WHAT IS A DIGITAL SIGNATURE CERTIFICATE ( DSC ) ?
A digital signature is to electronic documents what a handwritten signature is to printed documents.
A digital signature is an electronic signature that can be used to authenticate
the identity of the sender of a message or the signer of a document.
Like physical documents are signed manually, electronic documents, for example e-forms,
are required to be signed digitally using a Digital Signature Certificate.
Why Digital Signature Certificate ?
The Information Technology Act, 2000 provides for the use of Digital Signatures on the documents
submitted in electronic form in order to ensure the security and authenticity of the documents.
Digital Certificates are issued only through a valid Certification Authority (CA).
Digital signatures are often used to implementelectronic signatures,
a broader term that refers to any electronic data that carries the intent of a signature,
but not all electronic signatures use digital signatures.
In some countries, including the United States, India, and members of the European Union,
electronic signatures have legal significance.
Types of Digital Signature Certificate ( DSC )
Class 1: These certificates do not hold any legal validity as the validation process is based
only on a valid e-mail ID and involves no direct verification.
Class 2: Here, the identity of a person is verified against a trusted, pre-verified database.
Class 3 : This is the highest level where the person needs to present himself or herself
in front of a Registration Authority (RA) and prove his/ her identity.
Issuance and Uses
A digital signature is issued by a Certification Authority (CA) and is signed with the CA"s private key.
A digital signature typically contains :
Owner"s public key,
the Owner"s name,
Expiration date of the public key,
the Name of the issuer (the CA that issued the Digital ID),
Serial number of the digital signature,
and the digital signature of the issuer.
Digital signatures deploy the Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) technology.
A Digital Certificate provides an electronic means of proving your identity.
It also provides you with a high level of security for your online transactions.
You can use certificates to encrypt information such that only the intended recipient can read it.
You can digitally sign information to provide assurance to the recipient that
it has not been changed in transit, and enable verification that you actually sent the message.
If you file electronically using digital signature you do not have to submit a physical copy of the return.
Even if you do not have a digital signature, you can still e-file the returns.
However, you must also physically submit the printed copy of the filled up Form
along with the copy of the Provisional Acknowledgement Number of your e-Return.
India’s position in deploying DSC’s
India is one of the select band of nations that has the Digital Signature Legislation in place.
This Act grants digital signatures that have been issued by
a licensed Certifying Authority in India the same status as a physical signature.
Digital signatures deploy the Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) technology.
Where can one get a digital signature made ?
The Information Technology Act, 2000 provides for use of Digital Signatures
on the documents submitted in electronic form in order to
ensure the security and authenticity of the documents filed electronically.
Certification Agencies are appointed by the office of the
Controller of Certification Agencies (CCA) under the provisions of IT Act, 2000.
There are a total of 7 Certification Agencies authorised by the CCA to issue the Digital Signature Certificates :
|
NAME OF CERTIFIYING AGENCY |
WEB SITE | |
Tata Consultancy Services |
www.tcs-ca.tcs.co.in/ | |
National Informatics Centre |
www.nic.in/ | |
Institute for Development & Research in Banking Technology (IDRBT) |
idrbtca.org.in | |
MTNL |
www.mtnltrustline.com/ | |
Customs & Central Excise |
icert.gov.in | |
(n)Code Solutions Ltd., |
www.ncodesolutions.com/ | |
Safescrypt |
www.safescrypt.com | | e-Mudhra CA ( 3i Infotech Ltd. ) | www.e-mudhra.com/ |
Digital Signature Certificates ( DSC )
Class 2 Digital Signature Certificate ( DSC ) is required for :
* e-filing of Income Tax Return,
* eFiling of Service Tax Returns,
* eSigning of Form No. 16,
* eSigning of Form No. 16 A,
* securing confidential email,
* MCA21 RoC eFiling,
* LLP Formation,
* Pvt. Ltd. Company Formation, etc.
