New Delhi, July 1: Prime Minister Narendra Modi today launched various IT-enabled projects, including a nationwide digital locker facility.

It is an online storage space for digital versions of certificates and documents, such as PAN card, passport and mark sheets, issued to citizens of the country.

The "e-storage" facility precludes the need to lug around a big file of documents or get photocopies or attestations while applying for a bank account, passport or gas connection.

One only needs to submit an "online link" to these documents, which can then be accessed and verified by various government and private agencies.

The e-locker is linked to each resident's Aadhaar number and provides a facility to digitally sign e-documents. You can sign up for your digital locker at https://digitallocker.gov.in/ using your Aadhaar number and a mobile number linked to that Aadhaar number.

To ensure the security of online documents, a two-process authentication system has been put in place that will combine your Aadhaar number and an OTP (one-time password) sent to your registered mobile number.

Officials said besides making things easier for citizens, the move addressed the issue of counterfeiting. At present, there is no mechanism to check whether a piece of document is fake or original.

It will also save the government the significant cost incurred in storing and maintaining physical documents, officials added.