Digital Signature

The Documents Required for DSC are mainly classified into four categories, which are as follows:

• Documents Required for Indian Nationals
• Documents Required for an Indian Organization
• Documents Required for Foreign Nationals
• Documents Required for Foreign Organization

Documents Required for Indian Nationals

The following documents are required to get Digital Signature Certificate (DSC)

Identity Proof

The applicant can submit any one of the following documents as Identity Proof:

• Aadhar Card (eKYC Service)
• Passport
• PAN Card of the Applicant
• Driving Licence
• Post Office ID Card
• Bank Account Passbook containing the photograph and signed by an individual with attestation by the concerned Bank official
• Any Government-issued photo ID card bearing the signatures of the individual
• Photo ID card issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs of Centre (MHA) or State Governments

Address Proof

• Aadhar Card (eKYC Service)
• Telephone Bill
• Voter ID Card
• Driving Licence (DL)/Registration Certificate (RC)
• Water Bill – Not older than 2 months
• Electricity Bill –  Not older than 2 months
• Latest Bank Statements signed by the bank – Not older than 2 Months
• GST  registration certificate
• Property Tax or Corporation or Municipal Corporation Receipt
• Any Government issued photo ID having a Name and address

Documents Required for Indian Organization

Documents Required for Indian Organization are listed as follows:

Company

• Copy of Organizational PAN Card, If GST number is not provided
• Copy of Recent Bank Statement / Bank Certificate, If GST number is not provided
• Copy of Incorporation, If GST number is not provided
• Proof of Authorized Signatory – List of Directors / Board Resolution / Resolution
• Authorized Signatory ID Proof – Organizational ID Card / PAN Card / etc
• Copy of Applicant PAN Card

Partnership Firm

• Copy of Organizational PAN Card, If GST number is not provided
• Copy of Recent Bank Statement / Bank Certificate, If GST number is not provided
• Copy of Partnership deed containing a list of Partners / Authorization Letter
• Authorized Signatory ID Proof – Organizational ID Card / PAN Card / etc
• Copy of Applicant PAN Card

Proprietorship

• Copy of Recent Bank Statement / Bank Certificate, If GST Number is not provided
• Copy of Business Registration Certificate –  Shop and Establishment (S&E) /etc
• Authorized Signatory ID Proof  – Organizational ID Card or PAN Card
• Copy of Applicant PAN Card

AOP / BOI – An association of persons or a body of individuals

• Copy of Organizational PAN Card, If GST number is not provided

• Copy of Recent Bank Statement / Bank Certificate, If GST number is not provided
• Copy of Incorporation, If GST number is not provided
• Proof of Authorized Signatory – List of Directors / Board Resolution / Resolution
• Authorized Signatory ID Proof – Organizational ID Card / PAN Card / etc
• Copy of Applicant PAN Card

Limited Liability Partnership (LLP)

• Copy of Organizational PAN Card, If GST number is not provided
• Copy of Recent Bank Statement / Bank Certificate, If GST number is not provided
• Copy of Incorporation, If GST number is not provided
• Proof of Authorized Signatory – List of Directors / Board Resolution / Resolution
• Authorized Signatory ID Proof – Organizational ID Card / PAN Card / etc
• Copy of Applicant PAN Card

Non-governmental organization/Trust

• Copy of Organizational PAN Card, if GST number not provided
• Copy of Recent Bank Statement / Bank Certificate, If GST No. not provided
• Copy of Incorporation, if GST number not provided
• Proof of Authorized Signatory – List of Directors or Board Resolution or Resolution
• Authorized Signatory ID Proof – Organizational ID Card / PAN Card / etc
• Copy of Applicant PAN Card

Documents Required for Foreign Nationals

The Foreign National needs to submit the following documents:

Identity Proof

The following documents are mandatory for getting the DSC.

• Attested copy of Applicant Passport
• If the applicant is out of a foreign country- Attested copy of VISA
• If the applicant is in India – Attested copy of Resident Permit certificate

Address Proof

The following documents are mandatory for getting the DSC

• Attested copy of Applicant Passport
• Attested copy of any other Government issued Address Proof

Documents Required for Foreign Organization

Identity Proof (All are mandatory)	Address Proof (All are mandatory)
Attested copy of Applicant Passport Attested copy of VISA (If the applicant is out of the native country). Attested copy of Resident Permit certificate (If the applicant is in India)	Attested copy of Applicant Passport Attested copy of any other Government issued Address Proof

Foreign Attestation

The identity and address proof of foreign nationals must be attested by the following authorities:

