Digital Signature Certificate

Digital Signature Certificate in Jaipur

A Digital Signature Certificate is a secure digital key that is issued by the certifying authorities for the purpose of validating and certifying the identity of the person holding this certificate. Digital Signatures make use of the public key encryption to create the signatures. A digital signature certificate (DSC) contains information about the user’s name, pin code, country, email address, date of issuance of certificate and name of the certifying authority.

Benefits And Classes

1. Benefits

   Digital Signature Certificates are helpful in authenticating the personal information details of the individual holder when conducting business online.

   Reduced cost and time

   Instead of signing the hard copy documents physically and scanning them to send them via e-mail, you can digitally sign the PDF files and send them much more quickly.
   The Digital Signature certificate holder does not have to be physically present to conduct or authorize a business.

   Data integrity

   Documents that are signed digitally cannot be altered or edited after signing, which makes the data safe and secure.
   The government agencies often ask for these certificates to cross-check and verify the business transaction

   Authenticity of Documents

   Digitally signed documents give confidence to the receiver to be assured of the signer’s authenticity. They can take action on the basis of such documents without getting worried about the documents being forged.

2. Classes

   The type of applicant and the purpose for which the Digital Signature Certificate is obtained defines the kind of DSC one must apply for depending on the need. There are three types of Digital Signature certificates issued by the certifying authorities. 

   Class 1 Certificates:

   These are issued to individual/private subscribers and are used to confirm that the user’s name and email contact details from the clearly defined subject lie within the database of the certifying authority.

   Class 2 Certificates:

   These are issued to the director/signatory authorities of the companies for the purpose of e-filing with the Registrar of Companies (ROC). Class 2 certificate is mandatory for individuals who have to sign manual documents while filing of returns with the ROC.

   Class 3 Certificates:

   These certificates are used in online participation/bidding in e-auctions and online tenders anywhere in India. The vendors who wish to participate in the online tenders must have a Class 3 digital signature certificate.

Documents

Documents Required for Indian Nationals

1. In case the applicant is an Indian National, please submit the following documents for identity and address proof:
   Identity Proof
   1. PAN Card of the Applicant
   2. Adhar Card
   3. 2 Photo
   4. Mobile and Email ID

Procedure

1. Log on and select your type of entity

   Log on to the website of a Certifying Authority licensed to issue Digital Certificates in India.
   Having accessed the page, you will be guided to the Digital Certification Services’ section.
   Now under the ‘Digital Certification Services’ section, click on the type of entity for which you want to obtain the DSC:’ individual or organization’, etc.
   In case you are applying for an individual DSC, click on ‘individual’. A new tab containing the DSC Registration Form will appear. Download the DSC Registration Form on your PC.

2. Fill the necessary details

   Once you have downloaded the form, fill in all the necessary details as required in the form:
   1. Class of the DSC
   2. Validity
   3. Type: Only Sign or Sign & Encrypt
   4. Applicant Name & Contact Details
   5. Residential Address
   6. GST Number & Identity Details of Proof Documents
   7. Declaration
   8. Document as proof of identity
   9. Document as proof of address
   10. Attestation Officer
   11. Payment Details
   On filling up all the necessary details you must affix your recent photograph and put your signature under the declaration. Check thoroughly for completion of the form. Take a print of the completed form and preserve it.

3. Proof of identity and address

   The supporting document provided as proof of identity and address must be attested by an attesting officer. Ensure the sign and seal of the attesting officer is visibly clear on the supporting proof documents.

4. Payment of DSC

   A demand draft or cheque must be obtained towards payment for application of DSC in the name of the Local Registration Authority where you are going to submit your application for verification.
   You can find the details of the Local Registration Authority according to your city of residence by searching for a Certifying Authority licensed to issue Digital Certificates online.

5. Post the documents required

   Enclose the following in an envelope.
   1. DSC Registration Form duly completed -Supporting document for Proof of Identity and proof of address attested by the attesting officer
   2. Demand Draft/Cheque for payment. Address the enclosed envelope to the Local Registration Authority (LRA) and post it to the designated address of the LRA for further processing. On completion of the above-mentioned steps by filling in the DSC Form and providing necessary documents and payment, you have successfully completed the application process for your Digital Signature Certificate.

Advantages

1. Digital being added to almost anything makes it a lot faster than the non-digital version of that thing. Similarly, a digital signature can be used to send documents a lot faster, almost instantaneously, as the documents can now be sent via mail and do not need to be delivered in person or via courier.
2. Also, an added advantage would be the decreased cost of sending the documents as the digital signatures are comparatively a lot less expensive than any courier service charge for sending documents.
3. Not only this, a document sent via courier or in person could be tampered with on the way but when sent using a digital signature it gets encrypted in such a way that any kind of tampering with the document is not possible.
4. Further, a document which is digitally signed can effortlessly tracked and located in few minutes.
5. Nobody else can fake your digital signature or present an electronic file incorrectly claiming it was signed by you. 6. The documents containing digital signatures are in no way different form documents containing a pen on paper signature as they would even stand in court when produced because a digital signature cannot be copied and also contains a date and time stamp.

The advantages greatly overshadow the disadvantages. Practically the only disadvantages of using digital signature are the weak laws regarding cyber security which might cause any unnecessary hassles in case of a court case and that both parties have to purchase the certificates for the digital signature in order to use it instead of the one party courier charge.

Time

DSC registration about 1 working day.