Database for degrees,certificates in 2011: Sibal

All academic certification from school leaving certificates to college degrees and professional diplomas would have to be saved by institutions in electronic format.

As reported by The Indian Express last week,the minister said that the “technology-based solution would ensure confidentiality,authenticity and fidelity enabling online verification”.

“A task force has been constituted to look into the finer points and it will submit its report by March 31. We will move a legislation to mandate every academic institution to save certificates in electronic form.” He added that this scheme would tie up with the Unique Identity (UID) plan for schools at a later stage.

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The step has been taken with a view to crack down on fake degree rackets and also to liberalise the verification process for students and employers alike. “Employers will be allowed access to the depository to verify a particular candidate’s degree authenticity on payment of a fee,” Sibal said.

That apart,the ministry feels the move will also ease things for those applying for duplicate copies of their degrees in case they are lost or misplaced.

While all new degrees and certificates will switch to the ‘smart’ format once this concerned legislation comes through,existing degree holders will also be able to have their certificates saved electronically with the depository,the ministry said.

The task force instituted for the new scheme will be headed by IIT Kanpur Director Prof S G Dhande and have on board the AICTE chief,CBSE chairman,UGC vice-chairman,nominees of the Department of Financial Services and Additional Secretary Higher Education,HRD.