New Delhi: In a rapidly digitalising India, where technology is no longer just a tool but a bridge between citizens and governance, DigiLocker has emerged as one of the country’s most trusted digital assets. This was the central message at the National Conference on ‘DigiLocker—Enabling Paperless Access for All’, organised by the National e-Governance Division (NeGD) of the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi.
The high-profile conference brought together senior government officials, digital governance experts, educators, and industry leaders from the technology and financial sectors. The event showcased how DigiLocker has grown from a secure document storage platform into the cornerstone of India’s digital trust ecosystem, driving paperless governance, inclusion, and efficiency across multiple domains.
The Trust Layer of India’s Digital Governance
Chairing the conference, S. Krishnan, Secretary, MeitY, said that India’s digital transformation has reached a defining phase—where “trust” has become the new foundation of governance. “DigiLocker serves as the trust layer connecting citizens, ministries, and departments—enabling secure, interoperable, and accountable digital governance,” he said. “Our vision is a future where every digital interaction is trusted, every citizen empowered, and every institution accountable.”
Krishnan emphasised that India’s digital journey has evolved from connectivity to capability, from service delivery to self-reliance, and now from digitalisation towards trust as the new infrastructure. He said the coming decade will focus not only on expanding access but also on deepening citizen confidence in the systems that serve them.
The ‘Digital Trust Revolution’
In his special address, Abhishek Singh, Additional Secretary, MeitY, called the current phase of India’s digital governance a “Digital Trust Revolution.” He credited DigiLocker with redefining citizen engagement through transparency and reliability. Singh explained that DigiLocker’s upcoming integration with AI-based eKYC systems and global credential verification mechanisms will set a new global benchmark for paperless governance. “We are not just digitising documents; we are building trust,” he said.
Adding to this perspective, Nand Kumarum, President & CEO of NeGD, traced DigiLocker’s journey from a document vault to a key pillar of Digital India. “The platform reflects India’s collaborative approach to governance,” he said. “It is about creating a digital infrastructure that empowers citizens with convenience, authenticity, and trust.”
Celebrating the ‘DigiLocker Accelerators’
A major highlight of the conference was the recognition of seven States as ‘DigiLocker Accelerators’ for their exemplary work in adopting and scaling DigiLocker across government and public service delivery.
Assam was honoured with the ‘Integration Excellence’ recognition for its large-scale implementation of DigiLocker across various services for enhanced security and transparency. Himachal Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh both received the People First Integration recognition for leveraging DigiLocker to create largest digital identity-linked citizen initiatives in their States. Meghalaya received the Dual Platform Achiever recognition for integrating both DigiLocker and EntityLocker platforms. Kerala was honoured for Innovation in pioneering paperless governance through DigiLocker. Maharashtra received the Fast Track Integration recognition for its swift rollout of DigiLocker. Mizoram was recognised as the Requestor Accelerator for achieving the highest number of Requestor Model integrations.
Parallel breakout sessions during the conference spotlighted DigiLocker’s tangible impact across key sectors of Government, Education, Fintech and Value-Added Services.
The recognitions celebrated the States’ diverse approaches—whether through speed, innovation, or inclusivity—all contributing to the national goal of paperless, efficient governance.
State Innovations: Lessons in Digital Governance
During the inaugural session, Dr. Richa Bagla, Principal Secretary (Accounts & Treasury), Finance Department, Maharashtra, presented how integrating DigiLocker with the State’s Pension and Treasury systems has streamlined pension documentation and enhanced transparency. Similarly, K.S. Gopinath, Principal Secretary (IT), Assam, showcased how over 500 government services have been integrated with DigiLocker through the Sewa Setu Portal, ensuring real-time verification and citizen convenience.
These models were cited as replicable examples of how DigiLocker can scale governance efficiency when linked to existing administrative frameworks.
Paperless Governance Meets Real-World Impact
The conference featured multiple breakout sessions spotlighting DigiLocker’s transformative impact across Government, Education, FinTech, and Value-Added Services (VAS) sectors.
