DIGITAL SIGNATURE CERTIFICATE :
A Digital Signature Certificate, like hand written
signature, establishes the identity of the sender filing the documents through internet which sender can not revoke or
deny. Accordingly, Digital Signature Certificate is a digital equivalent of a hand written signature which has
an extra data attached electronically to any message or a document. Digital Signature also ensures that no alterations
are made to the data once the document has been digitally signed. A DSC is normally valid for 1 or 2 years, after
which it can be renewed.
These certificates are
accepted for IFFCO, Northern Railway, MCA 21, E-filing,
E -tendering etc...
There are basically
3 types of Digital Signature Certificates
Class-1,
Class-2 &
Class-3 each having different level of security.
All the authorized
signatories of company under
MCA21
require
Class-2
Digital Signature Certificate.
Similarly any
document filed by CA/CS/CWA & TAX PRACTIONERS under
MCA21
require
Class-2
Digital Signature Certificate.
A
Digital Signature is a method of verifying the
authenticity of an electronic document. Digital
signatures are going to play an important role in our
lives with the gradual electronization of records and
documents.
The IT Act has given legal recognition to digital
signature meaning, thereby, that legally it has the same
value as handwritten or signed signatures affixed to a
document for its verification.
The
Information Technology Act, 2000 provides the
required legal sanctity to the digital signatures based
on asymmetric cryptosystems. The digital signatures are
now accepted at par with handwritten signatures and the
electronic documents that have been digitally signed are
treated at par with paper documents.
What can I use digital certificates for?
Three uses are outlined here. Your digital certificate
could be used to allow you to access membership-based
web sites automatically without entering a user name and
password. It can allow others to verify your "signed"
e-mail or other electronic documents, assuring your
intended reader(s) that you are the genuine author of
the documents, and that the content has not been
corrupted or tampered with in any way. Finally, digital
certificates enable others to send private messages to
you: anyone else who gets his/her hands on a message
meant for you will not be able to read it.
Sending Digitally Signed Mail : You can use your
Digital Certificate to digitally sign your emails sent
through Outlook Express / MS-Outlook etc. Digitally
signing the mail authenticates your identity and enables
the receiver to ensure that the mail has come from you
only. It also ensures that the content of the mail is
not tampered in the transit and the mail received by the
receiver is the same what you have sent.
WHO NEEDS A DIGITAL SIGNATURE CERTIFICATE ?
Under
MCA21 Every person who is required to sign manual documents
and returns filed with ROC is required to obtain a Digital
Signature Certificate (DSC). Accordingly following have to
obtain Digital Signature Certificate:
1. Directors
2. Auditors
3. Company Secretary - Whether in practice or in job.
4. Bank Officials - for Registration and Satisfaction of
Charges
5. Other Authorized Signatories.
TYPES OF DIGITAL SIGNATURE CERTIFICATE
There are 3 types of Digital Signature
Certificates, having different security levels, namely :-
Class-1
Class-2
Class-3
For filing documents under
MCA21, a
Class-2
Digital Signature Certificate issued by a Licensed
Registration Authority is required. We also offer Class 1
and 3 besides Class 2 certificates.
