Answer Book question

Do I have to carry original documents? Is a DigiLocker copy legally valid?

A document issued to your DigiLocker by the issuing authority, or fetched through it from the issuer, is legally equivalent to the original under the Information Technology Act and the 2016 DigiLocker rules, and must be accepted by government departments. Driving licence, registration certificate and insurance shown in DigiLocker or mParivahan are valid at a traffic check under the Motor Vehicles Rules and Ministry of Road Transport advisories. Aadhaar, PAN, Class X and XII certificates from the boards, university degrees from participating universities, and many Kerala state certificates are available as issued documents. Scanned uploads of your own are not the same thing; only 'issued' documents carry the legal status.

By Kerala Rising · ·

Short answer

A document issued to your DigiLocker by the issuing authority, or fetched through it from the issuer, is legally equivalent to the original under the Information Technology Act and the 2016 DigiLocker rules, and must be accepted by government departments. Driving licence, registration certificate and insurance shown in DigiLocker or mParivahan are valid at a traffic check under the Motor Vehicles Rules and Ministry of Road Transport advisories.

Short answer · continued

Aadhaar, PAN, Class X and XII certificates from the boards, university degrees from participating universities, and many Kerala state certificates are available as issued documents. Scanned uploads of your own are not the same thing; only 'issued' documents carry the legal status.

Real life

A young man stopped at a check near Pathanamthitta shows his licence and RC in DigiLocker. The constable insists on 'original'. The Ministry's advisory of 2018 and the Motor Vehicles Rules require acceptance of documents in DigiLocker and mParivahan. He is right; a polite reference to the advisory ends it.

What this means

Information Technology (Preservation and Retention of Information by Intermediaries providing Digital Locker facilities) Rules, 2016, Rule 9A (added 2017): documents issued to a Digital Locker account are deemed at par with the original physical documents. MoRTH advisory of August 2018 and Rule 139 of the Central Motor Vehicles Rules: documents in DigiLocker or mParivahan are valid for production on demand.

What this means · continued

DigiLocker's 'Issued Documents' are pulled live from issuer databases (transport department, UIDAI, income tax, CBSE, Kerala boards and universities on the platform, Kerala e-District certificates in some cases) and carry the issuer's digital signature; 'Uploaded Documents' are your own scans, useful but not deemed originals. Kerala has integrated several departments; the list grows. For banks, DigiLocker-issued Aadhaar and PAN are accepted for e-KYC under RBI's KYC directions.

What this means · continued

For passports, a physical document is still required for travel. DigiLocker is free and requires Aadhaar-linked mobile; the data stays on government servers and sharing is by your consent.

What to check

Whether each document is 'Issued' (valid) or 'Uploaded' (just a scan) Driving licence, RC and insurance fetched into DigiLocker for every driver in the family Parents' Aadhaar, pension documents and health cards in a family member's DigiLocker with their consent Kerala certificates available through e-District integration Backup: a printout of the DigiLocker document carries a QR code that verifies it

What people often miss

Carrying the original RC in the car, where it is lost along with the car in a theft. A DigiLocker copy in the phone and the original at home is the right arrangement. Also: assuming uploaded scans are equal to issued documents.

The Kerala / NRI angle

Kerala's Motor Vehicles Department has accepted digital documents for years; the exceptions are individual officers. Kerala's universities and boards have progressively joined DigiLocker, which makes attestation for Gulf employment simpler, though embassies still want physical attestation for many purposes.

An example

Traffic check: DigiLocker licence and RC, valid. Bank account opening: DigiLocker Aadhaar and PAN, valid for e-KYC. Gulf visa attestation: physical degree still needed.

When this may not be the right answer

Where a specific law demands a physical document (passport at immigration, original title deeds at registration), DigiLocker does not replace it. Private parties may still ask for originals for their own comfort; the deeming rule binds government.

What to do next

Create DigiLocker accounts for every adult; fetch licence, RC, Aadhaar, PAN and certificates Keep the originals at home, not in the vehicle Print the QR-coded version for anyone who will not use a phone

Related questions

Can someone misuse my Aadhaar? How do I lock it? Are there SIM cards or bank accounts in my name that I do not know about?

Related Kerala Rising help

Family finances

Sources and what to verify

in) Last checked: 22 August 2026. Rates, limits and whether you may qualify change. Confirm with the official source before you act. Ask Kerala Rising: Use only general, non-identifying facts. Do not send bank, health, legal, property, identity, account, transaction, or loan documents, screenshots, numbers, OTPs, or passwords over WhatsApp. Kerala Rising can explain public sources and questions to take to the responsible bank, office, or qualified professional. com

Before you act

This page is general orientation, not personal insurance, investment, medical, legal, lending, tax, employment, or professional advice. Rules, rates, deadlines, and decisions can change. Confirm the current position with the named official source and use a licensed or qualified professional where your situation requires one. Kerala Rising does not decide whether you may qualify, approve claims, or promise an outcome.