By: Bharat Daily Samachar Date: 2 October,2025

A Turning Point in UPSC Recruitment

The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC), India’s most prestigious recruiting body, is tightening its verification process after the high-profile Puja Khedkar case, which raised concerns over fraudulent claims and document misuse by candidates. UPSC Chairman has now confirmed that the Commission will adopt DigiLocker-based certificate verification for all candidates to ensure transparency and eliminate loopholes.

This move, while long discussed, gains urgency in light of recent controversies where aspirants allegedly manipulated their credentials to secure advantages in recruitment. With lakhs of students pinning their hopes on the UPSC Civil Services Examination, the new step is being hailed as a much-needed reform to protect meritocracy.

What Triggered This Step? The Puja Khedkar Case

The decision comes after the Puja Khedkar incident—a case that shook the confidence of both aspirants and administrators. Khedkar, a civil services probationer, was accused of furnishing misleading claims regarding disability and other reservation categories to secure a coveted rank. The case is still under probe, but it raised serious questions about the reliability of candidate-submitted documents.

The controversy sparked debates across the country, with students and experts demanding that UPSC create a robust verification mechanism to prevent such misuse from being repeated.

Chairman’s Announcement: DigiLocker as the New Backbone

Speaking on the issue, the UPSC Chairman stated that the Commission has resolved to adopt DigiLocker integration for candidate verification. DigiLocker, a secure cloud-based platform provided by the Government of India, allows individuals to store and share verified documents issued directly by schools, universities, and government agencies.

By linking certificate verification to DigiLocker, UPSC can directly access official records, leaving no scope for tampering, falsification, or forged entries. According to the Chairman, this measure will not only protect the integrity of examinations but also reduce delays and disputes during recruitment.

Why DigiLocker Matters for UPSC

Currently, candidates are required to upload scanned copies of mark sheets, caste certificates, and other documents while applying. Verification happens only after selection, which often leads to prolonged investigations if discrepancies are found.

With DigiLocker:

• Instant authenticity checks will become possible.

• Documents will carry issuer-verified digital signatures, leaving no space for forged records.

• Manual scrutiny will be minimized, reducing paperwork and delays.

• The system will provide uniformity across states and universities, solving issues where different formats caused confusion.

This digital shift aligns with the government’s broader vision of Digital India, promoting e-governance and transparency.

Protecting Aspirants and the System

For genuine candidates, this move will be a relief. In the past, many aspirants suffered delays because of others misusing the system or because of endless cross-checking of certificates. With verified documents from DigiLocker, students will have faster clearances and greater confidence in the fairness of the system.

It also addresses growing concerns of misrepresentation in reservation categories. By pulling directly from issuing authorities, UPSC ensures that caste, income, and disability certificates are authentic, protecting the rights of truly deserving candidates.

Aspirants React: Mixed but Hopeful

The news has generated significant discussion among UPSC aspirants. While many welcomed the move as a long overdue reform, some raised concerns about the digital divide in rural areas where candidates may face difficulties accessing DigiLocker services.

Training institutes and online forums are now urging students to create DigiLocker accounts early and upload their verified documents to avoid last-minute hurdles during applications. Experts believe that once the system is streamlined, it will become a standard practice across all government recruitments.

A Wider Trend in Indian Recruitment

The UPSC is not alone in moving towards digital verification. Several state recruitment boards and educational institutions have already started using DigiLocker to validate certificates. The National Academic Depository (NAD) is also being integrated, enabling universities to upload verified mark sheets and degrees.

By embracing this system, UPSC sets a precedent for cleaner, corruption-free recruitments, ensuring that India’s bureaucracy is built on credibility and not on manipulated paperwork.

What Lies Ahead

While the transition to DigiLocker verification is expected to bring immense benefits, experts stress that it must be accompanied by public awareness campaigns, robust technical infrastructure, and help centers for students unfamiliar with the platform.

The UPSC Chairman assured that the Commission will issue detailed guidelines soon, giving candidates sufficient time to adapt. For now, the announcement signals a historic step forward in modernizing India’s toughest exam process.

Conclusion

The Puja Khedkar controversy may have cast a shadow over UPSC’s credibility, but it has also acted as a catalyst for reform. With DigiLocker verification, the Commission aims to close loopholes that undermine fairness, ensuring that only genuine merit is rewarded.

For millions of aspirants, this reform not only restores faith in the system but also sets the stage for a more transparent, efficient, and trustworthy future in India’s recruitment process.