TENZIN LHAKI Thimphu
Bhutan’s National Digital Identity initiative, NDI, has introduced a digital signature platform aimed at enhancing the security, authenticity, and inclusivity of digital transactions.
The platform, which integrates cutting-edge cryptographic technology and Decentralized Identity (DID) architecture, is designed to address the limitations of conventional e-signature systems and set a new standard for digital trust across sectors.
At the core of this innovation is the use of DID, binding every digital signature to a unique and verifiable identity within the Bhutan NDI wallet.
This advancement significantly increases the platform’s resistance to fraud and manipulation, distinguishing it from traditional e-signature methods.
“When a person digitally signs a document using NDI, a readable signature is inserted into the document. Additionally, when the signing process occurs, the document being signed is digitally signed at the backend,” said Pallavi Sharma, Lead Marketing &Communications at Bhutan NDI.
He added this makes it not only readable to the eyes but also irrefutable to the machine, which can be verified years into the future.
Unlike legacy systems that often rely on image-based or manually drawn signatures, Bhutan NDI’s platform uses cryptographic assurance to guarantee both human readability and machine- level verification.
The system’s backend hashing process ensures that any tampering with a document—even minor—renders it unverifiable through the public verification portal.
Bhutan NDI’s platform also eliminates reliance on centralized Certificate Authorities (CAs), which can be vulnerable to failure or compromise.
Instead, it embraces Self-Sovereign Identity (SSI) principles, giving users control over their digital identities and credentials.
“Aligned to the principles of SSI, it is important for Bhutan NDI to move away from centralized authorities and empower citizens with decentralized identifiers that are owned and controlled by each individual,” Sharma stated.
The platform also accommodates multi-signatory workflows, allowing documents to be signed in legally required sequences.
“For instance, if I am signing a document as a reviewer and my manager is the final approver, the person creating the document can add me as the first signatory and my manager as the final one,” Sharma said.
Once documents are fully signed, a signed PDF is distributed to all parties and can be verified using a public portal.
“If the PDF has not been tampered with, the portal will read the document and provide details of the signatories and the time when the PDF was signed,” Sharma explained.
“In a case where the PDF has been altered, the verification portal will inform the verifier that the document cannot be read because it has been altered.”
Sharma noted that this makes Bhutan’s platform both compliant and competitive globally.
“By binding digital signatures to verifiable digital identities, Bhutan NDI is now setting a global standard for verifiable digital signatures,” Sharma said.
The platform’s launch has drawn attention across Bhutan, with citizens expressing both optimism and concern, largely shaped by their level of access to technology.
For citizens in urban and semi-urban areas with access to smartphones and internet, the platform is seen as a major step forward:
“It is convenient and time-efficient, allowing access from anywhere,” said Rinzin Norbu from Kencholing Chiwog under Shompangkha Gewog in Sarpang.
“Previously, people had to visit the gewog office just to get basic information. But now, with the introduction of NDI, we can easily access and share information through our phones,” said Karma Tenzin, another smartphone user.
But for others, especially in rural regions, technical hurdles have prevented full participation.
“The face verification doesn’t really work; the system struggles to recognize my face,” said Kelden Dorji, another mobile app user in Thimphu.
Another user, Pema Wangdi, expressing concern over the reliability of biometric login, said, “Face scanning is not working properly, and I think it is not necessary since it doesn’t function. Typing a password should be sufficient.”
“I have disclosed half of my information, and I am certain that the app has made a copy of my facial bio-map,” said Phurba Wangdi, questioning how biometric data is stored and used.
For citizens in remote gewogs or chiwogs with limited connectivity and no smartphone access, the story is different. In districts like Pema Gatshel, residents are still in the early stages of learning about the platform.
“Until now, we had to carry all our documents in hard copy. With the NDI app on our phones, things will become much easier,” said one villager during an awareness campaign in Chimoong Gewog.
However, many participants admitted they had never used the app or fully understood it.
“The transition may not be smooth at first, especially since not everyone is tech-savvy or educated,” noted Ash Man Rai, Mangmi of Shompangkha Gewog, highlighting the digital literacy gap that still persists in parts of the country.
“The Cloud Wallet will be made available through Community Centers or Gewog IT Centers with assistance by IT officials at the Gewog level,” Sharma said. “We will also be exploring integrating the digital signing through the cloud wallet.”
Bhutan NDI is also running onboarding programs, deploying Desuups and IT personnel to help register citizens in remote regions and collect feedback on technical issues.
Plans are underway to explore non-smartphone compatibility through basic phones and QR-coded CID cards for identity verification in offline settings.
With potential use cases across finance, healthcare, and government, the platform promises to enhance transparency, compliance, and data security.
Sharma emphasized its broader impact: “The system fosters trust, privacy, and efficiency, positioning Bhutan as a leader in digital trust infrastructure.”
While still evolving, Bhutan’s digital signature platform signals a shift toward digital sovereignty and secure citizen-controlled identity infrastructure, aligning the country with global movements toward decentralized technology.
One villager said, “If this really works for people like us who don’t have smartphones, it will change everything.”
How well the system can accommodate both kinds of users—those well‑connected and those less so—will likely determine its ultimate success in promoting inclusive digital trust across Bhutan.
