FAQ's
What is a Digital Signature Certificate?
Digital Signature Certificates (DSC) is the electronic format of physical or paper certificate like a driving License, passport etc. Certificates serve as proof of identity of an individual for a certain purpose; for example, a Passport identifies someone as a citizen of that country; who can legally travel to any country.
What are the different types of Digital Signature Certificates?
The different types are
1) Class 1 (used for email signatures)
2) Class 2 (discontinued)
3) Class 3 (used for MCA21/Income Tax e-filing, GST, EPFO, CERSAI 2.0, e-tenders/e-procurement, etc.,)
4) DGFT (a special Class 2 digital signature for Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT))
What is a Certifying Authority?
A Certifying Authority is a trusted agency whose central responsibility is to issue, revoke, renew and provide directories for Digital Signature Certificates. According to Section 24 of the Information Technology Act 2000, "Certifying Authority" means a person who has been granted a license to issue Digital Signature Certificates.
Are USB tokens mandatory?
Yes. USB tokens with CSP version 2.0 is now mandatory for downloading the digital certificate.
Is PAN card detail required to apply for digital signature certificate (DSC)?
No. PAN is not mandatory for getting a digital signature. However, in order to use the same for Income Tax e-filing, PAN details need to be added in the DSC. Therefore it is always recommended to use the Pan details as well.
Do you need physical documents?
No physical documents are required as it is fully online process.
How long does it take to get my digital signature?
Digital signature certificates can be ready same day (working hours), provided the applicant completes all verification steps, including video recording.
How do I renew my certificate?
As per current guidelines, the process of renewal is the same as that of getting a new one.
Can we use Digital Signature Certificate without token
No, we cannot
Can a Person have 2 Digital Signatures
Yes, one person can have multiple digital signatures