Digital Transformation (DigiYatra facilitating contactless travel at 38 airports with over 10 Crore seamless journeys), Pg7

Key Highlights:

• DigiYatra, an initiative by the Ministry of Civil Aviation, facilitates contactless air travel at 38 airports across India.
• The platform has enabled over 10 crore (100 million) seamless journeys for passengers.
• Launched on December 1, 2022, it initially commenced operations at Delhi, Bengaluru, and Varanasi airports.
• It utilizes Facial Recognition Technology (FRT) to provide a paperless and hassle-free airport experience.
• The service is voluntary for domestic passengers and became mandatory for international passengers at four major airports from June 1, 2026.

Detailed Insights:

• DigiYatra aims to enhance passenger convenience, reduce waiting times, and improve overall security at airports.
• Passengers register on the DigiYatra app by linking their Aadhaar or DigiLocker credentials and uploading a selfie.
• At the airport, FRT verifies the passenger's identity at various checkpoints, including entry, security, and boarding gates.
• The initiative is coordinated by the Ministry of Civil Aviation and implemented by the DigiYatra Foundation, a Section 8 not-for-profit company.
• The DigiYatra Foundation is jointly owned by the Airports Authority of India (AAI) (26%) and five major private airports (14.8% each).
• Data privacy is addressed through a decentralized mobile-based ID storage system, where personal data is stored on the user's device.
• Facial biometrics are purged from airport systems within 24 hours of a flight's departure, and the DigiYatra Foundation does not store Personally Identifiable Information (PII) centrally.
• The system is designed to comply with the Digital Personal Data Protection Act 2023.
• Beyond the initial launch, DigiYatra has been progressively expanded to more airports, with plans for further integration across the country.

Scientific/Technical Concepts Involved:

• Facial Recognition Technology (FRT): A biometric technology that identifies or verifies a person by comparing and analyzing patterns from their facial contours.
• Biometric Enabled Seamless Travel (BEST): An overarching concept that uses biometric data for smooth and efficient passenger processing at various checkpoints.
• Self-Sovereign Identity (SSI): A model where individuals have control over their digital identities and data, storing it on their own devices rather than central databases.
• Decentralized Mobile-based ID storage: A system where identity credentials and personal data are stored securely on the user's mobile device, enhancing privacy and control.