DigiLocker’s Digital Revolution: Secure Docs

In the fast-paced digital world where every byte counts, picture DigiLocker as your virtual safe haven, crafted by brilliant minds at the Indian government. It’s not just a storage space; it’s your digital safe genie, safeguarding your important documents and making them easily accessible anytime, anywhere. 

This blog takes you on an exciting journey into the world of DigiLocker, uncovering its amazing features that turn document management into a smooth and effortless process. We’ll also explore how it plays a crucial role in simplifying investment management, making your financial life much easier to handle. 

What is DigiLocker? 

DigiLocker is a secure cloud-based, digitization service offered by the Indian Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) as a part of the Digital India initiative. It enables users to view digital versions of different crucial documents. 

Users can also scan and upload old documents to the platform, which allocates 1 GB of storage space per account. 

Launch Date: 1 July, 2015 

What Documents can You Store in DigiLocker? 

DigiLocker allows users to store a wide range of documents, like: 

• Personal identification documents (PAN, Aadhaar, e.t.c.) 
• Educational Certificates  
• Vehicle Registration and driving license 
• Insurance policies 
• Investment documents 
• And many more 

Key Features of the App 

• 256 Bit SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) Encryption: It secures data transmission by encrypting it with a highly complex key, ensuring privacy, authenticity, and data integration between users and websites. It converts data into a code to prevent unauthorized access. Only the intended recipient can decrypt and read the data. 

• Mobile Authentication based sign-up: Verifies user identity through an OTP sent to the linked mobile number. 

• ISO 27001 certified Data Centre: A facility that follows international standards for managing information security, ensuring strong data protection with systematic risk management and strict security measures. 

• Data Redundancy: Ensures data backup and recovery in case of data loss or corruption. 

• Timed Log-out: Automatically logs out after a specified period of inactivity. 

• Security Audit: Regularly monitors and evaluates the security posture on platform. 

Uses of DigiLocker 

• Digital Documents: Access digital versions of documents issued by government departments and other agencies. 

• Uploaded Documents: Upload scanned copies of legacy documents up to 10MB. Supported file type includes pdf, jpeg, png, bmp, and gif. 

• My Profile: View your complete profile as stored in the UIDAI database. 

• My Issuer: See the names of issuers and the number of documents issued to you by each issuer.  

• My Requester: View the names of requesters and the number of documents requested from you by each requester. 

• Directories: Access a comprehensive list of registered issuers and requesters, including their URLs. 

6 Easy Steps to Create a DigiLocker Account 

Step 1: Visit the official website https://www.digilocker.gov.in/ 

Step 2: Click on the “Sign-up” or “Register” button. 

Step 3: Enter your mobile number to receive an OTP for verification. Input the OTP to verify your identity. 

Step 4: Create a username and password for your account. 

Step 5:  The app will ask for identity proof. At that time, you can submit Aadhaar and other documents. Linking Aadhaar unlocks more documents and services. 

Step 6: Go to “Upload documents” section. Choose files from your device, assign a document type and name, and save them. 

Additional Tips 

• Ensure you have an internet connection to access DigiLocker. 
• Note that not all institutions may accept DigiLocker documents yet, but times are changing. 
• For full access, link and verify your Aadhaar number with an OTP sent to your registered mobile number. 
• You cannot make a DigiLocker account offline. 

Using DigiLocker for KYC Verification at Bullsmart

If you are using the Bullsmart app for investments, completing the KYC verification process is a walk in the park with DigiLocker.

Just follow these steps and you’ll have it done:

Step 1

After entering the bank details in the Bullsmart app, you will be redirected to the DigiLocker page.

Step 2

The DigiLocker page will prompt you to share documents easily with Bullsmart.

Step 3

You will be asked to share your consent for sharing you Aadhaar number, date of birth, and name with the Income Tax Department, GOI, to fetch the PAN card into DigiLocker.

Step 4

Once consent is given, you will be asked to authorize DIGIO to pull documents from DigiLocker and share them with Skywards Investec Pvt. Ltd.

Step 5

You will then receive an option to authenticate your Aadhaar.

Step 6

Enter your Aadhaar details.

Step 7

Enter CAPTCHA.

Step 8

After entering both Aadhaar and CAPTCHA, the client will receive an OTP on their linked mobile number to authenticate Aadhaar. You will receive a 6-digit OTP from UIDAI.

Step 10

Set your DigiLocker security pin of 6-digits.

Step 11

After sharing all the details, you must provide your consent to share the documents (Aadhaar & PAN) with Digitech Solutions Pvt. Ltd.

Step 12

You will get two options on your screen: allow or deny. Once you give your consent, you will receive a confirmation text of your KYC getting completed.

Step 13

You will be directed to the next page in the account opening process.

Building a Digital India: One Step at a Time 

DigiLocker plays a  pivotal role within the Digital India initiative, aimed at modernizing India through digital empowerment. It provides secure online storage space, where individuals can store a variety of documents. By transitioning these documents into a digital format, DigiLocker simplifies accessibility and enhances transparency and efficiency.  

It ensures the authenticity of documents through electronic signatures and verification, revolutionizing the way people manage and interact with their important paperwork in a safe and convenient digital space. 

