Demystifying RTO Queries

Demystifying RTO Queries - Smart Card

Anil Chhikara, MLO (Projects), Transport Department, Government of Delhi

Question: What is a Smart Card?

Answer: A smart card is a type of chip card, a plastic card embedded with a computer chip that stores and transacts data between users. The data may be in the form of value or information or both within its memory. The card contains an embedded 8-bit microprocessor. The microprocessor is under a gold contact pad on one side of the plastic card. The term smart card came into existence after year 1995 when the chip microprocessor was used for many purposes, including cell phones.

Question: What are the benefits of Smart Cards?

Answer: The following benefits are observed in the use of Smart cards:

▪	Compact Storage of Data
▪	Tamper Proof Storage of Data
▪	Secured Operation
▪	No Cash Transaction
▪	Easy Access
▪	Remote Sensing can act within fraction of seconds without contact
▪	Uniformity of System

Question: What are the applications of Smart Cards?

Answer: The Smart Card applications are:

▪	e-banking
▪	e-governance
▪	Health
▪	Transport
▪	Identity Cards
▪	Credit cards
▪	Security functioning

Question: What are the components required for application of Smart Cards?

Answer:	1. Hand-held Readers to display the characters of card
	2. Interface - for connection with PC
	3. Writer - to add or manipulate data
	4. Printer - for printing VIZ/MRZ.

Question: How can Smart cards be used in the Transport Department?

Answer: In the Transport department, Smart Card can be used for Registration, Revenue collection, Permit Issuance, Driving licensing, Pollution Control records and Enforcement activities.

Question: What are the specifications of Smart Card used in the Transport Department?

Answer: Microprocessor: IC Chip (Integrated Circuit Gold Plated embedded in plastic Card), 4KB RAM.

Compliant of: ISO/IEC 7816-1,2,3,6.

Transport Protocol (Term means data can be transferred to another system): SCOSTA V 1.2b (SCOSTA - Smart card Operating System for Transport Application, the software prepared by NIC & Ministry of Road Transport and Highways)

EEPROM (Electrically Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory): T=O, T=l

Glossy, PVC or ABS Plastic: 3,00,000 write cycle.

Question: What are the actions required to launch Smart Cards for Transport application?

Answer: Actions before Implementation are required by all the States to make the technology successful

▪	Transfer into MORTH standardised backend of all RTO registration record.
▪	Induction of user friendly IT formats for data entry.
▪	Uniform codes of operation all over India.
▪	Existing formatting of data compatible with machine readable zone.
▪	Introduction of digital signature, finger print and photographic compression in existing system.
▪	Facility to get print of details wherever Smart Card not existing.

Question: What is the status of Implementation of Smart Card in RTO's of India?

Answer: There have been previous attempts to introduce Smart Cards by few RTOs. They faced problems in its enforcement, as different districts could not equip their enforcement team with Smart Card readers and system application were also found to be different in other states. Therefore, Smart Card use prior to year 2000 was not encouraging. In the year 2000, Ministry of Road Transport & Highways got software prepared by NIC (National Informatics Centre), which was called SCOSTA. (Smart Card Operating System for Transport Application). This software has been incorporated in Central Motor Vehicle Rules. Thereafter, various states are getting their registration record converted into SCOSTA format that is called SCOSTA VAHAN. The same software will be uniformly made available throughout India in a single format. The Smart Card formatting has already been carried on SCOSTA. Presently, the States like Gujarat, Delhi, Chandigarh, Karnataka etc. have started to provide registration certificate in the form of Smart Card. Smart Card on SCOSTA is expected to give effective results.

Question: What are the unique features of Smart Cards provided by Delhi Government?

Answer: The Smart Card being provided by the Delhi Government has the following unique features:

1.	In addition to chip, there is also an optical memory having capacity of 64MB. This memory will contain all the scanned documents of the Registration file, thereby dispensing with the massive manual record maintained for each and every vehicle in Transport department. The registration file is returned to the owner of the vehicle.
2.	Along with registration record, the record of payment of Road Tax, Traffic Offences, Permit Details & fees, Biometrics of security functions like finger print, photograph of registered owner, digital signature are contained in optical memory.
3.	The record on optical memory will have WORM (Write Once Read Many) technology, which leaves no possibility of manipulation of the data by RTOs or any other person. Data can only be added but cannot be deleted.

Question: How Smart Card will be used in driving licence?

Answer: The other part of SCOSTA for driving licence is called SARATHI. This system will have driving licence record on common software to be followed by different state RTOs. This will also help in making the national record of drivers in India. The RTOs do not require to keep voluminous records of driver renewals, endorsement, suspension or offences. This will also help to dispose the accidental insurance cases. The traffic police can enter the offence details in smart cards on the road itself. The police can also know that the driver is regular offender or not.

Question: What are the security features built by the Transport Department, Delhi into the system?

Answer: Only authorised person in the Transport Department with an assigned login and password will be able to access the data to make additions therein. The backend is kept in few different locations and the WORM technology is foolproof which cannot delete the date. The application of smart card in transport sector follows its marvelous performance and security function in banking and cellphone industries.

Note: Anil Chhikara is an MIE (Mechanical) and has authored a number of books on various transport related subjects, such as, Automobile Engineering, Road Safety, Traffic and RTO procedures. The views expressed and clarifications provided by him are his own and not that of Transport Department, Delhi.