Digital Signature Certificate (DSC) – FAQs
A DSC is a secure digital key that verifies the identity of the holder. It is the electronic equivalent of a physical signature and is issued by Certifying Authorities licensed by the Controller of Certifying Authorities (CCA) under the Information Technology Act, 2000.
Class 3 DSC is now the standard certificate for MCA, Income Tax, GST, DGFT and e-tender filings. Class 2 DSCs were discontinued from 1 January 2021.
For individuals: PAN, Aadhaar (for eKYC), a recent photograph, email ID and mobile number. For organisation DSCs, an authorisation letter and the organisation’s registration documents are also required.
A DSC can be taken with a validity of 1, 2 or 3 years. A new certificate has to be issued once the validity ends.
Once the application and video/eKYC verification are complete, the DSC is usually issued on the same day.
