“DigiLocker” in news

14-05-2024

“DigiLocker” in news

 

GS-3: Government Apps, Science & Technology

(UPSC/State PSC)

14/05/2024

Source: The Hindu

Context:

Presently the government is trying to make the DigiLocker platform multidimensional to achieve the goal of digital development. Recently, students of class 10th and 12th of CISCE Board within the country as well as class 10th of Tamil Nadu State Board have been provided the facility to get the results of 2024 examination from DigiLocker and this facility is going to be launched soon for CBSE board students also.

What is DigiLocker:

  • Launched in the year 2015, DigiLocker is an app that currently provides a platform for users to digitally store records of educational and useful documents.
  • This app is part of the paper-free initiative of the Government of India. That means it is a government approved application.
  • ‘DigiLocker’ is a major initiative of the Ministry of Electronics and IT (MeitY) under the Digital India programme.
  • According to the MEITY website: “DigiLocker is aligned with Digital India's vision of providing citizens a secure document access platform on a public cloud.”
  • According to DigiLocker website: “Documents issued in the DigiLocker system are treated at par with the original physical documents as per Rule 9A of the Information Technology (Protection and Retention of Information by Intermediaries Providing Digital Locker Facilities) Rules, 2016.

Objective:

  • This initiative aims to facilitate users to access, verify and store necessary documents in the digital wallet so that it is easy to retrieve and present them to the authorities when required.

Safety aspects

  • DigiLocker is a government approved application and it is ideally maintained with strict security protocols maintained by the authorities.
  • According to MEITY, 'DigiLocker is aligned with Digital India's vision of providing citizens a secure document access platform on the public cloud.'
  • According to DigiLocker's own website, it has standard security measures including 2048-bit RSA SSL encryption, multi-factor authentication (OTP verification), consent system, timed log out, and security audits.
  • On June 2, 2020, DigiLocker posted a notice about a "potential vulnerability in the sign-up flow" that could have led to accounts being compromised. However, due to a CERT-In alert and another independent researcher, DigiLocker said the vulnerability was fixed within a day of receiving the alert, and user data was safe. According to the Google Play Store, no DigiLocker data is shared with third parties and the data is encrypted in transit. Examples of data collected include files and documents (optional), your name, email (optional), and user ID.

User:

  • As of early May, the app has over 270 million registered users, while around 6.7 billion documents – such as Aadhaar, insurance policy papers, PAN records and driving licenses – have been retrieved through it.

Significance:

  • Identity: This app can be used to apply for a passport, review mark sheets or prove one's identity while travelling.
  • Paperless Solution: DigiLocker is a paperless solution that aims to ensure that users can access the latest and updated versions of their documents online at any time to prove their identity and their credentials.
  • Quality of documents: For the verifying authorities, this helps in keeping away fakes, poor quality print copies and old documents which are missing key details.
  • Convenience: Also, for the user, this app helps in eliminating the need to carry different sets of documents while on the go. Instead, documents can be brought in or stored on the local device.
  • Same validity as original document: In principle, these digital documents are no less valid than their originals. Additionally, the DigiLocker website notes that using the app can help in faster service delivery.
  • Access: The locker can be accessed by anyone using their mobile number.
  • Storage facility: Technology companies like Google and Dropbox provide storage space for users to store documents.
  • Link connectivity facility: Apart from e-documents, DigiLocker can store a Uniform Resource Identifier (URI) link of e-documents issued by various issuing departments.

Concerns related to DigiLocker:

  • People who are not accustomed to smartphones or have difficulty navigating apps may find it difficult to download DigiLocker, use the OTP, and retrieve their credentials unless they receive assistance.
  • This can become a hindrance for uneducated people.
  • Another hurdle is that people with multiple names, surnames, inconsistent spellings, or even slightly mismatched certificates will not be able to easily access their documents through DigiLocker because the app requires the details submitted to exactly match the issuer's data.
  • Users have complained in the past that even subtle changes such as capitalization and initialization can cause failures.
  • Furthermore, there is no uniformity in how various government authorities and law enforcement bodies in India review official documents. While some insist on showing virtual documents through DigiLocker, others claim that the original hard copy is mandatory.

Conclusion:

  • DigiLocker app is an important achievement of the government in the field of digital development. The possibility of its multidimensional use seems to be increasing in the future, however, for its widespread use there is a need to strengthen the cyber security system and also to make it useful for all.

Mains Question:

Discuss the importance of DigiLocker and concerns related to it in achieving the goal of digital development in India.