DigiLocker a Digital Locker service operated by the Government of India to store certain official documents on the cloud such as Digital Aadhaar, thus enables the citizen of India in reducing the need to carry physical documents and can be used anytime anywhere through the mobile devices. DigiLocker is part of the government’s Digital India initiative.

If you have already applied for the Aadhaar card then you can check Aadhaar card status online after the enrollment.

DigiLocker is a cloud-based platform for issuance, storage, sharing and verification of documents and certificates, according to GOI Digilocker Site. It helps in securing lot of documents online. Now, DigiLocker also allows citizens to access their digital Aadhaar card number. Digital Aadhaar in DigiLocker is the same as eAadhaar issued by UIDAI(Unique Identification Authority of India). UIDAI is as an issuer of digital Aadhaar in DigiLocker, said DigiLocker on it’s official website.

1 GB of storage space is offered to users to store identification card issued by government agencies, education certificates, PAN cards, driving license, vehicle ownership documents and some other documents.The service is aimed towards reducing the need to carry physical documents, and is part of the government’s Digital India initiative.

DigiLocker has partnered with UIDAI to make it available automatically to its users when they link their DigiLocker account with Aadhaar. The advantage of digital Aadhaar or eAadhaar is that it can now be used in the same way as any other DigiLocker document.

How to Access Digital Aadhaar From DigiLocker or eAadhaar in DigiLocker?

1. Signup to DigiLocker using your mobile number and email verification followed by creating user credentials, then login.
2. Upon login to DigiLocker, link your Aadhaar and then you will see a dialog box with a message to get your eAadhaar
3. Click on “Click here” link. OTP box will appear in the dialog
4. You will receive an OTP on your mobile number linked to Aadhaar. Enter this OTP in the OTP box and click “Verify OTP” button
5. On successful validation of the OTP you will be redirected to “Issued Document” page where URI for eAadhaar will be listed
6. Click on “Save” icon next to Aadhaar Card on “Issued Document” page
7. Your eAadhaar will be saved to “Uploaded Document” section.

DigiLocker Benefits

Since DigiLocker is a platform for issuance and verification of documents & certificates in a digital way, so the idea behind this to make paperless governance. The benefits are-

1. Citizens can access their digital documents anytime, anywhere and share it online in a convenient and time saving way.
2. It reduces the administrative overhead of Government departments by minimizing the use of paper.
3. Validation of authenticity of documents getting easier as they are issued directly by the registered issuers.
4. Self-uploaded documents can be digitally signed using the eSign facility (which is similar to the process of self-attestation).

There is also an associated facility for e-signing documents. The service is intended to minimize the use of physical documents, reduce administrative expenses, provide authenticity of the e-documents, provide secure access to government-issued documents and to make it easy for the residents to receive services.

Image credit- Canva