Kerala is set to become a fully paperless state by 2026, building on its achievement of complete digital literacy. The government plans to offer citizens application-free services, secure digital storage of essential documents, and promote online transactions through AI-supported systems.
Currently, e-governance in Kerala is largely limited to government file processing. Under the new initiative, citizen services will also move online. The Local Self-Government Department will serve as the nodal agency driving this transformation.
The first step is the DEED (Digitisation of Every Essential Document) program, which will digitise citizens’ essential certificates, such as birth, income, and residence records, and link them with DigiLocker. A model software will ensure secure storage, reducing the need for repeated document submissions for different services.
Through K-SMART, every household will receive a unique digital ID. The government aims to extend this system to all citizens by December 31, 2026. Additionally, VINIMAYA (Virtual Inclusion Through Novel Initiatives for Monetary Accessibility) will promote secure digital financial transactions across the state.
The second phase of Kerala’s digital literacy mission focuses on making governance accessible with a single click. The K-SMART app will evolve into a unified platform for all government services, simplifying citizens’ interaction with government processes. Minister for Local Self Governments and Excise M B Rajesh emphasized that the initiative will make governance “available at your fingertips.”