In the Government and Education track, Govind Jaiswal, Joint Secretary, Higher Education, Ministry of Education, shared insights on how DigiLocker has aligned the education ecosystem with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. “The system has democratised access to verified academic documents and made certification processes seamless,” he said.
Prof. Anil D. Sahasrabudhe, Chairman, National Educational Technology Forum (NETF), highlighted how technology is driving NEP 2020’s vision through tools like DigiLocker, which now stores over 1.5 billion academic documents.
Dr. Sandip Kumar, Director, Kerala State IT Mission, discussed the State’s Certificateless Governance Programme, eliminating paper-based bureaucracy. Pravin Bakshi, Commissioner & Secretary (IT), Meghalaya, presented the dual integration of DigiLocker and EntityLocker in the Meghalaya One portal, enabling a unified citizen interface.
Meanwhile, Vinita Srivastava from Rajasthan showcased Raj e-Vault, the State’s digital repository complementing DigiLocker for employment and labour verification. Jaya Krishnan M. from IIT Madras elaborated on DigiLocker’s growing relevance in academic systems while stressing the need for robust data privacy mechanisms.
FinTech and Value-Added Services: Expanding Digital Trust in the Financial Sector
The FinTech and VAS sessions highlighted how DigiLocker is helping financial institutions transition to paperless workflows and secure verification models.
Debajyoti Ray Chaudhari, MD & CEO, National e-Governance Services Ltd (NeSL), demonstrated the use of DigiLocker’s Entity Locker for PAN-based access to electronic Bank Guarantees (e-BGs). This innovation, he said, has revolutionised how businesses manage risk and compliance documentation.
Chirag Jain, Vice President, HDFC Bank, addressed the adoption challenges in banking, particularly around customer onboarding and document authenticity. However, Honey Jagyasi from Edelweiss Mutual Fund shared a success story of full digital onboarding through DigiLocker, saying, “We are witnessing reduced onboarding times and zero document-related errors.”
Suresh Mutyala, Head of Digital Business, ICICI Bank, spoke about emerging opportunities in customer lifecycle management using DigiLocker APIs. Similarly, Prashant M. of Kotak Mahindra Bank and Kirubanandan K. from Bank of Baroda detailed their extensive integration of DigiLocker for secure verification in loan and credit operations.
Sanket Nayak, Co-Founder of DIGIO, offered an industry perspective on how a trusted digital infrastructure like DigiLocker can strengthen not only financial inclusion but also India’s position as a global leader in trusted digital services.
From Technology to Trust: India’s New Governance Ethos
The conference collectively underscored that DigiLocker is far more than a platform for digital storage—it is a symbol of the nation’s commitment to transparency and accountability. With more than 250 million registered users and 6 billion documents issued and verified, DigiLocker now stands as a model of scalable, inclusive governance.
As Krishnan put it, “India’s digital infrastructure is no longer about connectivity alone—it’s about credibility.” He said that DigiLocker’s success lies in its ability to deliver real impact: simplifying citizens’ lives, ensuring service integrity, and fostering confidence in governance systems.
The Road Ahead: AI, Interoperability, and Global Models
Looking to the future, officials highlighted that DigiLocker will soon integrate Artificial Intelligence-based verification systems, international credential exchange, and cross-border interoperability—setting India up as a global digital governance model. These developments will enable seamless document exchange not only across Indian States but also with other nations adopting digital identity frameworks.
Abhishek Singh noted, “We envision a future where a student in India can share verified academic credentials with a university abroad through DigiLocker, or where a citizen’s digital identity is recognised across global borders. That is the power of digital trust.”
DigiLocker: A New Chapter in India’s Digital Story
The conference concluded with a collective resolve to deepen collaboration between States, ministries, and private partners to further scale the platform. Participants agreed that the success of DigiLocker illustrates how technology can humanise governance—making it transparent, participatory, and equitable.
As Nand Kumarum aptly summed up, “DigiLocker is not just about storing documents. It’s about storing trust.”
The event reaffirmed that India’s Digital Public Infrastructure—anchored by initiatives like DigiLocker—is not just reshaping service delivery but redefining governance itself. It marks a decisive shift from a government that merely provides services to one that builds trust through technology.