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How to Choose the Right Digital Signature Certificate (DSC) for Your Needs | Justflik.com

Page Last updated on April 04, 2025

1. Introduction to Digital Signature Certificates (DSC).

A Digital Signature Certificate (DSC) is an electronic form of a signature that is used to authenticate the identity of the signer and ensure the integrity of the data or document being signed. Just like a handwritten signature, a DSC is a legal proof of the signer’s identity and intention to approve or sign a document. However, unlike traditional signatures, a DSC is more secure and offers greater verification.

In today’s digital world, DSCs are essential for ensuring secure online transactions and protecting sensitive information. They are widely used by both individuals and businesses for a variety of purposes, including filing income tax returns, signing legal contracts, participating in e-tendering, and more. By using a DSC, individuals and organizations can digitally sign documents, encrypt communications, and perform e-transactions with confidence, knowing that the data has not been tampered with and that the signer's identity is verified.

For businesses, a DSC provides a convenient and legally recognized way to perform transactions online, reducing the need for physical paperwork and enhancing operational efficiency. For individuals, it ensures the authenticity and security of digital communications, such as signing personal documents or conducting financial activities. In both cases, DSCs play a critical role in maintaining the security and trustworthiness of digital transactions and communications.


2. Purpose of the Digital Signature

The purpose of the DSC plays a crucial role in selecting the right certificate:

  • Tax Filing: If the DSC is needed for e-filing income tax returns, a Class 3 DSC will meet your needs.
  • Signing Contracts/Agreements: For signing business contracts or official documents digitally, a Class 3 DSC would be ideal, depending on the nature and security of the document.
  • Government and Legal Transactions: If you're dealing with government portals or signing high-security documents, a Class 3 DSC is often required for maximum security and authenticity.


3. How to Choose the Right Digital Signature for Your Requirement.

Choosing the right Digital Signature Certificate (DSC) depends on several key factors, including your specific needs, the type of user (individual or organization), and the level of security required. Here are the main considerations to help you make the right decision:

Determine the Type of User: Individual or Organization

  • For Individuals: If you are using a DSC for personal purposes, such as filing income tax returns, signing legal documents, or securing email communication, a Class 3 DSC is usually sufficient. It provides a basic level of security and is suitable for most individual uses.

Individual User DSC includes Applicant's Name, Email ID, Permanent Account Number (PAN), State Name in Digital Signatures. Individual User DSCs do not contains / includes Organization Name in DSC. Any Indian or Foreign Individual User falls under this category.

For Example: Ramesh Gupta want to buy his own DSC. In this case DSC will include Ramesh Gupta as his Name, Email ID, PAN and State Name. 

  • For Businesses/Organizations: If you are representing a company or organization, especially when filing documents with government authorities, signing business contracts, or participating in e-tendering, a Class 3 DSC is often required. This type of certificate offers higher security and is intended for more critical and sensitive transactions.

Organization User or Company User DSC contains Organization Name, Applicant Name, Email ID, Permanent Account Number (PAN), State Name. In case of DGFT, it also contains Importer Exporter Code (IEC) and Branch Code. Proprietorship, Partnership, Private Limited, Limited, Limited Liability Partnership (LLP), Non-Governmental Organization, Foreign Organization User falls under this category.


4.Types of Digital Signature Certificate

a. Signature Certificate: Signing Certificate is used to sign any document or information. It is most popular certificate in India. Income Tax Return e-filing, GST, Provident Fund, ROC, MCA21 e-filing, Company Incorporation, Director e-KYC, Trademark e-filing and Registration are most common departments which accept signing certificate to complete work on their websites.

b. Encryption Certificate: Encryption Certificate is used to encrypt any document or information. Encryption Certificate is required for most sensitive transactions like e-tendering, e-procurement, net banking, etc. Encryption Certificate works with signing certificate. First Signing Certificate will be used to sign any document and then to encrypt, encryption certificate is required.

c. Signature & Encryption (Combo) Certificate: If you need Signature and Encryption both certificates, then you need to choose Combo during purchase of DSC.


5. Validity of Digital Signature Certificate (DSC)

Most of the Certifying Authorities (CA) offer the Digital Signature Certificate for 1 Year, 2 Years, 3 Years. An applicant can apply DSC for the mentioned validity period, as per their requirement. 

Mostly, Class-3 for a Validity Period for 2 Years is the 1st purchase preference by the people.


6. USB Token Required or Not?

All Digital Signature Certificates (DSC) can be downloaded only in USB DSC Tokens. USB DSC Token is a password protected hardware device that needs to plug-in in Computer during the use of DSC. 

If you do not have any USB Token in existence, then you can choose to buy a new USB Token.

If you have already have a Token, then please send us image of the Token to check whether it will work or not. Sometimes, as per the government notifications, the old token doesn't work to download New / renew DSC. If your Token is valid, then you can choose Token - Not Required, while placing your order.


7. Suggested Usage:

Class 3 Individual Digital Signature with Signing Certificate is required for below:-

  • Income Tax Return (ITR) e-filing
  • Audit e-filing, Traces
  • ROC and MCA e-filing
  • GST Registration
  • IEC Registration
  • Trademark and Patent e-filing
  • IRCTC e-ticketing
  • Directors e-kyc
  • Provident Fund, EPFO
  • Company Registration


Class 3 Individual Combo Digital Signature is required for below:-

  • ICEGATE, SANCHIT, MEIS, SEIS Website
  • CERSAI


Class 3 Organization Combo Digital Signature is required for below:-

  • All Indian eTenders, eTendering Websites
  • All India eProcurement Websites
  • All Indian eBidding, eAuction Websites
  • Gram Panchayat, Gram Sanchiv, Gram Pradhan
  • Gram Sarpanch, CERSAI Website
  • AICTE and CBSE Affiliated Institutions
  • Startup India, NSWS 


DGFT Digital Signature is required for below:-

  • IEC Updation / Renewal
  • DGFT Application e-filing
  • Applications e-filing etc.
  • It can be used only on DGFT Official Website.


Legal Disclaimer: Sometimes, it's possible that some information is not updated / amended by us timely, for the new changes / revised guidelines by Controller of Certifying Authorities (CA), Government of India and/or any changes revised by the Certifying Authorities. We will try our best to keep the information updated timely on this page, as per the availability of information with us, else or otherwise, we shall not be held liable for any information that is not updated / amended by us. In case if anyone finds any information is not accurate or not updated, we would be highly thankful if you would able to update us via dropping an email to us on info@justflik.com and/or call/WhatsApp at +917650000199.