Class 3 Digital Signature Certificate ( DSC ) is required for :
* e-tenders,
* e-procurement
* vendor registrations
What is PAN encrypted Digital signature certificate ?
Digital signature certificate issued after 1st of August 2010 will be PAN encypted and
as per Income tax notification only pan encrypted DSC will be accepted for e-fling your tax return.
What are the benefits of using Digital Signatures to sign the electronic documents ?
The Digital Signatures have various advantages over the handwritten signatures.
The digital signatures allow conversion of processes and transactions to electronic mode
thereby reducing time, costs and efforts required for creating and maintaining physical records.
More importantly the Digital Signatures are used for maintaining data integrity,
as the messages or documents cannot be changed after signing.
They also provide authentication, i.e. the receiver of a document or communication
is assured of the signer authenticity.
Are the Digital Signatures as legally valid as the handwritten signatures ?
If any changes are made to the electronically signed documents,
it immediately invalidates the signature.
Digital Signatures can be used to authenticate the source of messages,
i.e. to assure the receiver that the message has been sent by the authorized source only
as it protects the electronic document from forgery.
Act governing the DSC’s
IT Act 2000 : The Indian Information Technology Act 2000 (Act) came into effect from October 17, 2000.
The Act is by and large based on the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL)
model law on electronic commerce. The objective of the Act is to provide for legal recognition of
electronic transactions and digital signatures.
Section 5 of the Act gives legal recognition to digital signatures.
Digital signatures have been legalised in India since 2000.
However, since then, hardly any provisions of the Act have been implemented,
except for the appointment of the Certifying Authority which took place in 2001.
Advantages Fraud prevention : By using digital signatures we are eliminating the possibility of committing fraud
as the digital signature cannot be altered. Moreover the forging signature is impossible.
Message Integrity : By having a digital signature we are in fact proving the document to be valid.
We are assuring the recipient that the document is free from forgery or false information.
Legal requirements: Using a digital signature satisfies some type of legal requirement for the
document in question. A digital signature takes care of any formal legal aspect of executing the document.
Online Banking Advantages: Many businesses rely on digital certificates for banking procedures.
For example, a human services organization that distributes customer incentive checks uses
a digital certificate to validate each instrument. Each time a check is created, a designated user employs
an identifiable computer to upload and manage each check prior to distribution.
This alerts the bank of the amount and number of each check.
In addition, the digital certificate protects against fraudulent activity by assuring the party
receiving the information you are not an impostor.
Online banking would not be possible without the use of digital certificates.
According to Bank of America, transactions cannot take place until the digital certificate has been verified.
Legal Advantages : Digital certificates and signatures provide protection in legally binding situations.
When sending email to a bank, for example, a digital signature will verify that the information came from you.
When agreeing to legally binding requirements, digital certificates prevent you from becoming a victim of
an impostor. In addition, digital signatures prevent the recipient from denying the receipt of information.
Financial Disadvantages : Businesses must purchase digital certificates from certification authorities.
A certificate authority acts as a third-party issuer that ensures the acceptance of the certificate.
Certification authorities typically require a subscription to their service, which requires monthly payments
to continue the relationship. In addition, multiple certificates for different sites or purposes can become
a costly endeavor.
Technological Disadvantages : When considering digital certificates, you need to factor in many areas of
existing technology. According to The Institute of Internal Auditors, "auditors should recommend that
senior and IT managers consider the tool"s ease of use, integration with the existing software platform,
the company"s product architecture, the security of the tool (e.g., the strength of the algorithm used),
vendor support, cost, and future flexibility before deciding which tool to implement." In addition,
creating a platform that accepts all digital certificates is a difficult undertaking, and human carelessness
may compromise the safety of login credentials.
Equipment Cost : Electronic signatures are created and read by sophisticated technologies that use networks
to verify personal data like business location or social security numbers, or which are advanced enough
to compare points within handwriting or a fingerprint with points in images in databases.
This equipment isn"t always cheap, as pointed out by Beginners Guide.
Even once initial costs are met, advances in electronic signature technology will mean that a business must
continually update its electronic signature systems and provide technical support.
