In today’s digital age, secure and legally valid online transactions have become a necessity. A certificate for digital signature is important in the authentication, integrity, and non-repudiation of electronic records. But what exactly is a digital signature certificate (DSC)? Who issues it, and what is its legal validity? Let’s dive deep into the answers to these common yet critical questions.
Who Issues The Certificate For Digital Signature?
A Digital Signature Certificate is provided by the authorized Certifying Authority (CA) registered under Information Technology Act, 2000. The control of these authorities is in the hands of Controller of Certifying Authorities (CCA), the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), Government of India.
Certifying Authorities are trusted entities authorized to issue digital certificates after verifying the identity of applicants. Some of the most popular CAs in India include:
- Vishwnet India
- Capricorn
- MeraDSC
At meradsc.com, we partner with licensed CAs to offer you hassle-free application and renewal of your DSC—whether you need it for income tax filing, MCA (ROC) compliance, GST registration, or tender bidding.
What Is The Legal Status of a Certificate For Digital Signature?
Under section 5 of the Information Technology Act, 2000, a digital signature with a supporting valid digital certificate is legally defined as the same as handwritten ones in any legal proceedings. Digital signatures are accepted in the law as legally binding and admissible in court as long as it is issued and applied with care.
There are various classes of DSCs, such as:
Class 3 DSC – Highly secure and used for e-tendering, MCA filings, DGFT, and more.
Document Signer Certificate – Issued to organizations to sign bulk documents or invoices.
DGFT Certificate – It enables the import-export firms to submit documents to the Directorate General of Foreign Trade.
A DSC has all the legal abilities, especially when obtained through a certified Signing Authority and used appropriately.
Whether Aadhaar eKYC-Based Authentication Can Be Treated as the Signature of an Individual?
Yes, Aadhaar eKYC-based authentication can be used as a form of electronic signature—but with certain limitations.
The Aadhaar eSign service allows an individual to sign documents digitally using Aadhaar OTP-based authentication. However, it’s not a replacement for all types of digital signatures. It is generally accepted for:
- Signing e-forms on government portals
- Consent-based agreements
- KYC documentation
However, when it comes to legal, audit, or compliance-related filings, then the most trusted and safe authentication remains a decent Class 3 digital signature certificate.
