Documents are an integral part of an individual’s life as they are required frequently for education, employment, government services, and other official requirements. It is very important to keep all the documents safe and easy to access to avoid tension and confusion. If you want to apply for admissions, jobs, scholarships, loans, or government schemes, you would need various documents such as a birth certificate, educational certificates, an income certificate, caste certificate, domicile certificate, residential certificate, and other supporting records. It may not always be possible for you to have the physical copy of these documents with you, and hence, accessing these documents digitally through your phone would be an ideal situation so that you can complete your application without any problems.
Digital services make it easier for individuals to access their important documents from their phone without visiting government offices. This not only saves your time but also reduces the risk of losing your documents by making them accessible anywhere and anytime as per your need. In this post, we explain how to access and download all your documents online using your phone in just a few clicks, along with a step-by-step guide and clear instructions to keep your documents secured and handy conveniently.
What Certificates Can You Download Online?
With the view of Digital India, Digital services have become very common these days, and almost all the documents are made available online. However, the availability of certificates online depends on the issuing authority, type of document, and state as per their services. Some of the common documents that you can apply for and access online through various government portals and websites are as follows:
- Aadhaar Card and PAN Card
- Voter Card
- Birth Certificate and Death Certificate
- Domicile and Residence Certificate
- Educational Certificates and Degree
- Land and Property Documents
- Income Certificate
- Caste Certificate
- Transfer Certificate and Migration Certificate
- Marriage Certificate
- Disability Certificate
The availability of these documents depends largely on the issuing authority. The national documents or certificates issued by the central government may be available through national digital platforms. The other documents that are issued by the state may be available through the respective portal of the state or the issuing authority.
Benefits of Downloading Certificates Online
It is easier to access your digital documents if you have downloaaded it and stored them on your mobile phone. It reduces the effort and saves time by avoiding the need to visit government offices to apply for your documents. You can use the documents downloaded online to fill any form, apply for jobs, education programs, scholarships, government schemes, and other services.
Carrying the physical copy of the documents during travel or for any other reasons invites the risk of losing the documents. Hence, it would be better if you can access and download the digital copy of your documents from your phone so that you can download and use them anytime and anywhere you need.
How to Download Certificates Using DigiLocker
Most of the issuing authority of certificates and documents makes the documents available through DigiLocker, making it easier for eligible users to download their documents. You can fetch your documents and downlaod it on DigiLocker easily by following the steps as under:
Step 1: Log in to the DigiLocker website or install and open the DigiLocker app on your smartphone.
Step 2: Log in or create your account using your mobile number or Aadhaar number.
Step 3: Verify your account by linking your Aadhaar Number and OTP.
Step 4: Click on Search Documents to search for the document you want to download.
Step 5: Search for the issuing organization or the department that issued your certificate.
Step 6: Enter the details such as certificate number or roll number to search for your document.
Step 7: Click on download to save a copy of your documents on your phone.
How to Download Certificates From State Government Portals
Some of the documents issued by the state through the specific service portals of the state may not be accessible through DigiLocker. You can access the documents issued by the state through it’s official platforms if not available on DigiLocker by following these steps:
Step 1: Open the official website of the state or the state’s official e-services or citizen services portal on your phone.
Step 2: Select the type of document that you have applied for or want to apply for on the portal.
Step 3: Fill the application form with the required details or enter the application number to track its status if already applied.
Step 4: Verify the application using a mobile or email OTP as required.
Step 5: The certificate will be made available on the portal once it is approved.
Step 6: Download and save the certificate on your phone and print it if you want.
How to Download Educational Certificates Online
The educational certificates, including marksheets and degrees of all the qualifying examinations conducted by the examination board or university of the state or the center, are usually accessible through DigiLocker. You can also access and download your certificates and marksheets through the official education portal of the concerned board or university, as the case may be.
Verify the documents and ensure that the details such as your name, parents’ names, roll number, and certificate details are correct and that the document is digitally signed by the issuing authority. You can request your document and download the same once it is made available by the relevant board or university.
How to Keep Your Digital Certificates Safe
It is very important that you store your digital certificates in a safe folder and secure them with a password so that you do not lose them. Back up your digital documents in a trusted and secure cloud storage such as Google Drive so that you can access them anytime and anywhere you need.
Secure your mobile with a strong password and biometric authentication so that no other individuals would be able to access your documents without your permission. Your documents contain sensitive and personal information that can be misused, so you should avoid sharing your documents with anyone. You should only share your documents with the trusted organization when required.
What to Do If Your Certificate Is Not Available Online
Some of the documents may not be made available by the issuer, and the certificates may not have been digitized. In this case, you need to visit the issuing department, school, college, local authority, or the government office that is incharged of issuing your certificates to get your certificate.
If you lose your original certificate or it has been damaged and it is also not available online, you can apply for a replacement or duplicate certificate through the concerned department or authority according to the rules of the department that originally issued the certificate.
Conclusion
A digital copy of the documents on your phone makes it easier and more convenient for eligible users to access many official documents without carrying their physical copies. The availability of documents online depends on the issuing authority and the state, and not all the documents may be accessible online. You can fetch the documents through DigiLocker if the issuer has made it available through the platform. If you are not able to locate your certificates through DigiLocker, you can try looking for your documents through the official portal of the state or the issuing organization. These documents are digitally signed and can be verified through the issuer’s portal easily, which makes their validation and verification legal without any issues. These documents can be carried anywhere without the risk of losing your certificates or documents.