Kamal Swami

Digi Yatra: A Gateway for Blockchain-Powered Public Services

Digi Yatra, an initiative by the Ministry of Civil Aviation, Government of India, is a step ahead in creating a paperless, contactless air travel experience using biometric-enabled facial recognition. Combining Digi Yatra with blockchain technology further creates an ecosystem equipped with unmatched security, transparency, and user control.

With the world adopting decentralized systems, integrating blockchain into public infrastructure like Digi Yatra not only offers extra convenience to passengers but also justifies the Digital India 2.0 movement.

• Decentralized Identity (DID):

  The integration of Blockchain will let the passengers store their digital identities like Aadhaar-linked biometrics and travel documents in secured personal wallets. There will be no need for submitting data to centralized servers, verification of documents will happen through zero-knowledge proofs, maintaining privacy and ownership.

• Immutable Travel Logs:

  Air travel involves moving across multiple checkpoints including entry, baggage check-in, and security clearance. The use of blockchain allows for storing the whole data on a blockchain ledger. This ensures a tamper-proof audit trail, improving both operational efficiency and accountability of passengers.

• Smart Contracts for Seamless Access:

  Smart contracts can automate permissions across various travel zones. Passengers can move through check-in, security, and boarding without manual verification, reducing queues and improving airport flow.

• Inter-Airport Interoperability:

  Blockchain works on the "verify once, use everywhere" model. Once the personal data of a traveller is verified at one airport will not be required to undergo the same process at the next airport. This not only strengthens collaboration between various airports but also enhances travellers' comfort and convenience.

• Privacy and Consent Management:

  Passengers have full control over their data, who can access their data, for how long, and for what purpose. Blockchain’s transparent audit mechanisms also ensure compliance with data protection laws like India’s Digital Personal Data Protection Act.

The architecture of Digi Yatra powered by blockchain is not restricted to only for air travel, but its deployment can elevate the working of many sectors including:

Patients will have the freedom to maintain their health records viz, vaccination history, prescriptions, and insurance details in a blockchain wallet. They also have the freedom to grant permission to access data by particular healthcare professionals.

• Encourages interoperability within hospitals about data and emergency services.
• Enhanced privacy and control for patients.
• Supports Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission and pandemic readiness.

Complete academic records of all students from the year of their enrollment to the passing out year can be recorded on blockchain.Universities and boards can issue tamper-proof degrees, certificates, and skill badges on-chain, accessible through student wallets.

• Instant verification of academic and non-academic staff appointed in different academic institutions.
• Prevents fake degrees.
• Facilitates global academic mobility.
Supply Chain – Transparent Goods Movement

Facility to record every activity from production to delivery on the blockchain.

Benefits:
• Tracking and monitoring for goods like vaccines or defence materials becomes more simple and easier.
• Prevents fraud, delays, and counterfeiting.
• Enhances procurement and distribution accountability.
Real Estate – Blockchain-Based Land Registries

Data related to all types of residential and commercial properties including property titles, sales, and mutation records can be stored on-chain. This reduces the need to record data on books.

Benefits:
• Instant verification of property title
• Robust security of data
• No middlemen or fraudulent transfers.
Public Distribution System (PDS) – Efficient Welfare Delivery

Ration cardholders will be given blockchain-based IDs, and each transaction conducted will be immutably logged.

Benefits:
• No fake transactions.
• Real-time tracking of allocations.
• Supports portability under One Nation, One Ration Card (ONORC).
The Best Model To Follow Under Digital India 2.0 Movement

Blockchain-Digi Yatra is not just a technological update, it's a testament to scalable, citizen-focused governance. The same approach can be deployed for:

• Digital Identity & Documentation – Aadhaar, PAN, Voter ID, and passports are managed via a decentralized wallet.
• Legal and Judicial Systems – FIRs, court logs, and judgments recorded on immutable ledgers.
• Remote Voting – Biometric/OTP-secured e-voting systems for NRIs and underserved populations.
• Insurance & Banking – Real-time claim settlements, fraud-proof KYC, and digital underwriting.
Final Thoughts

With the increasing digitization of government documents like Aadhaar, UPI, and ONDC, India is emerging as a leader in the adoption of Web3 solutions. Integrating blockchain with initiatives like Digi Yatra represents not just modernization, but a strategic shift in how we manage identity, data, and services digitally.