What is DigiLocker?
DigiLocker is the Government of India's document wallet. How it is used for identity verification, and why a DigiLocker-fetched document differs from an upload.
DigiLocker is a Government of India platform that stores documents issued directly by the issuing authority — Aadhaar, PAN, driving licence, vehicle registration, educational certificates and more.
Why it matters for verification
An uploaded document is a file. It can be edited, and a verifier is left comparing an image against expectations. A document fetched through DigiLocker with the holder's consent comes from the issuer, digitally signed, which makes it evidence rather than a claim.
Under the IT Act, documents issued through DigiLocker are treated at par with the original physical documents.
How the flow works
- The user consents to share specific documents
- The requesting platform receives them from the issuer, signed
- The signature and issuer are checked programmatically
- The data is used for verification without a human squinting at a scan
The consent step is doing real work here: the user chooses what is shared, and the platform receives only that.
What people get wrong
Treating a DigiLocker screenshot as DigiLocker verification. A screenshot is an upload again. The value is in the signed fetch, not the app.
Assuming it covers business documents. DigiLocker is strongest on individual identity. Company registration, GST and MSME status are separate registers with their own verification routes.
On Bidancer
DigiLocker is one of the routes for individual KYC, alongside Aadhaar OTP and document verification. Which routes are available is described in the verification guide.