DigiLocker Advanced Features — How to Apply & Benefits

What is DigiLocker?

DigiLocker is a flagship initiative by the Ministry of Electronics & Information Technology (MeitY) that provides every Indian citizen a cloud-based platform to store, share, and verify documents digitally. Linked to your Aadhaar number, DigiLocker gives you access to authentic digital documents issued by government organizations.

With over 25 crore registered users and 800+ issuer organizations, DigiLocker has become India's primary digital document platform. Documents in DigiLocker are legally equivalent to original physical documents under the IT Act, 2000.

Key Features

1. Issued Documents (Fetch from Government)

DigiLocker lets you pull digital copies of documents directly from issuing authorities:

• Driving Licence — from state transport departments
• Vehicle Registration Certificate (RC) — from Vahan/Parivahan
• Aadhaar — from UIDAI
• PAN card — from Income Tax Department
• Class 10 & 12 marksheets — from CBSE, state boards
• Degree certificates — from universities registered on DigiLocker
• Insurance policies — from IRDAI-registered insurers
• COVID vaccination certificate — from CoWIN
• Property documents — in some states
• Caste/Income/Domicile certificates — from state e-District portals

2. Uploaded Documents (Your Storage)

You get 1 GB free cloud storage to upload your own documents:

• Scanned certificates, agreements, receipts
• Any PDF, JPEG, or PNG document
• Personal documents not available through issuers

3. Document Sharing

Share your documents digitally with anyone:

• Generate a shareable URI (link) for any document
• Set expiry for shared links
• Requester organizations can verify documents directly through DigiLocker API
• No need to carry physical copies

4. e-Sign Integration

DigiLocker integrates with Aadhaar e-Sign to digitally sign documents:

• Sign PDFs using Aadhaar OTP
• Legally valid electronic signature
• Useful for agreements, declarations, and forms

5. Digital Document Verification

Organizations can verify your documents in real-time:

• Banks verify KYC documents through DigiLocker
• Universities verify marksheets during admission
• Employers verify educational certificates
• Eliminates document fraud

How to Set Up DigiLocker

Step 1: Create Account

1. Visit digilocker.gov.in or download the DigiLocker app
2. Click "Sign Up"
3. Enter your Aadhaar number
4. Verify through OTP sent to your Aadhaar-linked mobile
5. Set a username and security PIN
6. Your account is created and linked to Aadhaar

Step 2: Fetch Issued Documents

1. Log in to DigiLocker
2. Go to "Issued Documents" section
3. Click "Get Documents"
4. Select the issuer (e.g., Transport Department, CBSE)
5. Enter required details (registration number, roll number, etc.)
6. The document is fetched and stored in your DigiLocker

Step 3: Upload Your Own Documents

1. Go to "Uploaded Documents" section
2. Click "Upload"
3. Select the file from your device (PDF, JPEG, PNG)
4. Add a document type label
5. Document is stored in your 1 GB cloud space

Advanced Use Cases

Using DigiLocker at Traffic Stops

• Fetch your Driving Licence and Vehicle RC into DigiLocker
• Show the digital documents on your phone during traffic checks
• Legally valid — traffic police must accept DigiLocker documents (Motor Vehicles Amendment Act, 2019)
• No need to carry physical licence or RC

Academic Document Verification

• Universities and colleges accept DigiLocker marksheets for admission
• Employers accept DigiLocker certificates for background verification
• CBSE, ICSE, and many state boards issue documents to DigiLocker
• Fetch using your board roll number

Banking and Financial KYC

• Banks accept DigiLocker documents for account opening
• Mutual fund companies use DigiLocker for e-KYC
• Insurance companies verify policies through DigiLocker
• Faster and paperless process

Property and Legal Documents

• Some states issue property registration documents on DigiLocker
• Court orders and legal certificates being added progressively
• Revenue department documents available in select states

Health Records

• Ayushman Bharat Health Account (ABHA) can be linked
• Health records and prescriptions stored digitally
• COVID vaccination certificates already available

Security Features

Tips for Power Users

Organize Your Documents

• Fetch all available issued documents — DL, RC, PAN, Aadhaar, marksheets
• Upload important documents — property papers, insurance, medical records
• Use document labels for easy search

Share Strategically

• Use DigiLocker's share feature instead of emailing sensitive documents
• Set expiry on shared links for security
• Revoke access when no longer needed

Keep Updated

• Re-fetch documents after renewals (e.g., renewed driving licence)
• Check for new issuers regularly — more organizations are joining
• Update your Aadhaar-linked mobile for uninterrupted OTP access

Important Tips

• DigiLocker documents are legally valid — under the IT Act, they carry the same weight as original physical documents; insist on acceptance if anyone refuses
• Traffic police must accept DigiLocker DL — it's mandated by the Motor Vehicles Amendment Act; if refused, report to the higher authorities
• 1 GB storage is sufficient — for most users; focus on fetching issued documents rather than uploading large files
• Security PIN is important — set a strong PIN; don't share it with anyone
• Works offline too — documents once fetched can be viewed offline in the app

Frequently Asked Questions

Is DigiLocker free?

Yes, DigiLocker is completely free for individuals. There is no subscription or storage fee.

Can I use DigiLocker without Aadhaar?

Initial registration requires Aadhaar. After registration, you can access your account with username and password. However, fetching issued documents and e-Sign require Aadhaar verification.

What if a government office refuses DigiLocker documents?

DigiLocker documents are legally equivalent to originals under the IT Act. If refused, escalate to the senior officer and cite the relevant rules. You can also file a complaint on the DigiLocker portal.

Is DigiLocker safe? Can my documents be hacked?

DigiLocker uses government-grade encryption and Aadhaar-based authentication. Issued documents are digitally signed and tamper-proof. It's safer than carrying physical documents.

Can I use DigiLocker for passport application?

Currently, the passport application process on Passport Seva doesn't directly integrate with DigiLocker for document submission. However, this integration is expected in the future.

How do I delete my DigiLocker account?

You can delete your account from the settings section. However, this will permanently remove all uploaded documents. Issued documents can be re-fetched with a new account.

Disclaimer: This guide is for informational purposes only. CitizenNest is not affiliated with MeitY or DigiLocker. Visit digilocker.gov.in for official information.