India's DigiLocker Expands to Kenya and Cuba in Global Push
In a significant step towards global digital cooperation, India's DigiLocker system—a flagship component of the India Stack—has begun implementation in Kenya and Cuba. The move marks the first international deployments of the digital document management platform, which allows citizens to store and share verified documents electronically.
DigiLocker, developed by the Indian government under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, provides a secure cloud-based repository for identity proofs, educational certificates, and other official documents. The system has been widely adopted within India, with over 100 million users and integration with hundreds of government and private agencies.
The expansion to Kenya and Cuba follows bilateral discussions and technical collaborations. In Kenya, the platform will be adapted to support the country's digital identification programme, ‘Huduma Namba’. Cuban authorities plan to use DigiLocker to streamline public service delivery and enhance document security.
Indian officials said the internationalisation of DigiLocker aligns with India's vision of a 'Digital Public Goods' framework, offering open-source technology to partner nations. The initiative is expected to foster interoperability and reduce bureaucratic hurdles for citizens in recipient countries.
Experts note that the move could also strengthen India's geopolitical ties, as digital diplomacy becomes a key tool in foreign policy. However, they caution that data privacy and sovereignty concerns must be addressed through robust legal frameworks.
The Kenya and Cuba projects are in their early stages, with pilot programmes expected within the next six months. Success could pave the way for further exports of India Stack components, including UPI and Aadhaar-like systems, to other nations.