Deterred Clients : Electronic signature systems assume that people will be comfortable or familiar with
the electronic signature methods and equipment. However, previous generations of individuals
may not have been exposed to the newer technology and thus may have trouble initially using it.
Even tech-savvy individuals still will have to stay abreast of technological changes if they want to conduct
business electronically in the future. The lack of exposure to methods and equipment, along with a need for
continuing technology education, may deter some clients from using an electronic signature.
Professionals who require Digital Signature Certificates ( DSC ) :
Under MCA21 all the authorized signatories of company and professionals who sign the manual documents
and returns filed with ROC is required to obtain a Digital Signature Certificate (DSC). Therefore following
personnel have to procure Digital Signature Certificate : Professionals who require Digital Signature Certificates ( DSC )
1. Directors of Companies
2. Chartered Accountants / Auditors
3. Company Secretary - Whether in practice or in job.
4. Bank Officials - for Registration and Satisfaction of Charges
5. Other Authorized Signatories
End Note
Till date no technology is termed as the safest and so is in case of digital signature certificate.
DSC is not fully authenticated and secured. Still there is a scope of enhancing the protection
or restriction of use of DSC by unauthorized users. It is expected that some futuristic technologies
like Thumb impression, voice impression, etc will soon be implemented with that of DSC
and make it more protective and user friendly.
contact us for :
Our Class 2 Digital Signature Certificates ( DSC ) are used for :
Class 2 Digital Signature Certificate ( DSC ) for e-filing Income Tax Returns
Class 2 Digital Signature Certificate ( DSC ) for Registrar of Companies ( RoC ) e-Filing
Class 2 Digital Signature Certificate ( DSC ) for LLP Formation
Class 2 Digital Signature Certificate ( DSC ) for Private ( Pvt ) Ltd. Company Formation
Class 2 Digital Signature Certificate ( DSC ) for eSigning of Form 16
Class 2 Digital Signature Certificate ( DSC ) for eSigning of Form 16 A
Class 2 Digital Signature Certificate ( DSC ) for e-Filing of Service Tax Returns
Our Class 3 Digital Signature Certificates ( DSC ) are used for :
Class 3 Digital Signature Certificate ( DSC ) for e Tenders / e procurement
Class 3 Digital Signature Certificate ( DSC ) for Vendor Enrolment / Vendor Registration
Class 3 Digital Signature Certificate ( DSC ) for Patent / Trademark e-filing
Class 3 Digital Signature Certificate ( DSC ) for Association of State Road Transport Undertakings[ASRTU]
Class 3 Digital Signature Certificate ( DSC ) for Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited [STPBSNL]
Class 3 Digital Signature Certificate ( DSC ) for Delhi Development Authority[DDA]
Class 3 Digital Signature Certificate ( DSC ) for ELECTRONICS CORPORATION OF TAMIL NADU (ELCOT)
Class 3 Digital Signature Certificate ( DSC ) for Government Of Bihar [BIHAR]
Class 3 Digital Signature Certificate ( DSC ) for Himachal Road Transport Corporation [HRTC]
Class 3 Digital Signature Certificate ( DSC ) for Hindustan Shipyard Limited[HSL]
Class 3 Digital Signature Certificate ( DSC ) for HSCC(India) Ltd,Noida[HSCC]
Class 3 Digital Signature Certificate ( DSC ) for Kerala State Civil Supplies Corporation Ltd[KSCSC]
