MOSIP is designed, developed, and implemented based on a set of core principles that drive its effectiveness and adaptability. These principles ensure that MOSIP remains open, secure, interoperable, scalable, and inclusive, allowing it to meet the needs of diverse users and support the creation of accessible, digital identity systems globally.

• Modular: Identity systems that serve unique needs with mutually-exclusive technology bundles. Rather than a stand-alone solution offered to every adopting nation, MOSIP technology allows user countries to build custom workflows. Each functionality is built with independent microservices to provide flexibility and control.

• Open Source: Trusted & transparent technology, adhering to global standards. An open-source code repository, available in entirety on GitHub, encourages contributions from user communities and offers governments control over their ID systems. MOSIP also actively works with the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), governments, and a commercial ecosystem to arrive at common Open Standards and Protocols. This makes MOSIP easy to integrate, interoperable, cost- and time-efficient.

• Vendor-Neutral: Offering the ability to integrate with a wide range of compliant technologies. In the setting up of a foundational digital ID system, it is critical that platform, biometric devices, and system integrators, are able to integrate and function smoothly. Vendor-neutrality, maintained through the MOSIP Partner Programme and the establishment of the MOSIP Marketplace offers countries the ability to choose and change their technology solutions at any time, and save precious time and financial resources.

• Private and Secure: Ensuring every individual is in control of their own data. MOSIP is designed keeping data security and privacy in mind, ensuring that data is protected in flight and rest. Cryptographic encryption and zero knowledge architecture ensure that no sensitive data is stored on the MOSIP system. Governments of adopting nations have sovereign control over their ID systems, and data sharing only happens with the individual’s consent.

• Scalable: Designed to accommodate growth and changing needs. The platform is designed to be scalable, accommodating the growth of users and services. It can cater to large populations, support various regions, and integrate with multiple systems securely, without compromising performance. Its modular architecture allows it to easily expand and adapt to new requirements, making it suitable for both small-scale deployments and national level rollouts. This scalability ensures that MOSIP can serve diverse countries and populations with varying technological and infrastructural capabilities.

• Human-Centric: Technology for all. We aim to develop technology that can cater to diverse and varying requirements around the world, yet being human-centric. The team at MOSIP constantly strives to learn from on-ground experiences in adopting nations, to understand their context-specific requirements and provide adaptable solutions.

• Inclusive: Technology that leaves no one behind. With the mission of empowering lives all over the world, MOSIP continues to take steps towards being an inclusive platform. Ongoing collaborations with global universities, research organizations, and strong on-ground teams have sharpened our focus on developing technology that is unrestricted by gender, race, and economic status. Additionally, technology features allow residents to access their digital identities even in remote areas with low connectivity. Refer here for more details.

With the mission of empowering lives all over the world, MOSIP continues to take steps towards being an inclusive platform. Ongoing collaborations with global universities, research organizations, and strong on-ground teams have sharpened our focus on developing technology that is unrestricted by gender, race, and economic status. Additionally, technology features allow individuals to access services with digital identities through multiple channels, and even in remote areas with low connectivity, ensuring no one is left behind.

Some mechanisms through which the MOSIP platform supports inclusivity is illustrated below:

• Introducer Support For The Undocumented

  • The Introducer concept in MOSIP allows individuals without formal identity documents to be enrolled into the digital identity system. A trusted and verified Introducer, such as a community leader or an authorized individual, vouches for the person’s identity. This ensures that marginalized populations, including refugees, nomadic groups, and those lacking paperwork, can still obtain a digital identity. By enabling inclusion through trust-based verification, the Introducer mechanism helps governments provide identity access to all, promoting social and financial inclusion.

• Multi-Language Support for Linguistically Diverse Communities

  • Multi-language support in MOSIP enhances inclusivity by ensuring individuals can interact with digital identity systems in their native or preferred languages. This helps bridge linguistic barriers, making identity services accessible to diverse populations, including those with limited literacy in dominant languages. By supporting localization, MOSIP enables governments to customize the platform to suit national needs, fostering greater adoption, trust, and usability. This approach aligns with the goal of creating inclusive and equitable digital identity ecosystems worldwide.

• Biometric Exception Handling for Individuals with Difficult-to-Capture Biometrics

  • MOSIP’s biometric exception handling ensures that individuals with difficult-to-capture biometrics, such as worn fingerprints or missing biometrics like finger or eyes, are not excluded from digital identity systems. When biometrics cannot be collected, MOSIP provides alternative methods, such as marking the biometric modality as an exception and capturing a photograph as evidence, thereby allowing inclusive identity registration for all. This approach ensures that elderly individuals, manual laborers, and persons with disabilities can still obtain a secure and verifiable identity, reinforcing inclusivity and accessibility in digital identity.

• Enabling In-Home registration with Android Registration Client

  • The Android Registration Client (ARC) enhances inclusivity by enabling in-home registration for individuals who are unable to visit physical registration centers. This portable solution ensures that residents, especially in remote locations, can access identity registration services at their convenience. By providing mobility for registration agents and allowing remote registrations, ARC significantly expands coverage and accessibility, ensuring that even those in underserved or hard-to-reach areas are included in national identity systems.

• Ensuring Gender Inclusivity with MOSIP's GenderMag Collaboration

  • MOSIP’s collaboration with GenderMag ensures inclusivity by integrating gender-sensitive design principles into the User Interface (UI) and Design. This approach helps identify and address barriers that may disproportionately affect users based on gender, ensuring that the digital identity platform is accessible and effective for all users, regardless of gender. This approach emphasizes on creating interfaces that are intuitive and equitable, thus ensuring an inclusive user experience for diverse populations.

• Multi-Modal Verification with Inji and eSignet

  • MOSIP ensures inclusivity by offering multiple verification modalities through Inji and eSignet. These solutions provide secure and convenient citizen verification across various channels, including online/offline, self-service/assisted modes, and accessible even with smartphones, feature phones, or no phones. This flexibility allows individuals from diverse backgrounds, including those with limited access to technology or support, to easily access and benefit from the services.

Through its inclusive mechanisms, MOSIP continues to push boundaries in providing accessible and equitable digital identity solutions. By focusing on universal access and adaptability, MOSIP ensures that everyone—regardless of their background, location, or physical limitations—can benefit from the services enabled by the platform. These efforts reflect MOSIP's commitment to creating a more inclusive and sustainable digital future for all.