DigiLocker PDF Signature Not Verified — How to Fix in 2026

DigiLocker, the flagship digital document wallet initiative under Digital India, has transformed how Indian citizens carry and share official credentials. Over 200 million registered users access their Driving Licenses, Vehicle Registration Certificates (RC), CBSE Marksheets, and Degree Certificates directly from their phones.

However, a frequent point of confusion arises when users download the PDF version of their document and share it via email, WhatsApp, or job portals:

"Signature validity is UNKNOWN" or "The certificate is untrusted."

Many administrative officials, police officers, and college clerks mistakenly believe that a document showing a yellow question mark is unverified or invalid. This guide explains why this occurs, the crucial difference between the DigiLocker app and downloaded PDFs, and how to obtain an authentic green checkmark using Kagazo.

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What is DigiLocker and How Does It Work?

DigiLocker is a secure cloud-based document repository platform operated by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY).

Under the DigiLocker architecture, documents are not simple static scans uploaded by users. Instead, they are "Issued Documents" pulled directly from the issuing authority's database (e.g., Ministry of Road Transport and Highways for driving licenses, or CBSE for board marksheets) via API and digitally signed on the fly using cryptographic keys.

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Which Certifying Authorities Sign DigiLocker Documents?

Depending on the issuing agency, DigiLocker documents are signed by different government and institutional Certifying Authorities:

• Driving Licenses & Vehicle RC: Signed by NIC Sub-CA for MoRTH (Parivahan).
• CBSE Marksheets & Certificates: Signed by National Informatics Centre (NIC Sub-CA) with CBSE signer attributes.
• Degree Certificates & Diplomas: Signed by the National Academic Depository (NAD) or respective university digital signer.
• e-Aadhaar via DigiLocker: Signed by UIDAI Document Signer.

All of these subordinate authorities fall directly under the Root Certifying Authority of India (RCAI).

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Why Does the Signature Show "Unknown" on Downloaded PDFs?

There is a fundamental difference between viewing a credential inside the DigiLocker app versus opening a downloaded PDF file:

1. Inside the DigiLocker App: The app connects directly to MeitY's servers, which already trust the internal signing keys. The app displays an internal verified badge.
2. Downloaded PDF File: When you export the PDF, it is evaluated by standard PDF readers (Adobe Acrobat, Foxit, web browsers). Because these programs rely on Western commercial root stores that do not include India's sovereign RCAI root, they cannot validate the signature path and display a yellow question mark.

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Difference: DigiLocker Share Link vs. Downloaded PDF

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How to Verify DigiLocker PDFs with Kagazo

1. Download Document: Open DigiLocker, go to Issued Documents, and download the PDF version of your Driving License, RC, or Marksheet.
2. Upload to Kagazo: Navigate to Kagazo.in and upload your downloaded file.
3. Automatic Verification: Kagazo validates the signature against the NIC/MeitY root hierarchy in ephemeral memory.
4. Download Verified PDF: Download your PDF with an embedded Document Security Store (DSS). It now opens with a verified green checkmark across all platforms.

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Statutory Legal Validity under Indian Law

Under Rule 9A of the Information Technology (Preservation and Retention of Information by Intermediaries Providing Digital Locker Facilities) Rules, 2016:

"The issued documents in DigiLocker system shall be deemed to be at par with original physical documents issued by the issuing authority for all legal intents and purposes."

Furthermore, the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) issued circular RT-11036/64/2017-MVL advising traffic police across all States and Union Territories that digital driving licenses and vehicle RCs presented through DigiLocker or verified PDF formats are legally binding, and officers cannot demand physical paper documents.