A Digital Signature Certificate (DSC) is an identifying certificate in an electronic format issued for a specific purpose. It is thus the digital equivalent of paper certificates like Driving Licenses, Passport, etc. used to prove one’s identity.
A DSC is issued by a licensed certifying authority and is used to sign documents digitally, be it for e-filing income tax returns, or for getting a GST identification number.
Typically issued with validity, the Digital signature certificates need to be renewed upon the expiry of the period of initial issue.
How to apply for a Digital Signature Certificate?
The application process for a digital signature certificate can either be completely online or may have offline components as well, depending upon the certifying authority licensed by the Controller of Certifying Authorities (CCA) to issue the DSC.
The process to obtain a Digital Signature Certificate online is as follows:
Approach the Licensed Certifying Authority (Licensed CAs)
Applicants first directly approach Certifying Authorities licensed to issue digital signature certificates in India under the Indian Information and Technology Act, 2000.
Applicants would have to visit the official website or the portal of the CA.
They would then have to open the digital certification services section on the portal of the certification agencies and choose the entity type for which a DSC is to be obtained.
Provide the details sought and submit supporting documents.
The applicant would then have to fill out the Digital Signature Certificate(DSC) application form provided by the entities issuing DSCs.
Along with this, the applicant would have to submit the original supporting documents in an electronic form along with self-attested copies.
However, if the Certifying Authority allows an Aadhaar e-KYC-based authentication, the applicant may not have to submit certain documents separately.
Another case in which supporting documents may not be required to obtain a Digital signature certificate is when a bank issues a letter or certificate containing the applicant’s information from their database, which is duly signed by the Bank Manager.
Make payment
The applicant would then have to make payment for the charges of obtaining a Digital Signature certificate. Since there are many entities issuing DSCs, the charges for obtaining a DSC vary.
The cost of obtaining a DSC also depends upon the validity of the DSC sought. For example, a Class 3 DSC with a validity of one year would usually be cheaper than one with a validity of 2 years.
Download the Digital Signature Certificate
Once the payment for the DSC has been made, the user will be able to download their Digital signature certificate from the portal of the certifying authority.
The certifying authority may also send an encrypted pendrive to the user.
Significance of Digital Signature Certificate
A Digital Signature Certificate has been made a statutory requirement for applications submitted online under various government departments/government agencies. It is used to sign electronic documents digitally.
For example, it can be used to sign e-forms, for income tax e-filing, for obtaining a GST number (GSTIN), or for company registration on the Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA) portal.
The digital certificate can also be presented electronically to prove the user’s identity and is legally admissible in a court of law under the Information Technology Act, 2000.
Conclusion
Digital signature certificates fill a very important gap that was created with the ongoing digitalisation; the inability to authenticate documents submitted digitally.
Certifying Authority, the entity licensed to issue a DSC plays an important role in validating the identity of the applicant through the personal details sought.
The digital certificates issued can thus be used as a token for the physical signatures of the person concerned, saving time and costs.
This plays an indispensable role in various services offered through the Public Digital Infrastructure (DPI) or products being offered through the India Stack.
FAQs
Can a person have 2 digital signatures?
Yes, a person may have 2 digital signatures for personal and professional use.
For how many years is DSC valid?
The validity period of a Digital Signature Certificate can either be one year or two years.
Which documents are required for DSC?
The documents required for obtaining a DSC are dependent upon the entity type for which a DSC is sought.
For an individual, documents that serve as identity proof and address proof are required.
Thus, as identity proof, the following documents may be required:
- Aadhar Card
- Passport
- PAN Card
- Driving Licence
- Bank Account Passbook
- Any photo ID card issued by the government bearing the signature of the applicant
The documents submitted as Address proof may include:
- Aadhar Card
- Telephone Bill
- Voter ID Card
- Driving Licence
- Water Usage Bill
- Electricity Bill
- Latest Bank Statements signed by the bank
- GST Registration certificate
- Property Tax or Municipal Corporation Receipt
- Any ID card issued by the government that has the name and address of the applicant.
What is the cost of a DSC signature?
The cost of obtaining a Digital Signature Certificate (DSC) differs based on the charges of the licensed certifying authority, the different classes of DSC, and the validity period of the DSC.
For example, a digital signature certificate with a two-year validity is more costly than one with a one-year validity.
Similarly, the cost of obtaining a class 3 DSC may be different from the cost of the class 2 DSC. However, there have been reports that the issuance of class 2 DSC has been discontinued since 2021.
Can I get DSC online for free?
Certifying Authorities (CAs) usually charge a fee for providing a DSC to the applicant. The fee charged depends upon the class of the DSC and its validity.
Who will issue a digital signature certificate?
A Certifying Authority (CA) issues a digital signature certificate. The list of CAs licensed to issue Class 2 or Class 3 digital signature certificates can be accessed on the website of the CCA.
Can we apply for a digital signature online?
Yes, one can apply for a digital signature certificate online through the portal of the licensed CA (authorities granted a licence by the CCA to issue digital signature certificates).
