Check the Domain Name Carefully
Most official Indian central and state government websites use a .gov.in or .nic.in domain. A site claiming to be a government portal but using a generic domain like .com, .in, .org, or a domain with extra words or misspellings (e.g., “pmkisan-yojana-apply.com” instead of the real pmkisan.gov.in) is a significant red flag. Always read the full domain carefully — scammers often use a domain that merely contains the scheme’s name to look convincing at a glance.
Look for HTTPS and a Valid Certificate
A genuine government website should load over HTTPS (shown as a padlock icon in your browser’s address bar), indicating an encrypted connection. While HTTPS alone doesn’t guarantee legitimacy (fraudulent sites can also use HTTPS), the absence of it on a site asking for sensitive information is itself a strong warning sign.
Cross-Verify Through a Known Official Source
If you’re unsure whether a specific portal is genuine, the most reliable check is to reach it by navigating from an already-verified official source — such as the National Portal of India (india.gov.in), the relevant ministry’s own official website, or a Government listing you already trust — rather than clicking a link from an SMS, email, or social media post. A genuine government scheme’s official portal is normally linked from the sponsoring ministry’s own website.
Be Skeptical of Urgency and Unsolicited Contact
Genuine government processes rarely pressure you with extreme urgency ("your benefit will be cancelled in 2 hours") or ask you to share your Aadhaar OTP, bank PIN, or full card details over a phone call, SMS link, or email. Government departments generally don’t need your OTP to verify you — sharing an OTP effectively hands control of your own authenticated session to whoever asks for it.
What to Do If You’re Still Unsure
If you can’t confidently verify a website or message, don’t enter any personal, financial, or identity information. Instead, search for the scheme or service by name directly (typing the government portal’s name into your browser, not clicking a provided link), or contact the relevant department through a phone number or address you’ve verified independently, such as from an official document or the ministry’s own website.