Page 16 - Informatics, January 2022

In Focus

Enhanced paperwork of records. Manual verification of documents such certificates. It has developed the blockchain
The process of obtaining a duplicate certificate is a lengthy process that could be as simple as technology-based solution called Certificate
involves a lot of paperwork, right from lodging examining the original document produced by the Chain which can be used explicitly for storing
a complaint with police, filling up a request for applicant or as complex as sending the document documents in the digital format. The Certificate
a duplicate certificate, payment of fees, and of to the issuer to ascertain if the document was Chain ensures that the Certificates are recorded
course, waiting for the concerned authority to indeed issued by that person. securely, tamper-proof, and easily traceable. The
retrieve the certificate from the record room and Data can be changed, hacked, or lost due to main advantage of this Certificate Chain system
issue the duplicate certificate. natural disasters is that the Certificate could be accessed online
Cost of printing and storage With data being stored in a centralized location, by any authorised person/ institution and be
The cost of paper and printing itself are there are chances of the data being tampered in assured that it is genuine and not tampered
not the only items of expenditure related to addition to be a single point of failure. The loss – all this without the need for an intermediary.
documents received upon completing education. and damage to documents in education is quite This provides the necessary trust to the agencies
Major institutions and schools spend enormous a common basis for litigation, which results in which use these documents to ascertain the
amounts of time and money on storing these financial costs and wasted time. eligibility for providing benefit to the citizens.
documents. Benefits of blockchain implementation
Need for carrying original certificates to
Delay in verification verify the authenticity • Transparent
Ascertaining the authenticity of certificates The students need to produce the original •
issued by issuing institutions has become a major documents to various authorities for higher Tamper-proof
cause of concern these days due to the prevalence studies/ employment etc. Loss or damage to • Paperless
of malpractices like fraud and misrepresentation these documents during travel is a cause for • Intermediary free.
concern. • Trail of the certificates is available
To circumvent the above problems associated
with paper-based documents, National Verification Methodologies
Informatics Centre (NIC) has proposed blockchain The retrieval process of certificates from
technology for secured storage and retrieval of the Certificate chain system can be enabled by

Blockchain
Document System
In pursuit to achieve Digital Excellence,
IT Dept. of CBSE implemented yet
another “Emerging Technology”, i.e.
“Blockchain” for its results and academic
documents in technical collaboration
with Centre of Excellence in Block-
Chain Technology, National Informatics
Centre. This system has been named Local Bodies Accreditors, Employers
as “Academic {BlockChain} Documents (Birth Certificate, etc.) Validators & Testers
(ABCD). The Academic {Block-Chain}
Documents (ABCD) ensures that
Academic documents are recorded in
secured, tamper-proof and transparent
manner. Blockchain maintains the history
of changes to the documents as well. The
platform thus eliminates the challenges
with respect to non-availability of instant Police Dept. Professional Course Student
Academic documents and lengthy process (Degree Certificate, etc.)
of verification of these documents. CBSE
is happy to have partnered with CoE
{Blockchain Technology}, NIC which is a
pioneer in the country to provide such a
system.
Government Dept. Educational Institution Revenue Dept.
Dr. ANTRIKSH JOHRI (Admission, (Transfer Certificate, (Income,
Director Scholorship, etc.) Marksheet, etc.) Caste Certificate, etc.)
(IT & Project), CBSE
Stakeholders of Certificate Chain

16 informatics.nic.in January 2022