Class 3 Digital Signature Certificate ( DSC ) for Kerala Sustainable Urban Development Project[KSUDP]
Class 3 Digital Signature Certificate ( DSC ) for Kerala Water Authority [KWA]
Class 3 Digital Signature Certificate ( DSC ) for National Institute of Ocean Technology [NIOT]
Class 3 Digital Signature Certificate ( DSC ) for Public Works Department, Govt of Puducherry [PWDPON]
Class 3 Digital Signature Certificate ( DSC ) for Power Transmission Corporation of Uttarakhand [PTCUL]
Class 3 Digital Signature Certificate ( DSC ) for Satluj Jal Vidyut Nigam Limited [SJVNL]
Class 3 Digital Signature Certificate ( DSC ) for Tehri Hydro Development Corporation Limited[THDC]
Class 3 Digital Signature Certificate ( DSC ) for Total Energy Security Mission,Govt of Kerala[TESM]
Class 3 Digital Signature Certificate ( DSC ) for Uttarakhand Power Corporation Limited [UPCL]
Class 3 Digital Signature Certificate ( DSC ) for Directorate General Of Supplies & Disposals (DGS&D)
Class 3 Digital Signature Certificate ( DSC ) for Government Of Andhra Pradesh (GoAP)
Class 3 Digital Signature Certificate ( DSC ) for Government of Punjab (GoP)
Class 3 Digital Signature Certificate ( DSC ) for Gujarat State Fuel Management Company (GSFMC)
Class 3 Digital Signature Certificate ( DSC ) for Madhya Pradesh Rural Road Development Authority
Class 3 Digital Signature Certificate ( DSC ) for Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL)
Class 3 Digital Signature Certificate ( DSC ) for Bharat Petroleum Corporation limited (BPCL)
Class 3 Digital Signature Certificate ( DSC ) for Gas Authority Of India Limited (GAIL)
Class 3 Digital Signature Certificate ( DSC ) for Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL)
Class 3 Digital Signature Certificate ( DSC ) for Oil And Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC)
Class 3 Digital Signature Certificate ( DSC ) for Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL)
Class 3 Digital Signature Certificate ( DSC ) for IRCTC eTicket Booking / eTicketing
Class 3 Digital Signature Certificate ( DSC ) for NSW e-Tendering
Class 3 Digital Signature Certificate ( DSC ) for Railway e-Tendering / e-Procurement
Class 3 Digital Signature Certificate ( DSC ) for IFFCO e-Procurement
Class 3 Digital Signature Certificate ( DSC ) for ONGC e-Procurement
Class 3 Digital Signature Certificate ( DSC ) for Neyveli Lignite e-Procurement
Class 3 Digital Signature Certificate ( DSC ) for BHEL e-Procurement
Class 3 Digital Signature Certificate ( DSC ) for Defence, Navy, Ordinance Factory e-Procurement
Class 3 Digital Signature Certificate ( DSC ) for SAIL e-Procurement
Class 3 Digital Signature Certificate ( DSC ) for NSDL, NSC e-Procurement
Class 3 Digital Signature Certificate ( DSC ) for NTPC e-Tendering
Class 3 Digital Signature Certificate ( DSC ) for MMTC E-Produrement
Class 3 Digital Signature Certificate ( DSC ) for Garden Reach e-Procurement
Class 3 Digital Signature Certificate ( DSC ) for Coal India e-Procurement
Class 3 Digital Signature Certificate ( DSC ) for AIR India e-Procurement
Class 3 Digital Signature Certificate ( DSC ) for MSTC e-Procurement
Class 3 Digital Signature Certificate ( DSC ) for The West Bengal Power Development Corporation
Class 3 Digital Signature Certificate ( DSC ) for Tamilnadu Medical Services Corporation Ltd.