• Embassy of Native Country (If the applicant is not a citizen of India)
• Apostilized by Native Country, after Public Notary (if the country is in Hague Convention)
• Consularized by Native Country, after Public Notary (if the country is not in Hague Convention)

General Instructions

Follow the general instructions listed below while furnishing the digital signature application form:

• The signature of the applicant should be in Blue Ink only
• The signature of the applicant should be as it is in Identity Proof
• A photo of the applicant in the application form should be signed by the applicant
• All supporting documents should be attested by either of Gazetted Officer / Bank Manager / Post Master
• For proof of attesting officer, either one of the below is mandatory –
• Contact Details of Attesting Officer including the name, designation, office address, and contact number. This should be part of the attestation. If provided separately, it should be attested either by the Applicant or Attesting Officer; or
• Self-Attested copy of Organizational Identity card of Attesting Officer
• Organizational Documents can also be attested by Authorized Signatory. However, if the taxpayer fails to get the Organizational Documents attested by the authorized signatory, in such cases an attested copy of the organizational ID card of the authorized signatory is mandatory.

 

 

Digital Signature Certificate (DSC): Benefits, Usage & How to Get DSC

 

 

What Is Digital Signature Certificate?

A digital signature certificate (DSC) is a key that is affixed to documents to certify and validate the identity of an individual or entity signing them. It contains the DSC applicant’s name, country, pin code, email address, name of the certifying authority, and date of DSC issuance. It is the secure digital equivalent of physical certificates and is issued by designated certifying authorities.

It is useful in accessing services or data that require you to prove your identity. You can use DSC certificate to sign documents digitally and validate online transactions.

Here’s a short summary of what businesses need to know about DSCs:

• They certify a digitally signed document
• They contain the details of the subscriber (name, etc.,) that help with their identification
• They can identify the certifying authority using them
• They are electronically signed by the Certifying Authority using them
• They contain the public key of the subscriber
• They are typically valid for 1-2 years

Classes/ Types of Digital Signature Certificates

DSC kitne prakaar ke hote hai?

There are three types of digital signature certificates (DSCs) that can be issued by certifying authorities (CAs) depending on the type of applicant and the requirement. The three types of digital signature certificates are as follows:

Class 1 certificates:

Individual/ private subscribers apply for this class of certificate. They serve as confirmation that the database of the certifying authority includes the applicant’s name and email contact details.

Class 2 certificates:

These certificates have been replaced by Class 3 certificates. They were discontinued by the Controller of Certifying Authority on Jan 1, 2021. However, all the class 2 certificates purchased earlier will continue to be active and functional.

They were issued to the signatory authorities/ director of companies for e-filing with the Registrar of Companies (ROC). It is must for those who have to sign documents manually while filing returns with the ROC.

Class 3 certificates:

Vendors who are planning to participate in online tenders should apply for this type of certificate. The purpose of this certificate is to allow trusted parties to participate/ bid in online tenders and e-auctions anywhere in India.

How to Use Digital Signature Certificate across Different Industries?

DSC ka alag alag jagaho par kya upyog hai?

You can use DSC certificate for signing documents where proof of identity and integrity is required. Some of the sectors where it is used include:

• Government

The government uses DSC for processing tax returns, managing legal documents, verifying business-to-government transactions, and more.

• Financial Services

Banks provide DSC as an additional option to ensure security during online transactions. You can use DSC to encrypt a highly confidential document.

• Manufacturing

The industry uses DSC signature for streamlining online processes in quality assurance (QA), sales, etc.

• Legal

Advocates and other legal professionals can file important documents related to court proceedings via an online portal, making DSC crucial for authentication.

Benefits of Digital Signature Certificate

Some of the major benefits of digital signature certificates online are:

• Saves time and money

By replacing the hard copy of documents with digital PDF files, you can avoid the process of scanning the signed document for sharing it via email. Also, you do not have to physically go to the location to authorize or conduct a business if you have DSC.

• Data Integrity

Data in the documents that are signed digitally remains secure as it cannot be edited or altered once the signing process is over. DSCs enable the government and other agencies to cross-check and verify transactions.

• Authentication

It authenticates the personal information of the individual conducting business. Receivers can take relevant action based on digitally signed documents, as they know that the signer is not a fraud.

• Legally Compliant

IT Act, 2000 recognizes DSC as a statutory requirement for a valid digital signature. DSCs can be issued, suspended, or revoked by licensed certifying authorities (CAs) under the Controller of Certificate Authority, Ministry of Information Technology.

• Environment Friendly

By using digital signatures and DSC, you ensure the validity of digital documents and avoid the extra work of printing hardcopies. It is quite an eco-friendly move.

