Apply for (DSC) Digital Signature Certificate Online in India

As its name suggests, a Digital Signature Certificate is an electronic signature that helps verify documents submitted online. In today's rapidly digitizing world, almost everything can be done online, from paying utility bills to starting a business. Previously, the only way to add an electronic signature to a document was to print it out, sign it, scan it, and send it back, which was time-consuming. However, the implementation of the DSC has made this process much faster.

In India, a digital signature certificate is a mathematical code that helps to authenticate a signature and maintain data integrity until it reaches its final destination. Obtaining a digital signature certificate in India is highly important due to its numerous benefits, which we will discuss in this post.

Individuals and businesses that require audited accounts must use a digital signature to file their income tax returns, as it is mandatory for all reports, applications, and forms to be filed using a digital signature. Additionally, a firm can use a digital signature to register for GST and file all associated paperwork, applications, and modifications.
 

Ensuring Safety:

DSC's electronic operations make it almost impossible to duplicate certificates. The certificate is secure and cannot be tampered with or duplicated like physical signatures. The holder receives a password to access their signature, ensuring the document's security and authentication with DSC.

Legal Validity:

The legal validity of papers is guaranteed by Digital Signatures, which can be used as proof in a court of law. The digital signature of a food license is deemed equal to a physical signature when submitting papers for various registrations, such as business, IPR, and food licensing. All documents uploaded through online portals must be verified using a digital signature certificate.

Lower Time:

By using digital signatures, individuals can sign important documents from any location worldwide, reducing the time required to complete the signing process. This contrasts physical signatures, which may require individuals to be physically present, causing potential delays.

Easier Procedures:

Going through each document physically, reviewing it, and then printing or traveling to sign can be quite tiresome for customers. With the help of DSC, clients can now add their digital signatures to relevant papers from the comfort of their homes, simplifying the process.

Improving Business Operations:

DSC can enhance business operations by minimizing the time and costs of signing documents and providing greater security. This enables employees to focus on other important tasks instead of spending time on document signing.

Helps to Save Cost:

Using a digital signature certificate can also reduce expenses associated with physical signatures, such as ink, paper, printing, scanning, shipping, monitoring, and travel.

Filing Buddy provides an affordable price for digital signatures that can be used to sign documents on nearly any device. This service lets you add an electronic signature to your documents, such as forms, contracts, and agreements, within minutes. You can use your computer, tablet, or mobile phone to sign and even upload your document to sign with an electronic signature.

Faster and Easier Payment: 

With digital signatures, deals can be completed faster and contracts can be signed and closed by multiple parties, streamlining the process of legal agreements, bills, and other documentation that require ink signatures.

Enhanced Security: 

Digital signatures provide better document security than paper or ink signatures, ensuring that documents are encrypted and protected from tampering or misuse.

Saves Time and Cost: 

Digital signature technology makes it quick and efficient to deliver and authenticate papers or any other official documents online, saving time and money.

Increased Authenticity: 

Digital signature certificates are legally valid and can stand up in a court of law. Time-stamping, tracing, and archiving documents also increase compliance and auditing.

Validity for the Future: 

Digital signatures have long-term validity, and ETSI PDF advanced signatures are still valid in the future.

Enhanced Customer Service: 

Many transactions are completed online using personal mobile phones, and most consumers nowadays demand digital signatures, which helps to sustain client loyalty.

Increases Validity of Documents: 

Digital signatures are the best option for ensuring document legitimacy, and digitally signed documents remain legitimate for many years.

Environmentally Friendly Decision: 

Digital signatures reduce waste and the cost of paper, communicating to consumers, workers, partners, and stakeholders that a company is environmentally conscious.

Increases Efficiency of Business: 

Incorporating e-signatures into work processes is cost-effective and ideal for organizations of any size, reducing contract turnaround time and process time.

Reduces Fraud: 

Digital signatures reduce the possibility of falsification because they are supported by a unique digital identity based on established Public Key Infrastructure standards.

The Controller of Certifying Authorities has approved eMudhra as a certifying authority to issue Digital Signature Certificates in India. Other certification agencies include (n)Code Solutions, National Informatics Centre, Safescrypt, and Institute for Development and Research in Banking Technology.

The type of Digital Signature Certificate in India required depends on the applicant's needs and purpose. Certifying authorities offer three types of DSCs, which are outlined below:

Class 1 DSC:

These are issued to individual or private subscribers and confirm that the user's name and email address are stored in the certifying authority's database.

Class 2 DSC:

These are provided to company directors or signatory authorities for electronic filing with the Registrar of Companies (ROC). Individuals who sign manual papers when submitting ROC returns require a Class 2 certificate. However, starting from January 1, 2021, the Controller of Certifying Authority has instructed that Class 2 Certificates be phased out and replaced with Class 3 Certificates.

Class 3 DSC:

These certificates enable participation in e-auctions and online tenders throughout India. Vendors must possess a Class 3 digital signature certificate to take part in online tenders.

To apply for a Digital Signature Certificate (DSC) in India, follow these steps:

1. Go to the eMudhra website.
2. Click on "Buy Digital Certificate" and select the class type, user type, validity, type of certificate, and KYC.
3. Fill in the application form with the required information based on your Aadhaar or PAN details, and click "Proceed."
4. Validate the information using an OTP sent to your registered mobile number, and click "Verify and Proceed."
5. Verify the information on the certificate using your PIN, User ID, and OTP to e-sign, and click "Submit."
6. Create a unique identifier for the application and note down the Application ID for future reference.
7. Complete the video recording for furthering the application of the DSC.
8. Answer the questions related to your DSC application, including your name and birth year, and submit the application.

Note that there are three types of DSCs available in India, namely Class 1, Class 2, and Class 3, and the type of certificate you need to apply for depends on the purpose and user.

To apply for a DSC, three essential documents must be provided, namely:

• A photo ID proof
• An address proof
• A fully completed DSC application form is provided by the applicant.