What is DigiLocker and How to Use It?

2023-05-01

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As the entire world is gradually progressing towards a digital and paperless platform, a key initiative has been launched by the Government of India targeting the idea of paperless governance. As the name suggests, DigiLocker is a digital locker to store all your important documents. It will also lower the risk of loss or damage to the vital documents such as your driving license, educational certificates.

Let us delve deeper into the functionality of DigiLocker to have a clear understanding how it will work and benefit the users.

Key Takeaways

DigiLocker provides a cloud-based platform to securely store and access essential documents anytime, anywhere.
It promotes digitalisation and has reduced administrative overhead significantly.
Documents stored in DigiLocker are verified by government authorities, ensuring authenticity and reducing fraud risks.
Insurance policies can be stored digitally, streamlining claims processing and reducing paperwork hassle.
DigiLocker helps the environment while making document management effortless.

What is DigiLocker?

DigiLocker is a cloud based document storage and issuance system initiated by Government of India under Digital India. It eliminates the usage of physical documents as you can carry all the important documents on the DigiLocker mobile app. The e-copies of the documents will be considered valid on par with the original documents. Organisations registered with DigiLocker or government authorities can access the scanned copies of the documents for the verification. Store your Voter ID, Aadhar Card, PAN Card, educational certificates, life insurance policy documents in a safe manner.

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How does it Work?

Citizens can scan and store the documents digitally. Each citizen will be given 1 GB (gigabyte) of cloud storage. You can also store signed copies of the documents using the eSign facility. Signing up for DigiLocker is easy and straightforward. Download the app on your mobile phone. Your mobile number or Aadhaar number will be authenticated by an OTP that you will receive. You will be required to set your PIN for security purpose. Once the sign up is completed, you can get the documents from the issuers or simply store it in your digital locker.

Benefits of DigiLocker

The initiative is aimed at developing paperless governance. DigiLocker offers the following benefits to the users:

Users can access their documents anytime, anywhere and share it within seconds. This will save a lot of time and efforts.
It also cuts down the administrative overhead of government departments by reducing the use of paper.
As the documents are directly issued by the registered issuers, the process of validating the authenticity of the documents become easier.
It is environment-friendly, as users do not have to print the copies for verification of their documents.
Due to the digitalization of documents, the probability of financial frauds will also be low as the documents will be stored in a secure manner.

How DigiLocker will be Beneficial for Policyholders?

The National Insurance Repository (NIR) offers a platform to the policyholders to store all their insurance policies in digital format in a single e-insurance account (eIA). However, it doesn’t allow the storage of other essential documents. The Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI) has announced that life insurance companies will be issuing the insurance documents via DigiLocker.

DigiLocker eliminates the problem of loss or misplacement of insurance documents by being a one-stop solution for comprehensive document storage. All your documents will be at one place making it easier for you to access them without much of a hassle. Policyholders can submit their KYC documents in digital format now. Storing the physical copies of long-term insurance policies over time is challenging, this new initiative will resolve the issue of documents misplacing.

A few other benefits of DigiLocker to policyholders are:

Customers can expect a quick turnaround time of insurance services.
Reduction in frauds as the document will can be accessed by authorities registered with DigiLocker.
Time taken for claims processing and settlement will be considerably lower.

The pandemic has changed the fundamental way people used to live and work. It is quite evident that the use of digital technologies has increased significantly during the period of this health crisis. DigiLocker will help all the citizens in keeping their necessary documents at one place and get it verified online. Moreover, it is completely safe to store the documents in the DigiLocker mobile app.

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How to Open a DigiLocker Account?

Opening a DigiLocker account is a straightforward process that allows you to securely store and access your documents anytime, anywhere. The following are the steps that you must consider to get started with the process:

1. Visit the DigiLocker Official Website or Download the App

The first thing you must do is understand what is DigiLocker and its use. Then, either visit the official DigiLocker website or download the mobile application from the Google Play Store or Apple App Store. The mobile app offers you a more convenient way of accessing your documents on the go.

