A digital signature authenticates electronic documents in a similar manner a handwritten signature authenticates printed documents. This signature cannot be forged and it asserts that a named person wrote or otherwise agreed to the document to which the signature is attached. The recipient of a digitally signed message can verify that the message originated from the person whose signature is attached to the document and that the message has not been altered either intentionally or accidentally since it was signed. Also the signer of a document cannot later disown it by claiming that the signature was forged. In other words digital signatures enable the “authentication” and “non-repudiation” of digital messages assuring the recipient of a digital message of both the identity of the sender and the integrity of the message.
A digital signature is issued by a Certification Authority (CA) and is signed with the CA’s private key. A digital signature typically contains the: 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.

The DSC is typically issued with one and two year validity. It includes the cost of medium (a UBS token which is a onetime cost) the cost of issuance of Digital Signature and the renewal cost after the period of validity. The issuance costs in respect of each Certification Agency vary and are market driven.

After expiry of the validity period, the Digital Signature Certificate becomes invalid. You can then obtain a valid digital signature certificate by following the same simple procedure.

Digital Signature Certificate, in simple terms, is a file created by a Licensed Certifying Authority through encryption and is then issued to you, in the USB eToken. When signing any particular document this file is accessed, which acts like a ‘key’ (Private Key) and locks & secures the document being signed (through encryption). [This is similar to using a key in a physical lock to secure your valuables in a bank locker – a lock can only be opened by its own key].

A digital signature is a way to ensure that an electronic document (e-mail, spreadsheet, text file, etc.) is authentic, Authentic means that you know who created the document and you know that it has not been altered in any way since that person created it. Digital signature Certificates are used to sign electronic documents and Digital signatures rely on certain types of encryption to ensure authentication.

In India, DSC was first used by Registrar of Companies (ROC) when the Ministry of Company Affairs transitioned into e-filing of statutory returns. The benefit accrued through the same was adopted by other government agencies in India and today it’s being widely used. Some of the popular uses of DSC are as below:

• e-filing of Income Tax Returns: An assesses can file his/her Income Tax Return online and those who sign their returns digitally do not have to send the physical copies of the same to the Income Tax Department for verification.
• e-filing of Company Returns (ROC): To ensure statutory compliance for companies in India, the Registrar of Companies (ROC) has now made e-filing mandatory and a DSC is required to do the same.
• e-tender / e-Procurement: Many of the state governments as well as other government agencies in India have transitioned to e-procurement and you need a DSC to bid for tenders online.

A digital signature is an electronic method of signing an electronic document whereas a Digital Signature Certificate is a computer based record that

• Identifies the Certifying Authority issuing it.
• Have the name and other details that can identify the subscriber.
• Contains the subscriber’s public key.
• Is digitally signed by the Certifying Authority issuing it.
• Is valid for either one year or two years.

A Digital Signature Certificate authenticates your identity electronically. It also provides you with a high level of security for your online transactions by ensuring absolute privacy of the information exchanged using a Digital Signature Certificate. You can use certificates to encrypt information such that only the intended recipient can read it. You can digitally sign information to assure the recipient that it has not been changed in transit, and also verify your identity as the sender of the message.

Yes, subsequent to the enactment of Information Technology Act 2000 in India, Digital Signature Certificates are legally valid in India.
Digital Signature Certificates are issued by licensed Certifying Authorities under the Ministry of Information Technology, Government of India as per the Information Technology Act.

A RA (Registration Authority) is an agent of the Certifying Authority who collects the application forms and related documents for DSC, verifies the information submitted and approves or rejects the application based on the results of the verification process.

No, a digital signature is unique and thus two or more individuals/entities cannot have the same digital signature.

We provide the following type of digital signatures:

• Class 2 Individual (i.e. class 2a)
• Class 2 Organization (i.e. class 2b)
• Class 3 Individual (i.e. class 3a)
• Class 3 Organization (i.e. class 3b)
• DGFT

Our digital signatures are certified by Capricorn Identity Services Pvt. Ltd.

Digital Signature Certificate can be renewed by re-submitting your valid Identity & Address proof along with the renewal form and appropriate fees. A new set of Public-Private Key is issued to you along with the certificate. A DSC of any Certifying Authority can be renewed by e-Mudhra.

A Digital Signature Certificate explicitly associates the identity of an individual/device with a pair of electronic keys – public and private keys – and this association is endorsed by the CA. The certificate contains information about a user’s identity (for example, their name, pincode, country, email address, the date the certificate was issued and the name of the Certifying Authority that issued it).
These keys complement each other in that one does not function in the absence of the other. They are used by browsers and servers to encrypt and decrypt information regarding the identity of the certificate user during information exchange processes. The private key is stored on the user’s computer hard disk or on an external device such as a token. The user retains control of the private key; it can only be used with the issued password.
The public key is disseminated with the encrypted information. The authentication process fails if either one of these keys in not available or do not match. This means that the encrypted data cannot be decrypted and therefore, is inaccessible to unauthorized parties.

Legally valid Digital Signature Certificates are issued only through a Controller of Certifying Authorities (CCA), Govt. of India,licensed Certifying Authorities (CA), such as eMudhra Ltd & Capricorn CA; a Certifying Authority (CA) licensed by CCA, offers secure digital signatures through various options tailored to suit individual as well as organizational needs.

Digital Signature Mart is an Licensed Channel Controller with eMudhra & Capricorn CA to appoint Channel Partners / Direct Sales Partners ( DSPs) and related products sale in India under IT ACT 2000. eMudhra & Capricorn CA authorize Digital Signature Mart in role of RA to issue Digital Signature Certificates on PAN INDIA. Digital Signature Mart has an experienced management team. The management at Digital Signature Mart is helped by a driven team of expert professionals, proficient at providing effective solutions to suit all the client specific requirements. Their expertise in the field of digital signature class 2 & class 3. We have issued more than one lakhs Digital Signature Certificates till date to various clients including Corporates, Companies, Individual, MNCs, SMEs Chartered Accountants, CS, Advocates.

USB eToken is a security device (looks similar to pen drive) which securely stores your Digital Signature Certificate. However, e-TOKEN IS NOT A PEN-DRIVE!! It contains a smart-card chip that attaches in the USB Port.

Benefits of using eToken:

Identifies the Certifying Authority issuing it.

• Security: Once a DSC is imported into an e-Token, it is impossible to fetch it out or copy it even if you have complete control of the token.
• Mobility: e-Token ensures that the DSC can be used in multiple computers without compromising security; a person is not stuck up with a single computer.
• Safety: e-Token cannot be infected by viruses and hence will be safe until its validity. Is valid for either one year or two years.

On the contrary, the use of DSC without the eToken / Smart Card, will compromise security because it requires you to install and copy your DSC in a computer. This is NOT recommended or safe method of use, if you are in a public environment i.e. using a Cyber Cafe / other person’s computer / other people have access to your computer. A copy of the DSC will be stored in that computer unless you delete it after every use from that computer.

Yes, A valid class 2 digital signature is required for GST registration and filing in India. Under GST, all documents submitted to the Government including GST registation applications or documents uploaded to the GST common portal must be digitally signed. Buy / Apply Digital Signature for GST Registration online from digital signature mart. We are the best digital signature online providers in India.