Digital Signature Certificate (DSC)

The Digital Signature certificate is a simple and mathematical technique used to validate the authenticity and integrity of message/transactions/documents in an electronic form. A digital signature certificate is a secure digital key that is issued by the certifying authorities to the person who wants to procure the Digital Signature Certificate.

A Digital Signature Certificate (DSC) contains user’s Name, Date of Issuance, expiration date, Name of Certifying Authority, Serial Number.

Digital Signature Certificates are generally used in India or for transactions done in India even through Non Residents and issued for the online transactions or filling of online documents. DSC is procured in USB token also called e-token and these are Password protected USB tokens those can be accessed via Computer while signing documents online.

Benefits of DSC

  • Online Filing of Returns
  • Reduced time & Cost
  • Authenticity of Documents
  • Data integrity
  • Fraud Prevention
  • Convenience & Security
  • Confidentiality of the assured transactions
  • Paperless Transactions

Classes of DSC

Class-1:

These Certificates are issued to individuals/ Private Subscribers and these certificates validate the information provided by the Applicant which doesn’t conflict with the consumer database.

Class-2:

These Certificates are issued to both Individuals/Business personnel for online filling of documents and authenticity of documents and these can also be used in Company/LLP Incorporation, Income Tax return filling and obtaining DIN etc. It can be issued in combo: Encryption + Signature means can be used for E tendering etc.

Class-3:

These certificates are issued to individuals or to the organizations for tender filling or e auctioning and these certificates are registered in the name of the representative who is authorized to submit documents online.

DGFT:

A DGFT Signature is issued to the Organization or individual carrying as Combo (Signature +Encryption) who have obtained a valid IEC Number. Importers and Exporters extensively uses Digital Signature Certificate to sign online documents on DGFT website operated under Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) with security and confidence.

A Class III Digital Signature Certificate are required to obtain by any organization seeking an Import/Export License that needs to be registered in the name of one authorized representative to represent the organization.

DSC Validity

Digital Signature generally comes with the validity of one /two/three years and these can be renewed once the validity of previous certificate expires.

Paperbased Procedure:
  1. Obtaining Information from Applicant for Indian Residents:
    • Self attested Pan Card/Passport/Driving License/Bank Account Passbook
    • Unique Mobile Number
    • Self attested Aadhaar Card/Voter ID Card/Electricity Bill
    • Unique Email ID
    • Passport Size Photograph
  2.  Information required from Application for Foreign Residents:
    • Unique Email ID
    • Notarized/ Apostille Passport from embassy
    • Attested Copy of VISA (if applicant is out of native country)
    • Attested copy of Resident permit certificate (if applicant is in India)
  3. Application Submission
  4. DSC verification
    • Mobile Verification (Applicant need to verify through SMS)
    • Video Verification (Applicant need to submit video verification)
  5. Downloading Certificate
Paperless Procedure:
  1. E KYC enrollment
    • Upload Aadhaar
    • Enter Share Code
    • Mobile Number
    • PAN Number
    • Email ID
  2. Apply Certificate
    • Share Sent OTP on Mobile Number
  3. DSC Video Verification
  4. Download Certificate
Application for DGFT:
  1. Obtaining Information from Applicant
  2. Online Application Form
  3. Submission of Documents
  4. DSC verification
    • Mobile Verification (Applicant need to verify through SMS)
    • Video Verification (Applicant need to submit video verification)
  5. Download Certificate

Documents Required in Case of DGFT

  • Copy of Organizational PAN card
  • Recent copy of Bank Statement
  • Copy of Incorporation Certificate
  • Authorized Signatory ID proof
  • Copy of Applicant’s Pan Card
  • Copy of IEC Certificate
  • Proof of Authorized Signatory (Board Resolution/List of Directors)

FAQ ‘s

A Digital Signature Certificate authenticates your identity electronically. It also provides high level of security for online transactions. 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.

You can use Digital Signature Certificates for the following:

  • For sending and receiving digitally signed documents.
  • For e-Tendering, e-Procurement, MCA (for Registrar of Companies e-filing), Income Tax (for e-filing income tax returns) Applications and many other.
  • For signing documents like MSWord, MS Excel and PDFs.

No, DSC Verifications can be made from anywhere.

No, your DSC can’t be get copied and these cannot be used without your private key. To maintain security, your private key should be protected by a password.

Please contact your nearest RA Administrator immediately to get your certificate suspended to avoid unauthorized access to it.

If you have a soft token and if the hard drive is formatted or has crashed, the Digital Signature Certificate will be deleted.