A Digital Signature Certificate (DSC) is the legally recognized secured electronic format of physical certificates issued by certain authorities that digitally prove one’s identity.
This authentication is made according to Section 3 of The Information Technology Act, 2000. Digital Signatures use the public key encoding to create the signatures.
DSC generally contains vital information, i.e., the user’s name, email address, pin code, belonging country, certificate issuance date, and certifying authority.
There are mainly three types of digital signature certificates, Class i, Class ii, Class iii. Today we are discussing Class iii Digital Signature Certificate, which is Best for Patent, Trademark e-filing & E-procurement.
Why the Digital Signature Certificate Required?
First of all, we have to know the reason for having a Digital Signature Certificate. This provision is given mainly to bring in the security and authenticity of all the digitally fill documents.
Thus, all the documents filed by Companies or Limited Liability Partnership firms (LLP) under the MCA 21 e-governance project must file such documents using digital signatures. The authorized person must assign such a signature.
What is Class III Digital Signature Certificate?
Class iii Digital Signature Certificate is the most secured of all 3 certificates. That’s why it is use in high security and safety affairs. Class iii digital signature certificate is issue to individuals as well as companies or any organizations.
Moreover, a person can have two digital signatures at a time, one for personal use and another for official use. It is mainly use in online trading and electronic commerce application, where a huge sum of money or extremely confidential information is engage.
Class iii Digital Signature Certificate is more secure in comparison to Class ii Digital Certificate.
Major Functions of Class III Digital Signature Certificates (DSC)
- E-tendering
- Patent
- Trademark e-filing
- MCA e-filing
- Customs e-filing
- E-bidding
- E-auction
- Logos filing
- Income tax e filing
- Vat return e-filing
- TDS return e-filing
- Custom and Excise
- E-procurement etc.
Procedure for Getting Class III Digital Signature Certificate
- Step 1: The Appellant has to fill the prescribed Application Form with required details and sign the same person. Then the physical application has to submit to the Registering Authority for enrollment.
- Step 2: The Registration Authority will make enrollment of the application at the Certification Authority portal for DSC issue. After verifying documents and the application, a mobile or video verification request will be sent to the applicant.
- Step 3: After submitting the application and documents to E-Mudhra, which is the Certifying Authority authorized for issuance of Digital Signature Certificates in India, the applicant shall get a net link for video verification. This particular verification would done with a Desktop or Mobile App.
- Step 4: Now, the applicant should complete the “Mobile Number” verification step, which is also mention in the application form. The applicant has to send an SMS to the mentioned format from their mobile number.
- Step 5: This is the last step, where the applier will get an authentication code for downloading the Class iii Digital Signature Certificate. Getting receipt of the authentication code, the applicant can download the DSC to the E-Token Storage device.
Required Documents
For Individual
Identity Proof: Any of the below-mentioned documents, which are self-attested by the applicant, can be submitted as identity proof.
- Aadhar card
- Passport
- PAN card
- Driving Licence
- Passbook of concerned bank account
- Any valid photo ID card issued by the central or state governments’ Home Ministry department.
Address Proof: Any of the mentioned documents, which are self-attested by the user, can be submitted as Address Proof.
- Telephone bill
- Electricity bill
- Recent bank transaction statements
- Any other valid bill issued in the name of the applicant
For Organization
- Copy of organization’s PAN Card
- Latest copy of bank statement
- Copy of establishment certificate.
- Business registration certificate
- Proof of authorized signatory
Pricing of Certificate
Price ranges vary according to the class and years of validity of the certificates.
The validity of class 3 Digital Signature Certificates The class iii DSCs issued by the Certified Authorities are usually valid for one year, two years, or three years. However, users can renew such forms as prescribed by the Central Government.