Class 3 Digital Signature Certificate ( DSC ) for Indian Oil Tenders
Class 3 Digital Signature Certificate ( DSC ) for Agriculture Produce Marketing Committee,Delhi
Class 3 Digital Signature Certificate ( DSC ) for HelpAge India
Class 3 Digital Signature Certificate ( DSC ) for Transmission Corporation of AP Limited
Class 3 Digital Signature Certificate ( DSC ) for Food Corporation of INDIA
Class 3 Digital Signature Certificate ( DSC ) for Northern Railway eProcurement
Class 3 Digital Signature Certificate ( DSC ) for Bihar State Road Development Corporation Limited
Class 3 Digital Signature Certificate ( DSC ) for All India Institute of Medical Sciences
Class 3 Digital Signature Certificate ( DSC ) for Public Works Department, Govt. of Rajasthan, Jaipur
Class 3 Digital Signature Certificate ( DSC ) for Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited
Class 3 Digital Signature Certificate ( DSC ) for Government of Chhattisgarh, Water Resources Division
Class 3 Digital Signature Certificate ( DSC ) for National Highways Authority od India
Class 3 Digital Signature Certificate ( DSC ) for Oil India Limited
Class 3 Digital Signature Certificate ( DSC ) for Central Power Research Institute, Bangalore
Class 3 Digital Signature Certificate ( DSC ) for Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike
Class 3 Digital Signature Certificate ( DSC ) for Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation Limited
Class 3 Digital Signature Certificate ( DSC ) for Supreme Court of India
Class 3 Digital Signature Certificate ( DSC ) for Central Public Works Department ( CPWD )
Class 3 Digital Signature Certificate ( DSC ) for National Aluminium Company Limited ( NALCO )
Class 3 Digital Signature Certificate ( DSC ) for National Informatics Centre Services Inc ( NICSI )
Class 3 Digital Signature Certificate ( DSC ) for Gujarat State Disaster Management Authority
Class 3 Digital Signature Certificate ( DSC ) for Assam Electronics Development Corporation Ltd ( AMTRON )
Class 3 Digital Signature Certificate ( DSC ) for North Central Railway ( NCR )
Class 3 Digital Signature Certificate ( DSC ) for Rail Vikas Nigam Limited ( RVNL)
Class 3 Digital Signature Certificate ( DSC ) for Central Road Research Institute
Class 3 Digital Signature Certificate ( DSC ) for Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Limited ( Visakhapatnam Steel Plant )
Class 3 Digital Signature Certificate ( DSC ) for Power Grid Corporation of India Limited
Class 3 Digital Signature Certificate ( DSC ) for Chhattisgarh Forest Department
Class 3 Digital Signature Certificate ( DSC ) for All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS )
Class 3 Digital Signature Certificate ( DSC ) for Hindustan Aeronautics Limited, Bangalore
Class 3 Digital Signature Certificate ( DSC ) for IRCON International Limited
Class 3 Digital Signature Certificate ( DSC ) for Central Electricity Supply Utility of Orrisa
Class 3 Digital Signature Certificate ( DSC ) for Military Engineer Services
Class 3 Digital Signature Certificate ( DSC ) for RITES Ltd
Class 3 Digital Signature Certificate ( DSC ) for Tata Consulting Engineers Limited ( TCE )
Class 3 Digital Signature Certificate ( DSC ) for Chittaranjan Locomotive Works
Class 3 Digital Signature Certificate ( DSC ) for Orrisa e-Tendering
Class 3 Digital Signature Certificate ( DSC ) for Union Bank of India
Class 3 Digital Signature Certificate ( DSC ) for Centre for Railway Information Systems ( CRIS )
Class 3 Digital Signature Certificate ( DSC ) for Government of India
Class 3 Digital Signature Certificate ( DSC ) for Indian Ordnance Factories eProcurement System
Class 3 Digital Signature Certificate ( DSC ) for OFB eProc Vendor Enrolment
Class 3 Digital Signature Certificate ( DSC ) for Directorate of Commercial Taxes West Bengal