Bridging the Digital Divide: DigiLocker Empowering Rural India 

Based on recent data, DigiLocker significantly benefits rural India despite lower literacy rates compared to urban areas. With a significant chunk of rural Indians not actively using the internet, initiatives like Digital Bharat aims to boost digital literacy and inclusion. DigiLocker hosts more than 6.73 billion digital documents, crucial for rural populations lacking physical access to documents. 

By digitizing storage and verification, DigiLocker reduces administrative burdens and ensures document authenticity through electronic verification. Integrated with Aadhaar , which supports over 1.2 billion users as of 2024, DigiLocker facilitates accessibility and adoption in rural areas, fostering digital empowerment and economic growth. 

Key Statistics for DigiLocker and Digital India 

Category	2014	2016	2018	2020	2022	2024
Internet Penetration	13.5%	16.5%	28.5%	43.5%	48.1%	52.4%
Internet Consumption Per Individual	1.5 GB	4.5 GB	8.5 GB	12.5 GB	16.1 GB	20.5 GB
DigiLocker Users	–	1.2 million	12 million	38.1 million	139.4 million	289.79 million
DigiLocker Documents Issued	–	0.0112 billion	2.412 billion	3.75 billion`	5.59 billion	6.74 billion
DigiLocker Storage Space	100 MB	1 GB	1 GB	1 GB	1 GB	1 GB

Source of images: https://www.digilocker.gov.in/statistics 

Source of images: https://www.digilocker.gov.in/statistics 

DigiLocker Making Investments Easier 

Its all about making investments smoother and the process simpler for people by securely managing digital paperwork, cutting down on paperwork headaches, and speeding up how quickly we get things done.  

Here’s how DigiLocker is stepping up: 

Streamlining KYC 

• You can securely store and share your ID and address docs, making the KYC process much faster. 
• With DigiLocker, getting your KYC done barely takes 15 mins of your time, compared to 3-5 days traditional approaches. 

More Docs Means More Services 

• DigiLocker keeps expanding its collection of digital docs to include things like health certificates and transport papers. 
• As of June 2024, it’s already issued more than 1.5 billion documents, from PAN cards to driving licenses. 

Good for Businesses Too 

• There’s an “Entity DigiLocker” for small businesses, big companies, and non-profits (like NGOs). It’s a secure spot to keep and share their important papers. 
• Using DigiLocker can slash the cost of checking-out a business (KYC) by a lot, especially for small businesses. 

Smarter KYC Checks 

• DigiLocker uses a smart way to verify who you are, based on the risks involved. It’s accurate and can speed up the process. 
• This helps companies that lend money cover more kinds of people, do their jobs quicker, and save money too–like up to half! 

Reaching More People, Spending Less 

• By using DigiLocker, companies can reach more people with their services, spending less money along the way. 
• For instance, Indifi Technologies has given out over 47,000 loans in more than 650 cities. DigiLocker helps them do that better, especially in places where it’s hard to find banking help. 

Saving Money for Everyone 

• With DigiLocker, getting all your paperwork in order costs less. Companies that lend money can save up to 20% when they use it, which means that they can lend more to small businesses. 

DigiLocker in the Farming Sector 

• DigiLocker also helps farmers know more about what’s happening in the market. That helps them make better choices about what to grow and how to sell it. 
• It’s a big help as the climate changes, making sure farmer’s don’t lose their crops and get more out of what they grow–up to 20% more, in fact! 

You thought that was it? Well, no. 

DigiLocker Empowering our Protectors! 

According to recent reports and the Ministry of Defence’s announcement, the Indian Air Force (IAF) has embarked on a transformative digital journey by integrating with the DigiLocker platform. This integration, celebrated at a ceremony in Air Headquarters, Vayu Bhavan, marks a strategic move under the Digital India programme to enhance accessibility and security of crucial service documents for IAF personnel. 

Imagine a future where every important document–from Certificates of Service to operational plans–is securely stored in a digital  vault accessible in a simple tap. DigiLocker isn’t just an upgrade; it’s a cornerstone in the IAF’s commitment to efficiency and data security. 

This initiative is a visionary partnership with the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) aimed at redefining digital governance. By leveraging DigiLocker’s secure repository services, IAF ensures seamless access to critical documents like never before, facilitating efficient operations and bolstering national defense strategies. 

With ownCloud integrated into the system, accessing these critical files becomes as easy as using your favorite app. This integration isn’t solely about digitizing paperwork; its about advancing how we protect our skies and borders, setting a new standard for innovation and operational excellance in defense sector. We can expect similar initives being taken by Army and Navy too, later. 

Bottom Line 

In the whirlwind of our digital age, DigiLocker emerges as India’s digital fortress, safeguarding your vital documents with the finesse of a digital wizard. It’s not just a storage space; it’s a gateway to seamless document management, where paperwork headaches vanish in a puff of encrypted data. 

From revolutionizing KYC process, to empowering farmers and our defenders in the skies–DigiLocker isn’t just changing the game–it’s rewriting the rules. Imagine a world where your documents are secured with a tap, where transparency meets convenience in a dance of 1s and 0s. 

As DigiLocker continues to expand its digital sphere, it’s not just a service; it’s a testament to India’s stride towards a future where bureaucracy bows to innovation.  

Embrace the digital evolution–DigiLocker is your key to smarter, faster, and a more connected tomorrow. Download the app now 😉 

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