Understand legal use, documents, types, approved authorities (CCA), overseas applicant steps, and trusted places to buy.
A deep dive into what a DSC is, its legal standing, and how it secures your digital world.
A Digital Signature Certificate (DSC) is a secure digital key, issued by licensed Certifying Authorities (CAs), that verifies your identity in electronic transactions. It functions as the electronic equivalent of a handwritten signature but with enhanced security, typically stored on a hardware token. DSCs are based on Public Key Infrastructure (PKI), which uses a private key for signing and a public key for verification.
Under the Information Technology Act, 2000, digital signatures are legally valid and equivalent to physical signatures. They are mandatory for various statutory compliances like e-filing tax returns (GST, Income Tax), company incorporations (MCA21), and e-tendering to ensure authenticity and prevent fraud. The Controller of Certifying Authorities (CCA) regulates the system to maintain trust and legal compliance.
Links your verified identity to the document, allowing anyone to confirm you are the true signer.
A digital fingerprint (hash) of the document is created. Any alteration after signing is immediately detectable, ensuring the document is tamper-proof.
Since your private key is unique and secure, you cannot later deny having signed the document, making it legally enforceable.
DSCs can also be used to encrypt documents, ensuring that only authorized individuals can view the content.
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Visit WebsiteSources: Income-tax e-filing DSC help/FAQ; Government e-procurement portal DSC page.
Details vary by CA per CCA’s Identity Verification Guidelines (IVG). See your CA’s checklist.
Sources: CCA IVG; eMudhra document checklist (illustrative of typical proofs).
Widely used for ITR, MCA, e-tendering, and other portals.
Many government portals specify Class 3 for login/signing.
Used to encrypt tender bids or confidential submissions.
Often bundled with signing as a “combo”.
DGFT, Document Signer, etc., per application/policy requirements.
Profiles & issuance per CCA IVG/IOG and CA CPS.
Sources: CCA pages (Digital Signature/classes), e-procurement portal (Class 3 requirement).
India’s CCA licenses multiple CAs (e.g., eMudhra, XtraTrust, IDSign, nCode, Safescrypt, RISL, XtraTrust, etc.). You buy DSCs directly from these CAs or through their RAs/channel partners.
Source: CCA list of Licensed CAs; official CA sites.
Sources: CCA “Issuance to Foreign Nationals”, CCA IVG notes (verification/video), and CA process pages (apostille/embassy attestation practices).
Notes based on official CA sites and major reseller listings.
The following CAs/Vendors are specifically listed on the Indian Government eTendering / eProcurement portal as authorised providers of Class-3 Digital Signature Certificates (DSC) and/or e-Tokens. You can obtain DSCs/e-tokens from any of these authorised vendors.
Note: This list is according to the “Help For Contractors” instructions on the Government eProcurement System. Always cross-check with the CA’s own site and CCA licensed-CA list to ensure current validity.