Last Updated: October 04, 2023, 13:05 IST
In 2018, the DigiLocker app crossed the 50 million registration mark.
The Ghaziabad District Passport Officer, Prem Singh said that people are under the misconception that DigiLocker documents are not valid in the passport office.
DigiLocker, a pioneering service offered by the Indian Ministry of Information and Electronics (MeitY), has emerged as a vital component of the Digital India Initiative, providing citizens with easy access to digital versions of essential documents, including high school and intermediate mark sheets. Since its inception, DigiLocker has made significant strides and, in 2018, crossed the remarkable milestone of 50 million registrations.
One of the standout features of DigiLocker is the universal validity of its stored documents. These digital records hold the same legal weight as their physical counterparts, ensuring that citizens can seamlessly utilize them in various official processes. One such significant application is the ability to use DigiLocker documents when applying for a passport.
To ensure a smooth experience at passport offices, it is crucial to be well-informed about the verification process and application details. Prem Singh, the Ghaziabad District Passport Officer, emphasizes the misconception held by some individuals that DigiLocker documents may not be considered valid in passport offices. He clarifies that the validity of DigiLocker documents depends on the procedure selected by the candidate for document verification.
Officer Prem Singh highlights that when individuals apply for a passport, they are typically provided with the option to present original documents via DigiLocker. Regrettably, many applicants do not opt for this choice. Consequently, when attempting to present DigiLocker documents on the day of their appointment, these documents are often deemed invalid due to the prior omission.
To avoid such inconveniences, applicants are advised to select the DigiLocker option at the time of their passport application. By doing so, the link to their DigiLocker is seamlessly transmitted to the passport office along with the application, simplifying the passport registration process significantly.
In Western Uttar Pradesh, several passport offices serve residents across various districts, including Agra, Aligarh, Baghpat, Bulandshahr, Gautam Buddha Nagar, Ghaziabad, Hapur, Hathras, Mathura, Meerut, Muzaffarnagar, Saharanpur, and Shamli.
While DigiLocker initially faced usability challenges, developers have made commendable improvements over time, rendering the application more user-friendly. Regarding security, the platform employs a robust 256-bit secure socket layer (SSL) encryption for all transmitted information, ensuring the protection of user data.
