Class 2 Digital Signature Certificate is mainly used for e-filing on MCA21 (for ROC) and Income Tax online portals. Other uses include signing a pdf, word or excel file, sign e-mail sent through Outlook etc.

About Digital Signatures

A Digital Signature Certificate, like hand written signature, establishes the identity of the applicant filing the documents through internet. A Digital Signature Certificate is not only a digital equivalent of a hand written signature, it adds extra data electronically to any message or a document where it is used to make it more authentic and more secured. Digital Signature ensures that no tampering of data is done once the document has been digitally signed.

Certifying Authority

A digital signature is issued by a Certification Authority (CA) and is signed with the CA's private key. A digital signature typically contains the: Owner's public key, the Owner's name, Expiration date of the public key, the Name of the issuer (the CA that issued the Digital ID), Serial number of the digital signature, and the digital signature of the issuer. Digital signatures deploy the Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) technology. All certicates bought from SignKaro.com is issued by emudhra CA. A Digital Signature Certificate (DSC) is normally valid for 1 or 2 years, after which renewal is required.

Class 2 digital signature for MCA21/ROC eFiling.

The Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA) under the MCA21 program, has made e-filing (online filing) with Digital Signature mandatory. Class 2 Digital Signature (RCAI Class 2) is the minimum standard DSC required for e-filing on the MCA21 portal. All the authorized signatories of company under MCA21 require Class-2 Digital Signature Certificate. Similarly any document filed by Chartered Accountant (CA), Company Secretary (CS), CWA and TAX PRACTIONERS under MCA21 require Class-2 Digital Signature Certificate.

Class 2 digital signature for Income Tax eFiling.

e-Filing with Pan Encrypted Digital Signature Certificate on the Income Tax e-Filing portal has been made mandatory w.e.f 1st July 2011 for Firms and Individuals whose accounts are required to be audited u/s 44 AB of the Income Tax Act' 1961. For others who do not come under the above category, e-Filing Income Tax returns can be done with Digital Signature Certificates also. If filing is done electronically using digital signature, there is no need to submit a physical copy of the return. Else a physical printed copy of the filled up Form along with the copy of the Provisional Acknowledgement Number of your e-Return has to be submitted.

Class 2 digital signature for Applying for DIN from Ministry of Corporate Affairs

The Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA) under the MCA21 program, has made Digital Signature mandatory for applying for DIN (Director Identification Number). Class 2 Digital Signature (RCAI Class 2) is the minimum requirement for online application for the same. Hence all the Directors of a company under MCA21 require Class-2 Digital Signature Certificate.

Class 2 Digital Signature for EPFO

Class 2 Digital Signature Certificate is used for online submission of transfer claims by Members. Now a member has an option to submit his claim either through his present employer or the previous one. Members can see all such claim requests with ease, verify/correct member details, approve and submit the requests online through this portal. Online submission of claims can be done only with the Digital Signature of the Authorised person of the organisation.

Class 2 Digital Signature for Form 16A signing and TRACES

Class 2 Digital Signature Certificate is used for online registration with TRACES and signing Form 16A for TDS purposes.

Class 2 Digital Signature for SEZ Online

Class 2 or Class 3 Digital Signatures can be used for SEZ Online system users to submit all applications, customs transactions & compliance reports via electronic forms.

Class 3 Signing Digital Signature Certificates

Class 3 Digital Signature Certificate provides the highest level of assurance or trust within the RCAI hierarchy setup of CCA ( Controller of Certifying Authorities) in India. which is mainly used for e tendering and e procurement. Class 3 Digital Signature are issued to Individuals or Organizations. They are especially used to authenticate the identity of the vendors as well as buyers in any e-Tendering, e-Procurement and e-Bidding process.

Types of Class 3 Signing Digital Signature Certificates

A) Signing - Individual Individual.
B) Signing - Individual with Organization Name.

e Tendering and e procurement portals where Class 3 Digital Signature is used.

Class 3 Digital Signature Certificates are required for e-tendering, e-procurement, e-bidding or e-ticketing for Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation Limited (IRCTC), Indian Railways (IREPS), Directorate General of Supplies & Disposals (DGSND), Indian Oil Corporation Ltd. (IOCL), Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL), Oil India Limited (OIL), Oil & Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC), Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL), GAIL, NTPC, Government of Gujarat, Maharashtra Government, Karnataka Government (Karnataka e-procurement), West Bengal State Rural Development Agency (WBSRDA), Tamil Nadu Government (PMGSY), Madhya Pradesh Government, BIHAR GOVERNMENT (PMGSY), Government of Orissa (PMGSY), Coal India Limited, Gujarat Narmada Valley Fertilizers Corporation Ltd. (GNFC Ltd.), MSTC Limited, Neyveli Lignite Corporation Limited, Metal Junctions, Water Resources Department, Patent and trade marks registration, Air India etc.,

Class 3 Signing and Encryption Digital Signature is used for High-Value eTenders and e procurements ( SHA2 - 2048 bit).Class 3 Digital Signature are issued to Individuals or Organizations. They are especially used to authenticate the identity of the vendors as well as buyers in any e-Tendering, e-Procurement and e-Bidding process.

Types of Class 3 Signing and Encryption Digital Signature Certificates

A) Signing and Encryption - Individual.
B) Signing and Encryption- Individual with Organization Name.

e Tendering and e procurement portals where Class 3 Digital Signature is used.

Class 3 Digital Signature Certificates are required for e-tendering, e-procurement, e-bidding or e-ticketing for Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation Limited (IRCTC), Indian Railways (IREPS), Directorate General of Supplies & Disposals (DGSND), Indian Oil Corporation Ltd. (IOCL), Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL), Oil India Limited (OIL), Oil & Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC), Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL), GAIL, NTPC, Government of Gujarat, Maharashtra Government, Karnataka Government (Karnataka e-procurement), West Bengal State Rural Development Agency (WBSRDA), Tamil Nadu Government (PMGSY), Madhya Pradesh Government, BIHAR GOVERNMENT (PMGSY), Government of Orissa (PMGSY), Coal India Limited, Gujarat Narmada Valley Fertilizers Corporation Ltd. (GNFC Ltd.), MSTC Limited, Neyveli Lignite Corporation Limited, Metal Junctions, Water Resources Department, Patent and trade marks registration, Air India etc.,

A DGFT Digital Signature is required to digitally sign any documents in electronic format or for transactions being performed through a web-browser on the DGFT website or portal. It is mainly used by the EXIM (Exporters & Importers) community registered with the DGFT (Directorate General of Foreign Trade) in India.

Advantages of DGFT Digital Signatures.

A DGFT Digital Signature is issued to Organizations or individuals (any person from an EXIM Org. who is authorized to transact with DGFT on behalf of the Org) who have obtained a valid IEC (Importer Exporter Code) code. A DGFT Digital Signature can be used to apply for licenses electronically with the DGFT and digitally sign online license applications. In fact it is mandatory to have this DSC to able to communicate with DGFT online.

DGFT has extended attractive monetary incentives amounting to 50 % waiver on license fee for those Exporters and Importers using DGFT Digital Signature Certificates. Advantages of a DGFT Digital Signature includes reduced paperwork, reduced costs, reduced turnaround time and convenience. Moreover logging into the DGFT Portal using a DGFT Digital signature is far more secure than using a ID and Password.