Law Minister Launches New Digital Notary Portal to Streamline Services

New Delhi: Arjun Ram Meghwal, Minister of State (Independent Charge) for the Ministry of Law & Justice, launched the new Notary Portal (https://notary.gov.in) today in a ceremony organized by the Department of Law & Justice in New Delhi. This digital platform is aimed at simplifying and streamlining the processes related to notary services, moving towards a paperless and efficient system in line with the Digital India vision.

The Notary Portal will provide an online interface between notaries and the government for various services, including submitting applications for notary appointments, issuing and renewing Certificates of Practice, requesting changes in practice areas, and filing annual returns. With this new system, Central Notaries will no longer need to submit physical applications. They will now be able to apply online, track their application status, and download digitally signed Certificates of Practice directly from their DigiLocker accounts.

Speaking at the event, Meghwal highlighted the importance of the Notary Portal in advancing a paperless and faceless governance model, stating, “This portal represents a significant step toward making government services more efficient and accessible to notaries and the general public, helping to achieve the vision of Digital India set by our Prime Minister.” He added that the user-friendly design of the portal will facilitate smoother interactions between notaries and the public as additional features are activated.

Following the portal’s inauguration, the first Certificate of Notary Practice was digitally issued to Bhura Ram, a resident of Bikaner, Rajasthan, marking a milestone in the system’s implementation.

Dr. Rajiv Mani, Law Secretary, emphasized that the new Notary Portal will accelerate the selection and appointment of notaries across India, making the system more transparent and efficient. He further noted that the portal will create a centralized digital storage system for all notary-related records. “This platform offers several new features beyond the previous online application system and will benefit citizens across the country’s vast geographical expanse once fully operational,” he said.

Developed in collaboration with the National Informatics Centre (NIC), the Notary Portal will be rolled out in phases. The first phase, which launched today, allows for the issuance of Certificates of Practice for provisionally selected notaries. Upcoming features will include modules for certificate renewals and the submission of annual returns, expected to be launched later this year.