A Digital Signature Certificate (DSC) is a digital credential issued by a licensed Certifying Authority (CA) in India, containing the holder’s public key, identity information, and the CA’s digital signature. In Zoho Sign, DSC-based signing applies a cryptographically verified signature recognised under the Information Technology Act, 2000.
DSCs in India are classified by assurance level: Class 1 (email identity verification only), Class 2 (identity verified against a database), and Class 3 (in-person identity verification, highest assurance). Government tenders, MCA filings, and income tax submissions typically require Class 3 DSC.
Zoho Sign supports DSC signing for Indian compliance requirements. If your business must sign documents on the MCA portal, income tax efiling, or government procurement systems (GeM), DSC-based signing through Zoho Sign or a companion tool is the required method. Consult your CA for the appropriate DSC class for your specific use case.
To sign with a DSC in Zoho Sign, the signer needs a valid Digital Signature Certificate issued by a licensed Certifying Authority in India (such as eMudhra, Sify, or nCode), the USB token on which the DSC private key is stored, the token driver installed on their computer, and a supported browser. The signing process reads the certificate from the token using the browser’s cryptographic API.
DSCs are typically issued for 1 or 2 years. When a DSC expires, the signer cannot use it to sign new documents in Zoho Sign. A new DSC must be obtained from a Certifying Authority. Documents signed with the DSC before expiry remain valid as long as the certificate was valid at the time of signing, which is recorded in the audit trail.
To sign with a DSC in Zoho Sign, the signer needs a valid Digital Signature Certificate issued by a licensed Certifying Authority in India (such as eMudhra, Sify, or nCode), the USB token on which the DSC private key is stored, the token driver installed on their computer, and a supported browser. The signing process reads the certificate from the token using the browser’s cryptographic API.
DSCs are typically issued for 1 or 2 years. When a DSC expires, the signer cannot use it to sign new documents in Zoho Sign. A new DSC must be obtained from a Certifying Authority. Documents signed with the DSC before expiry remain valid as long as the certificate was valid at the time of signing, which is recorded in the audit trail.
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