BHUBANESWAR:Verification of educational certificates will no longer take months for recruiters and degree holders. The Higher Education Department is all set to make authentication of certificates issued by State Government-run universities online through a software - ServicePlus - developed by National Informatics Centre (NIC). The service will be launched by Higher Education Minister Pradeep Panigrahy on Saturday.
The new system will apply to universities like Utkal, Ravenshaw, Sambalpur, Berhampur, North Odisha, Fakir Mohan, Jagannath Sanskrit, BPUT, OUAT and people will have to pay Rs 50 to avail the service. While the universities used to take 40 to 60 days for manual verification of certificates, the new system would enable the same work within 12 working days.
“In case of manual verification, people had to visit the department office several times but from now on, they can apply from anywhere at the click of a mouse and come to the department office just once with the original copy of the certificate to get it authenticated,” said Panigrahy.
The Minister added that the new system of online verification will allow anyone to verify the certificates from the State’s major universities in a cost-effective manner. It will speed up inter-university verification as well, he added.
Explaining the process, Deputy Director General, NIC SK Panda said anyone interested to get certificates issued by any Government-run universities can log in to http://serviceonline.gov.in/ and register with ServicePlus.
“People can apply for authentication through a digital application form. Once they submit the form with a passport size photograph, it will be electronically diverted to a section officer in the Higher Education Department who would then send the application to a joint secretary level officer. The officer will forward it to the university concerned,” said Panda.
After the university confirms that the certificate is authentic and sends it back to the department, the recruiter or degree holder would be sent an email and SMS asking him to come to the department office with the original certificate. “He has to then submit Rs 50 to get the certificate authenticated,” he said.
The online certificate authentication will be covered under Odisha Right to Public Services Act, 2012. In case of a delay in authentication beyond 12 days, the official concerned will be fined Rs 250 per day. NIC will train officials in universities on the project next week.