A Digital Signature is an electronic signature that can be used to authenticate the identity of the signer of a document or the sender of a message and possibly to ensures that no tampering of data is done once the document has been digitally signed. This signature cannot be forged and it asserts that a named person wrote or otherwise agreed to the document to which the signature is attached.
A Digital Signature Certificate is normally valid for 2 years, after which renewal is required. These certificate are accepted for MCA 21, E-filing, Northern Railway, E-tendering, IFFCO, DGFT, etc.
There are basically 3 types of Digital Signature Certificates, Class 3 (Normal), Class 3 with firm name and Encryption (for E Tendering) and DGFT.
- Class 2 used for e-filing of Income tax, ROC and VAT.
- Class 3 is used for E-tendering accepted in Northern Railways, IFFCO etc.
- DGFT for used by users who communicate with DGFT Director General of foreign trade website.