2. Sign up Using Your Aadhaar or Mobile Number

Once you are ready to set up your account, the following are the two options to sign up for DigiLocker:

Using Aadhaar Number: If you choose this option, DigiLocker will verify your Aadhaar-linked mobile number through an OTP (One-Time Password).
Using the Mobile Number: If you do not want to use Aadhaar, you can register with any mobile number that you are using. The condition is that the number must be linked to your identity documents for authentication purposes.

Once you receive the OTP, enter it to complete the verification process.

3. Set a Security PIN for Future Logins

After successful verification, you will be prompted to create a six-digit security PIN. This PIN is essential for securing your account and will be required every time you log in. Ensure that you choose a strong PIN and do not share it with anyone.

4. Link Your Documents to DigiLocker

One of the most important features of DigiLocker is its ability to fetch documents directly from various government departments and registered issuers. After signing up, you can:

Access Officially Issued Documents: You can retrieve your Aadhaar card, PAN card, driving licence, educational certificates, vehicle registration documents, and life insurance policies from the respective authorities.
Fetch Insurance Policies: If your insurance provider is integrated with DigiLocker, your policies can be directly linked, making it easier for verification and claims processing.

Did You Know?

DigiLocker secures data with 256-bit SSL encryption and ISO 27001-compliant hosting, protecting user information.

Source: RelianceDigital

5. Upload and Store Personal Documents

Apart from government-issued documents, DigiLocker allows you to upload scanned copies of personal documents, such as:

Birth certificates
Property deeds
Medical records
Financial documents
Educational certificates

In addition, you can eSign these documents to make them legally valid, eliminating the need for physical signatures.

6. Share Documents Securely

DigiLocker enables you to share your stored documents with government agencies, financial institutions, and employers in a secure manner. You can generate a document link or QR code that allows quick and tamper-proof verification.

Conclusion

DigiLocker is a significant step towards paperless governance in India, simplifying the way individuals store, access, and share important documents. By having a clear picture of how to use DigiLocker and leverage its benefits, you can eliminate the risk of losing or damaging documents while streamlining official processes.

For many policyholders, DigiLocker is especially beneficial, as it allows for secure digital storage of insurance policies. While reducing the dependency on physical copies, it ensures that you experience smooth claims processing. With features like eSign, Aadhaar-based verification, and secure cloud storage, it enhances convenience and security.

If you haven’t yet created a DigiLocker account, now is the perfect time to go digital and stay organised!

Glossary

eSign Facility: DigiLocker feature enabling users to digitally sign documents, making them legally valid without physical signatures.
QR Code Sharing: A secure method in DigiLocker that allows users to share verified documents via QR codes for quick validation.
e-Insurance Account (eIA): Digitalised form of account for policyholders to store and manage their insurance documents electronically.
OTP (One-Time Password): A temporary password sent to a registered mobile number to authenticate user identity for secure login.
Cloud Storage: Online system for saving, accessing, and retrieving data, reducing the need for physical copies.

FAQs

You can sign up using your Aadhaar-linked mobile number or any mobile number, followed by OTP verification and security PIN setup.

Yes, e-copies of documents stored in DigiLocker are considered legally valid under the IT Act, making them equivalent to physical copies.

Yes, apart from government-issued documents, you can upload and store scanned copies of birth certificates, property deeds, and medical records.

Since documents in DigiLocker are verified and directly issued by government authorities, the chances of fraud and forgery are comparitively less.

You can store Aadhaar card, PAN card, driving licence, voter ID, insurance policies, educational certificates, and more in DigiLocker.

Disclaimer - This article is issued in the general public interest and meant for general information purposes only. The views expressed in this blog are solely those of the writer and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Canara HSBC Life Insurance Company Limited or any affiliated entity. We make no representations or warranties of any kind, express or implied, about the completeness, accuracy, reliability, suitability, or availability with respect to the blog or the information, products, services, or related graphics contained in the blog for any purpose. Any reliance you place on such information is therefore strictly at your own risk. You should consult with a qualified professional regarding your specific circumstances before taking any action based on the content provided herein.