10 months ago
Gujarat Implements QR Codes for Digital Verification of Certificates
Imagine you need to prove you finished high school to apply for a job in another country.
Right now, you have to go to a special office to get your paper grades verified.
Soon, your grades will have a special secret code, like a QR code on a food package.
You can just scan this code with your phone, and the school board can instantly check if your grades are real and haven't been changed.
This makes it easier for you and harder for anyone to cheat.
This is part of a bigger plan in Gujarat to make all government paperwork, like birth certificates, easier to get and check using technology.
They are also working on making it easier to pay for things, track buses in real-time, and other improvements to make dealing with the government simpler and more honest for everyone.
Gujarat will introduce QR codes on Class X and XII marksheets from the next academic year for easier and tamper-proof verification.
Birth and death certificates can now be downloaded and their authenticity verified by scanning QR codes online.
These reforms are being implemented based on recommendations from the Gujarat Administrative Reforms Commission (GARC).
GARC has received over 3,500 public suggestions and has released five reports focusing on various administrative improvements.
Other initiatives include UPI payments for government services, live-tracking of public transport, and streamlining of government processes.
- Who
- Gujarat Secondary and Higher Secondary Education Board (GSHSEB) and various government departments, based on recommendations from the Gujarat Administrative Reforms Commission (GARC).
- What
- Implementation of QR codes on educational and civic certificates for tamper-proof verification and digital accessibility, alongside other administrative and governance reforms.
- Where
- Across Gujarat, with specific examples in Gandhinagar, Ahmedabad, and the Gujarat State Road Transport Corporation (GSRTC) network.
- When
- Starting from the next academic year for marksheets, with other reforms at various stages of implementation.
- Why
- To reduce 'pain points' in government transactions, enhance transparency, improve citizen experience, and future-proof Gujarat's administrative architecture.
Key facts
- QR Code Implementation for Marksheets
- Class X and XII marksheets from the next academic year will have QR codes for tamper-proof verification.
- Digital Certificates
- Birth and death certificates can be downloaded and verified online by scanning QR codes.
- Gujarat Administrative Reforms Commission (GARC)
- Reforms are based on recommendations from GARC, established in February 2025.
- GARC Suggestions
- Over 3,500 suggestions received via the GARC website from the public.
- GSRTC Reforms
- Recommendations include UPI payments, real-time bus tracking, and integrated fare systems.
- GARC Reports
- Five reports submitted since March 2025, with recommendations being implemented.
Quotes
the GARC member
A member of the Gujarat Administrative Reforms Commission
““Our goal is clear – to future-proof Gujarat’s administrative architecture and ensure that governance becomes a true enabler of dignity, opportunity and trust for every citizen. This is not just a reform exercise, it is a commitment to building a responsive, transparent, and accountable administration that can meet the aspirations of every citizen by 2047,””
indianexpress.com
““reduce pain points in transacting with the government and nudge all the departments to offer a seamless experience for the citizens””
indianexpress.com
the official
An official involved with the GARC
““While most Administrative Reforms Commissions typically publish “Action Taken” updates after 2–3 years of groundwork, Gujarat’s ARC — established only in late February this year — has launched a dedicated website for citizen engagement, released five thematic reports and initiated wide-ranging stakeholder consultations, official sources said.”
indianexpress.com
““Their insights are complemented by a secretariat trained in public policy, data analytics and research methodology. This blend ensures that our reports are both grounded in administrative reality and rigorous in design,””
indianexpress.com
The report
A report by the Gujarat Administrative Reforms Commission
““The current information asymmetry undermines the principles of transparent and efficient governance,””
indianexpress.com
A senior member of the commission
A senior member of the Gujarat Administrative Reforms Commission
““Every suggestion is reviewed and those with implementation potential are mapped to departments with draft formats provided. A formal acknowledgment from the commission will soon be issued to contributors whose ideas have been adopted. Responsiveness is our foundation. In most cases, we have provided draft government resolutions, implementation formats and department-specific action pathways. This ensures that our proposals move swiftly from ideation to execution, without getting lost in abstraction. Together, we have conducted over 50 Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) across departments and cadres—including direct consultations with Secretaries of key departments. These FGDs are not symbolic—they are the backbone of our reform process, enabling us to test ideas, refine recommendations, and build ownership across the system””
indianexpress.com
Principal Secretary (Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs) Mona Khandhar
Principal Secretary (Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs) and a member of the GARC
““Many of the recommendations, including single sign in for citizens integrating all the government schemes so that all citizens have a single digital identity and there is no need for them to log in again and again, for ease of doing governance are in the implementation process. Also, upgrade of government websites under the Department of Science and Technology, which was already initiated, has been expedited,””
indianexpress.com
A senior government official
A senior government official speaking to The Indian Express
““Since all GSRTC buses have an embedded GPS, live data of all these buses is already available at the backend. This can be made available through an app or a similar system for live tracking of the buses. Similarly, payment of tickets through UPI code available with the conductors is also being worked out””
indianexpress.com
the member
A member of the Gujarat Administrative Reforms Commission
““Our recommendations are not sweeping ideas; they are precise, department-owned, and implementation-ready. Our approach is equally distinct,””
indianexpress.com