How to Get Digital Signature Certificate?

DSC के लिए आवेदन कैसे करें?

The office of Controller of Certifying Authorities (CCA) enables Certifying Authorities (CAs) to issue DSCs to end-entities. You can access the list of licensed CAs and categories of certificates they offer at the government portal for certifying authorities. Other guidelines are also available on the website.

Based on the information, you can choose any one of the licensed CAs. The pricing for DSCs varies with the choice of CA. You can apply for digital signature certificate online or offline. Usually, it takes two days for approval. Once you get DSC, download it into the hard token or install it on your laptop/ PC.

Get Your DSC Now.

Aaj hi apna DSC banvaye.

DSC application process is now very easy and you do not to visit or submit any physical document with us. You have to only email your required documents copy on our email address or whatsapp number and we process DSC application on your behalf. You have to do video verification through link provided by your mobile phone or laptop. That’s it- Your DSC ready. You can collect your DSC from our office or we courier to your address.

How to Use Digital Signature Certificate for Signing a Document?

Kisi document to sign karne ke liye DSC ka upyog kaise haren?

A digital signature certificate (DSC) is necessary for businesses to digitally sign documents. The steps to sign any PDF document are:

• Install Esigner on your device

You can download Document Signer for Windows/ Mac/ Linux operating systems from the government portal. If you get stuck during installation, you can view the detailed instructions on the website.

• Install Java

Next, you can download Java from the official website. Then, follow the installation instructions and set the path (My Computer > This PC > Properties > Advanced System Settings > Environment Variable)

• Configure email

Sign up to your Google account. Change Allow less secure apps radio button to ON.

• Sign document

Choose the PDF file where you want to use DSC signature and the folder where you wish to save the files after signing. Now, select your DSC and the manner of signing as DSC. Choose a signing template and click Start Signing Now. Enter the DSC password and complete the signing process.

• Email signed documents

In the output folder that saves the signed document, open the ‘signingresults.xlsx’ file. Fill in the necessary details and click on ‘Start Email.’ All the recipients in the .xlsx file will receive the signed documents in their email. Failure errors are shown in the ‘Activity Log’ tab.

Top Certifying Authorities or Digital Signature Service Providers

Top DSC seva pradata company kaun si hai bharat me?

Under Section 24 of the Indian IT-Act 2000, the Controller of Certifying Authorities (CCA) has granted a license to the following for issuance of DSC:

• E-Mudhra
• (n) Code Solutions CA
• Pantasign CA
• Capricorn
• IDSign CA
• Verasys
• Safescrypt

 

 

 

Frequently Ask Questions:

 

1. What is digital signature certificate and how it works?

A digital certificate is an electronic document issued by a Certificate Authority (CA). It contains the public key for a digital signature and specifies the identity associated with the key, such as the name of an organization. The certificate is used to confirm that the public key belongs to the specific organization.

 

2. Who needs digital signature certificate?

The Ministry of Corporate Affairs has mandated the use of a class 3 certificate for various online services. With the help of Class 3 DSC, the documents/forms can be signed digitally within a few minutes anywhere and anytime. DSC can be used for online income tax filing, goods, and services tax filing, IPR, IRCTC, etc.

 

3. What is purpose of digital signature?

Digital signatures create a virtual fingerprint that is unique to a person or entity and are used to identify users and protect information in digital messages or documents.

 

4. How many types of DSC are there?

There are basically 3 types of Digital Signature Certificates Class-1, Class-2 & Class-3 each having different level of security. All the authorized signatories of company under MCA21 require Class-3 Digital Signature Certificate. Class-2 Digital Signature Certificates are discontinued.

 

5. How many days it takes to get DSC certificate?

We take average of one day to get your digital Signature (DSC). Kindly send all the documents on email and do the video verification through link provided.

 

6. What are the documents required for digital signature?

 

• Aadhar Card (eKYC Service)
• PAN Card of the Applicant.
• Driving Licence.
• Post Office ID Card.
• Bank Account Passbook containing the photograph and signed by an individual with attestation by the concerned Bank official.
• Any Government-issued photo ID card bearing the signatures of the individual.

7. Can a person have two digital signatures?

A person can have different DSCs – however, generally all government websites have a specified a requirement of registering a DSC with the respective government server. Once registered, no other DSC can be used, unless new DSC is registered with the server again.

 

8. How long is digital signature valid?

Validity of Digital Signatures:

The DSCs are typically issued with one year validity and two year validity. These are renewable on expiry of the period of initial issue.