Digital RC & DL: Legal Validity &
"Zero
Physical" Enforcement
The 8th update centers on the absolute legal parity between physical documents and their digital versions. As of December 2025, MoRTH has issued strict advisories to ensure that Digital RC and DL are treated as original documents, preventing harassment during vehicle checks.
Legal Guarantee
Under the IT Act 2000 and MV Act 1988, documents fetched in DigiLocker or mParivahan are legally valid originals. Officials refusing them can face departmental action.
1 What Qualifies as a "Valid" Digital Document?
There is often confusion about what works during a traffic stop. Here is the 2025 clarification:
Accepted
Documents fetched inside DigiLocker or mParivahan. These apps pull real-time data from the National Register.
Not Accepted
Screenshots, photos in gallery, or scanned PDFs. These are easily tampered with and legally invalid.
The "Offline" Rule: Once fetched, the document is stored in the app's "Local Dashboard" and can be shown even without internet.
2 Digital Impounding (e-Challan)
"How do police seize my license if it's digital?" The answer lies in the Virtual Seizure system.
- Database Reflection: If you commit a major offense (e.g., drunk driving), the officer updates the status to "Impounded" or "Suspended" in the Vahan database instantly.
- Universal Block: Even if you hold the physical card, a scan by any other officer will show the "Impounded" status.
3 The "mParivahan NextGen" Upgrade
The October 2025 backend update introduced features that make digital management easier:
Advisory Notifications
The app pings you 15 days before your Insurance, Fitness, or RC expires.
Family Sharing
Securely "share" a virtual RC with a family member. If your brother drives your car, authorize his app to show the RC so he isn't caught without papers.
Summary of Validity (Dec 2025)
| Document | mParivahan / DigiLocker | Photo / Screenshot |
|---|---|---|
| Driving License | Valid | Invalid |
| Registration (RC) | Valid | Invalid |
| Insurance | Valid | Invalid |
| PUC Certificate | Valid | Invalid |
Need a Physical Backup?
While digital is legal, a physical card is a failsafe for dead batteries or lost phones. Print your DigiLocker documents on a durable PVC card.
Create Physical Backup