What is a digital signature

The certificate contains information about the user’s identity (name, pin code, country, email address, the date the certificate was issued and the name of the certifying authority).

How can one get it?

A licensed certifying authority (CA) issues the digital signature. CA means a person who has been granted a license to issue a digital signature certificate under Section 24 of the Information Technology Act, 2000. The time taken by CAs to issue a DSC may vary up to a week.

Class I DSCs validates the email address of user.

Class II DSC is issued wherein the identity of a person is verified against a trusted, pre-verified database.

Class III DSC is issued directly by the certifying authority and indicates a higher level of authenticity as the person needs to present himself or herself in front of a registration authority (RA) and prove his/ her identity.

The fees typically vary from provider to provider, and can be issued with a one or two year validity.

Where to use them

DSCs can be used for e-filing of income tax returns, e-tendering on websites of government departments and ministries like Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation, Director General of Foreign Trade, Ministry of Corporate Affairs and Registrar of Companies.

Class I DSCs can be used by employers while communicating with employees via email. Class I certificates shall be issued to individuals/private subscribers. These certificates will confirm that user’s name (or alias) and email address form an unambiguous subject within the certifying authorities’ database.

Class II DSCs are applicable in e-filing of income tax returns & sales tax returns, etc.

Class III DSCs can be used to participate in e-tendering or e-auctions organised by governments or public sector companies.