Expert Curated
Indian businesses require digital signatures for GST filings, MCA filings, e-tendering, and increasingly for contracts and agreements. There are two types: Class 3 DSC (hardware token for government portals) and Aadhaar-based eSign (for business agreements). Here's what each is used for and the best providers.
A Digital Signature Certificate (DSC) is a cryptographic token stored on a USB dongle, issued by a licensed CA like eMudhra. It's required for MCA filings, GST signing, and e-tenders. Aadhaar eSign uses your Aadhaar number + OTP to sign electronically — it's valid under the IT Act Section 3A for business agreements but not accepted on all government portals. Both are legally valid in different contexts.
Yes. Under the Information Technology Act 2000, electronically signed contracts using Aadhaar eSign or Class 3 DSC are legally valid in India. Courts increasingly accept eSign contracts as evidence. The key requirements are a proper audit trail showing signer identity, time of signing, and document integrity — which all the platforms above provide.
We help Indian businesses implement eSign workflows — from basic Zoho Sign for HR documents to enterprise contract lifecycle management. Get a free consultation.