Class 3 Digital Signature Certificate ( DSC ) for Patent / Trademark e-filing
Class 3 Digital Signature Certificate ( DSC ) for Director General of Foreign Trade ( DGFT )
Class 3 Digital Signature Certificate ( DSC ) for A. V. Head Quarters, Avadi
Class 3 Digital Signature Certificate ( DSC ) for Ammunition Factory, Kirkee
Class 3 Digital Signature Certificate ( DSC ) for Clothing Factory, Shahjahanpur
Class 3 Digital Signature Certificate ( DSC ) for Cordite Factory, Aruvankadu
Class 3 Digital Signature Certificate ( DSC ) for Engine Factory, Avadi
Class 3 Digital Signature Certificate ( DSC ) for Field Gun Factory, Kanpur
Class 3 Digital Signature Certificate ( DSC ) for Grey Iron Foundry, Jabalpur
Class 3 Digital Signature Certificate ( DSC ) for Gun & Shell Factory, Cossipore
Class 3 Digital Signature Certificate ( DSC ) for Gun Carriage Factory, Jabalpur
Class 3 Digital Signature Certificate ( DSC ) for Heavy Alloy Penetrator Project, Tiruchirapalli
Class 3 Digital Signature Certificate ( DSC ) for Heavy Vehicle Factory, Avadi
Class 3 Digital Signature Certificate ( DSC ) for High Explosive Factory, Kirkee
Class 3 Digital Signature Certificate ( DSC ) for Machine Tool Prototype Fy, Ambarnath
Class 3 Digital Signature Certificate ( DSC ) for Metal and Sheet Factory, Ishapur
Class 3 Digital Signature Certificate ( DSC ) for O.E.F. Head Quarters, Kanpur
Class 3 Digital Signature Certificate ( DSC ) for O. F. Board, Calcutta
Class 3 Digital Signature Certificate ( DSC ) for Opto Electronics Factory, Dehradun
Class 3 Digital Signature Certificate ( DSC ) for Ord. Equipment Factory, Hazaratpur
Class 3 Digital Signature Certificate ( DSC ) for Ordnance Cable Factory, Chandigarh
Class 3 Digital Signature Certificate ( DSC ) for Ordnance Clothing Factory, Avadi
Class 3 Digital Signature Certificate ( DSC ) for Ordnance Equipment Factory, Kanpur
Class 3 Digital Signature Certificate ( DSC ) for Ordnance Factory Project Korwa
Class 3 Digital Signature Certificate ( DSC ) for Ordnance Factory Project Nalanda
Class 3 Digital Signature Certificate ( DSC ) for Ordnance Factory, Ambajhari
Class 3 Digital Signature Certificate ( DSC ) for Ordnance Factory, Ambarnath
Class 3 Digital Signature Certificate ( DSC ) for Ordnance Factory, Bhandara
Class 3 Digital Signature Certificate ( DSC ) for Ordnance Factory, Bhusawal
Class 3 Digital Signature Certificate ( DSC ) for Ordnance Factory, Bolangir
Class 3 Digital Signature Certificate ( DSC ) for Ordnance Factory, chanda
Class 3 Digital Signature Certificate ( DSC ) for Ordnance Factory, Dehradun
Class 3 Digital Signature Certificate ( DSC ) for Ordnance Factory, Dehu Road
Class 3 Digital Signature Certificate ( DSC ) for Ordnance Factory, Dum Dum
Class 3 Digital Signature Certificate ( DSC ) for Ordnance Factory, Itarsi
Class 3 Digital Signature Certificate ( DSC ) for Ordnance Factory, Kanpur
Class 3 Digital Signature Certificate ( DSC ) for Ordnance Factory, Katni
Class 3 Digital Signature Certificate ( DSC ) for Ordnance Factory, Khamaria
Class 3 Digital Signature Certificate ( DSC ) for Ordnance Factory, Medak
Class 3 Digital Signature Certificate ( DSC ) for Ordnance Factory, Muradnagar
Class 3 Digital Signature Certificate ( DSC ) for Ordnance Factory, Trichi
Class 3 Digital Signature Certificate ( DSC ) for Ordnance Factory, Varangaon
Class 3 Digital Signature Certificate ( DSC ) for Ordnance Parachute Factory, Kanpur
Class 3 Digital Signature Certificate ( DSC ) for Rifle Factory, Ishapur
Class 3 Digital Signature Certificate ( DSC ) for Small Arms Factory, Kanpur
Class 3 Digital Signature Certificate ( DSC ) for Vehicle Factory, Jabalpur
Class 3 Digital Signature Certificate ( DSC ) for Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana ( PMGSY )
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