigiLocker’s terms of use, they don’t analyze the content of your stored documents.
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There are no user charges for accessing issued documents through DigiLocker.
Real‑World Uses & Impact
Here are some real and practical ways how people use DigiLocker — and its benefits in real life:
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Education: Students fetch their mark sheets, certificates, migration certificates from boards/universities via DigiLocker. These are used for college admissions, job applications, etc.
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Transport: Driving licenses and vehicle registration certificates (RC) can be stored in DigiLocker, making it easier to share or show when needed. (GKToday)
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Government Services: Many government requests for identity / address / educational proof can now be handled via DigiLocker instead of physical papers.
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Pensioners: For example, in Maharashtra the government has started linking pension payment orders (e-PPOs) to DigiLocker, so pensioners can access their documents online. (The Times of India)
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Utility Payments: Some services now allow you to pay utility bills (like electricity) through DigiLocker, using the documents stored there.
Challenges & Adoption Issues
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Despite its benefits, adoption has been slower than expected in the past. For example, reports suggested that in early years less than 0.1% of Indians were actively using it.
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Some users report technical issues: fetching marksheets or other documents sometimes fails, according to Reddit users. > “When I am trying to fetch my marksheet … it is showing ‘Operation failed. Kindly try again’” (Reddit)
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Because the platform depends on issuers (like schools, government departments) to integrate with DigiLocker, not all institutions may support issuing e‑documents via DigiLocker.
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Internet connectivity is necessary to use DigiLocker effectively — in areas with poor internet, access may be limited.
Future Potential
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Business / Enterprise Use: DigiLocker is not just for individuals — there’s an “Entity Locker” model for companies, MSMEs, and other organisations to store and share business-critical documents securely. (NCEG)
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More Issuer Organisations: Over time, more government departments, educational boards, regulatory bodies can join DigiLocker, increasing its usefulness.
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Advanced Security: Researchers have proposed using advanced encryption schemes (like attribute-based encryption) to make DigiLocker even more privacy-preserving. (arXiv)
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Greater Public Awareness: With more awareness, more citizens can start using DigiLocker for everyday document needs — from applying for jobs to availing government services — making governance more efficient.
Tips to Use DigiLocker Effectively
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Always verify your mobile number & Aadhaar: Makes signing in and fetching documents smoother.
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Set a strong PIN: Prevents unauthorized access to your locker.
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Use eSign for important documents: When you upload self-scanned documents, e-sign them to increase their trustworthiness.
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Regularly clean up: Remove old or redundant uploaded documents to keep your locker tidy.
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Be careful while sharing: Only share documents with trusted entities and always review which document you're approving for sharing.
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Log out after use: Especially on shared or public devices, log out to prevent misuse.
Conclusion
DigiLocker is a powerful and forward-thinking digital public infrastructure developed by the Government of India. It helps citizens securely store, access, and share important documents anytime, anywhere — while promoting paperless governance.
Although there are some challenges (like slower-than-expected adoption, occasional technical issues, and user concerns about security), its advantages are very compelling. As more institutions join the platform and more people become aware of it, DigiLocker’s role in simplifying documentation, improving trust, and reducing fraud is likely to grow significantly.
For any Indian citizen dealing with important certificates, ID proofs, or government services — DigiLocker can become a very valuable tool in your digital life.