Why in news?
In September 2025 the Union Public Service Commission began verifying candidates’ caste, income and disability certificates through DigiLocker, India’s cloud‑based digital document platform. The initiative highlighted the growing importance of digital verification in government recruitment and service delivery.
What is DigiLocker?
DigiLocker is a flagship initiative of the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology launched in 2015. It provides citizens with a secure digital space to store, issue and share official documents. Each account is linked to the user’s Aadhaar number and offers 1 gigabyte of free cloud storage.
Key features
- Authentic documents: Documents issued through DigiLocker by government departments are considered at par with physical originals under Rule 9A of the Information Technology (Preservation and Retention of Information by Intermediaries Providing Digital Locker Facilities) Rules 2016.
- Easy access: Users can access Aadhaar cards, PAN cards, driving licences, birth certificates, academic mark sheets and insurance policies anytime through the website or mobile app.
- Secure storage: The platform uses 256‑bit SSL encryption and adheres to ISO 27001 standards. Two‑factor authentication ensures that only authorised users can view documents.
- Reduced paperwork: Citizens can share digital certificates with government agencies, banks and employers, reducing the need for photocopies and physical visits.
- Benefits for agencies: Real‑time verification reduces administrative overhead and fraud. Agencies can fetch documents directly from issuers with user consent.
Relevance for aspirants
DigiLocker simplifies document management and supports government initiatives like Digital India and paperless governance. Its adoption by UPSC demonstrates trust in digital authentication. Understanding such e‑governance platforms is important for prelims and mains papers on governance and technology.