The Registration Department in Kerala has made all Sub-Registrar offices fully cashless. By using technology, they have introduced an e-payment system to make services easier, faster, and more transparent for the public.

Earlier, people had to pay cash at Sub-Registrar offices for various services and government fees. Large amounts like Aadhaar registration fees had to be counted, recorded, and stored daily before being deposited in the treasury the next day. This caused problems like delays, theft risks, and mismanagement. People also had the trouble of bringing large sums of cash. To solve these issues, the government introduced the e-payment system in 2016-17.

The first step in this transition was enabling Aadhaar registration fee payments through the department’s PEARL software. Soon after, applications for services like liability certificates and certified copies were also brought under online payment. In 2019, ePOS machines were introduced in Sub-Registrar offices to allow card payments for various fees. During the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, UPI-based payments (Google Pay, etc.) were also implemented.

Now, all office-related payments including those under the Chitty Act, GST on filing sheet sales, underwriters’ welfare fund contributions, and welfare fund stamp sales—have been moved to the e-payment system. Dedicated TSB accounts have been set up for managing these payments. With this development, all Sub-Registrar offices across Kerala are now fully cashless.

The shift to digital payments has made registration services easier, safer, and more transparent. It reduces errors, makes transactions smoother, and speeds up office work. This is an important step toward building a Digital Kerala.