Digital Signature Certificate Online

A Digital Signature Certificate (DSC), also known as a Digital Signature, is a form of electronic signature that individuals use to authenticate their identity as the signers of a document. It ensures that the content or document is legitimate and unchanged. In addition, it offers great convenience and someone else cannot replicate or forge it.

Certifying Authorities (CA) issue the Digital Signature Certificate (DSC), which includes details about the applicant’s name, email address, country, pin code, date of issuance, date of certificate expiry, and the certifying authority’s name.

Further, various government ministries and departments have adopted it, and now it has become a statutory requirement for various applications and tenders.

Classes of Digital Signature Certificate (DSC)

• Class 2 Digital Signature Certificate (DSC)

Class 2 DSC is issued to individuals and organizations. This type of Digital Signature is used for the E-filing of documents and applications with the Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA), Income Tax Department, GST Department, etc. for incorporation and return filing purposes.

However, w.e.f. 1st January 2021 issuance of a new Class 2 DSC has been discontinued in India, but the existing Class 2 DSC can be used till the expiry period.

• Class 3 Digital Signature Certificate (DSC)

Class 3 DSC is also issued to individuals and organizations. It is considered high assurance certificates and the security standards are higher than Class 2 DSC. Class 3 digital signature can be used for the E-filing of documents and applications with the Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA), Income Tax Department, GST Department, etc. for incorporation and return filing purposes.

Therefore, w.e.f. 1st January 2021, only Class 3 DSC is issued to individuals and organizations as Class 2 DSC has been discontinued.

• DGFT Digital Signature Certificate (DSC)

A DGFT Digital Signature is required to digitally sign any documents in electronic format or for transactions being performed on the DGFT portal. DGFT Digital Signature Certificate is generally required by importers and exporters. It is used on the DGFT portal by Organizations or individuals who have obtained a valid IEC (Importer Exporter Code) code.

It is used to apply for licenses electronically with the DGFT and digitally sign online license applications. DGFT has extended attractive monetary incentives amounting to a 50 % waiver on license fees for those Exporters and Importers using DGFT Digital Signature Certificates. Import Export Code (IEC) is mandatory to obtain a DGFT DSC.

• Signature/Signing Only

Signature DSC can be used only for signing documents. It is generally used for signing Income Tax Returns, GST Returns, MCA forms, and applications on other portals. It can also be used for signing any PDF Document or E-forms.

• Encryption Only

Encryption DSC can only be used to encrypt a document, it is normally used by organizations and companies on the tender portal, to encrypt and upload the documents. This certificate can be used to encrypt and send classified information. Encryption DSC is generally used for e-commerce and legal documents that are highly confidential and contain information that needs to be protected.

• Signing and Encryption (Both)

Signing and encryption DSC can be used for dual purposes. It is convenient for users who need to authenticate and maintain the confidentiality of the information shared. This could be used for signing returns and forms on various portals as well as for tender purposes.