How to Verify DigiLocker Digital Signatures on Driving License, Vehicle RC & CBSE Marksheets

DigiLocker, the flagship digital document repository initiative under the Digital India program by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), has transformed citizen document access. Over 200 million registered citizens and 3,000+ issuer organizations have issued billions of electronic documents into the DigiLocker ecosystem.

Among the most widely downloaded DigiLocker documents are:

• Driving Licenses (DL) issued by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH / Parivahan).
• Vehicle Registration Certificates (RC).
• CBSE Class 10 & 12 Digital Marksheets and Migration Certificates.
• University Degrees & Diplomas via the Academic Bank of Credits (ABC) / DigiLocker NAD.
• Insurance Policy Documents from LIC, New India Assurance, and private underwriters.

Every document fetched from DigiLocker is stamped with an electronic signature from the National Informatics Centre (NIC) or DigiLocker MeitY CA.

However, when citizens export these documents as PDF files to present to traffic police, car dealerships, RTOs, or university admission counters, the PDF frequently displays:

"Signature validity is UNKNOWN ? Validating all signatures..."

This guide provides a comprehensive breakdown of the legal framework surrounding DigiLocker documents, explains why electronic signatures appear unverified outside the app, and shows how to generate a fully verified, LTV-enabled PDF.

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Legal Status of DigiLocker Documents under Indian Law

Before examining the cryptographic signature, it is essential to understand the statutory authority of DigiLocker documents across India.

┌──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│                   INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY ACT, 2000               │
│                                  +                               │
│              INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (PRESERVATION AND            │
│         RETENTION OF INFORMATION BY INTERMEDIARIES PROVIDING     │
│             DIGITAL LOCKER FACILITIES) RULES, 2016               │
├──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│                                                                  │
│  RULE 9A:                                                        │
│  "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."         │
│                                                                  │
└──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘

1. MoRTH Traffic Enforcement Notification

Under notification RT-11036/64/2017-MVL issued by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways:

• Traffic Police and enforcement authorities across all States and Union Territories are legally mandated to accept Driving Licenses and Vehicle Registration Certificates presented via DigiLocker or mParivahan.
• Officers are strictly prohibited from demanding physical paper originals if the citizen produces an authentic digitally verifiable version.

2. UGC & University Admissions

The University Grants Commission (UGC) issued a formal circular to all Vice-Chancellors and University Registrars stating that DigiLocker-issued Academic Bank of Credits (ABC) degrees, marksheets, and migration certificates must be treated on par with original physical certificates without demanding physical stamping.

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Why Do DigiLocker Exported PDFs Show a Question Mark?

When you open a document inside the DigiLocker mobile app, the app queries its own internal database to confirm the issuer's signature.

However, when you download or export the document as a standalone PDF file, it leaves the protected app environment:

1. Standard desktop PDF viewers (Adobe Acrobat, Foxit, Nitro) and web browsers do not possess the DigiLocker Root Certificate in their default operating system trust keystores.
2. The PDF contains a standard detached cryptographic signature. Because the trust chain cannot terminate at a known Western CA (like Symantec or VeriSign), the viewer marks the document as "Validity Unknown".
3. Overzealous verification officials who are unfamiliar with PKI falsely assume that the document is fake or tampered with.

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Step-by-Step: Verifying Your DigiLocker Documents on Kagazo

Step 1: Export Original PDF from DigiLocker

• Open the DigiLocker app or log in to digilocker.gov.in.
• Navigate to your Issued Documents tab.
• Click the download icon next to your Driving License, RC, or CBSE Marksheet and select PDF.

Step 2: Upload to Kagazo

1. Go to Kagazo Home.
2. Drag and drop your DigiLocker PDF file into the upload zone.
3. DigiLocker PDF downloads are unprotected by passwords; simply click Verify Digital Signature.

Step 3: Instant Cryptographic Audit

Kagazo inspects the cryptographic envelope:

• DigiLocker Sub-CA Validation: Resolves the certificate back to MeitY / NIC root authorities under CCA India.
• ByteRange Integrity Audit: Calculates SHA-256 hashes to guarantee that document parameters (name, license class, registration numbers) were unaltered.
• LTV Stamping: Synthesizes and injects a Document Security Store dictionary.

Step 4: Download the Stamped PDF

Click Download Verified PDF. Your file now features the verified green tick mark and displays:

"Signature is VALID, certified by DigiLocker, Ministry of Electronics & Information Technology."

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Comparison: DigiLocker Documents Supported by Kagazo

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: Can traffic police fine me if my DigiLocker Driving License has a question mark?

No, legally they cannot, provided the document is presented through the official DigiLocker app or contains a verifiable digital signature. However, to prevent unnecessary roadside disputes with traffic officers, having an LTV-verified PDF copy with the green tick downloaded on your phone ensures instant acceptance.

Q2: Does Kagazo alter the academic grades on my CBSE marksheet?

Never. Digital signatures are mathematically tamper-evident. If Kagazo or anyone attempted to modify a single character or mark, the cryptographic hash check would fail immediately. Kagazo solely appends validation trust metadata (/DSS), leaving the underlying document bytes completely pristine.

Q3: How do RTO officers verify the digital signature on vehicle RCs?

RTO officers use automated document readers that check the public key against the National Informatics Centre (NIC) e-Transport sub-CA. Kagazo's LTV stamping guarantees that this check passes cleanly every time.

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Verify Your DigiLocker Documents in Seconds

Ensure your driving licenses, vehicle registrations, and academic marksheets are immediately accepted anywhere across India without friction.

Verify your DigiLocker PDF on Kagazo now — fast, free, and secure.