SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure | SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions
Ministry of Electronics & IT (MeitY) | Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) | National e-Governance Division (NeGD)
The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), in collaboration with the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), has announced a major enhancement to citizen services by enabling the Passport Verification Record (PVR) on the DigiLocker platform. This initiative, effective immediately, marks a significant step in advancing the Digital India vision by simplifying document management and reducing reliance on physical records.
Key Benefits of the PVR Integration:
Convenience and Access: Citizens can now seamlessly access and retrieve their PVR from the “Issued Documents” section of their DigiLocker account through the web portal or mobile application, eliminating the need to carry or store physical copies.
Faster, Paperless Processes: Digital access to PVR is expected to significantly streamline verification-related processes in areas such as travel, employment, and compliance.
Trusted Digital Verification: Since the record is issued digitally and fetched in real-time directly from the issuing authority (Passport Seva portal), it provides a higher level of trust and security for checks and approvals, reducing the chances of tampering or errors.
Policy Relevance
This integration is a pivotal policy move, reinforcing DigiLocker’s role as India’s secure, single-source platform for official documents (Official Verification Documents - OVDs). It advances the goal of paperless, contactless, and citizen-centric service delivery, directly reducing administrative overhead and streamlining verification processes in the private sector (employment checks) and government services (visa formalities, travel bookings).
Relevant Question for Policy Stakeholders: What specific audit and integration mandate will MeitY issue to ensure all institutions (e.g., banks, state police, employers) accept the PVR in DigiLocker as a valid Official Verification Document (OVD)?
Follow the full news here: Passport Verification Record Now Available on DigiLocker for Citizens’ Ease and Security