> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://rc.sunbird.org/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://rc.sunbird.org/v1.0.0/help/comprehensive-overview-electronic-registries-and-verifiable-credentials/electronic-registries/design-principles.md).

# Design Principles

### Principles

1. **Minimalism and Decentralisation (federated)**\
   Registries should be built for specific purposes containing just enough attributes for serving that purpose. Registries should leverage other existing registries, avoid creating multiple sources of truths, and allowing other federated linked registries to be built on top.
2. **Accountability & Non-repudiability**\
   Complexity is an inherent characteristic of large-scale ecosystems, and solutions can not be trusted and sustained if the authenticity of authorship and validity of contracts can be repudiated. Registry will enable non-repudiation of authorship and contracts as an embedded feature using user authentication and digital signatures.
3. **Empowerment & Self-maintainability**\
   \*\*\*\*Empowering data owners, by giving them the ability to view, initiate correction and control how their information is accessed or used, by giving them the ability to give and withdraw consent at the attribute level (consent-based architecture).
4. **Security & Consented Access**\
   \*\*\*\*Ensuring that data is exchanged in a secured manner with well defined privacy rules and in alignment with access allowed by data owner and issuer.
5. **Universal Access & Open APIs**\
   \*\*\*\*Enable secure digital access and interoperable communication across systems using APIs to ensure seamless integration across diverse systems.

Registries based on these principles will drive data accuracy and build trust in the system among the actors of the ecosystem.


---

# Agent Instructions
This documentation is published with GitBook. GitBook is the documentation platform designed so that both humans and AI agents can read, navigate, and reason over technical content effectively. Learn more at gitbook.com.

## Querying This Documentation
If you need additional information that is not directly available in this page, you can query the documentation dynamically by asking a question.

Perform an HTTP GET request on the current page URL with the `ask` query parameter, and the optional `goal` query parameter:

```
GET https://rc.sunbird.org/v1.0.0/help/comprehensive-overview-electronic-registries-and-verifiable-credentials/electronic-registries/design-principles.md?ask=<question>&goal=<endgoal>
```

`ask` is the immediate question: it should be specific, self-contained, and written in natural language.
`goal` is optional and describes the broader end goal you are ultimately trying to accomplish on behalf of the user. GitBook uses it to tailor the answer towards what is most useful for that goal.

The response will contain a direct answer to the question and relevant excerpts and sources from the documentation.

Use this mechanism when the answer is not explicitly present in the current page, you need clarification or additional context, or you want to retrieve related documentation sections.