Knowledge Base around public key infrastructure

A Digital Signature is a cryptographic electronic signature used to verify the identity of the signer and confirm that a digital document has not been altered after it was signed. It is created using a private key and verified using the corresponding public key through Public Key Infrastructure (PKI). In India, Digital Signatures are legally recognized under the Information Technology Act, 2000 and are widely used for government filings, contracts, compliance, and secure business transactions.

A Digital Signature Certificate (DSC) is a secure digital credential that verifies the identity of an individual or organization when signing electronic documents or accessing online services. It uses Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) and cryptographic technology to create legally recognized digital signatures, protect document integrity, and authenticate the signer. In India, Digital Signature Certificates are issued by licensed Certifying Authorities (CAs) operating under the regulatory framework of the Controller of Certifying Authorities (CCA).

Generally, no. A Digital Signature Certificate (DSC) is issued to a verified individual or organization with specific certificate details, which may include a single email address. If you need a certificate with different identity information or a different email address (where applicable), a new DSC must usually be issued. However, you may own multiple Digital Signature Certificates for different identities, organizations, or email addresses, subject to the issuing Certifying Authority's policies.

A Digital Signature Certificate (DSC) works by using Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) and cryptographic technology. When a document is digitally signed, a unique hash of the document is created and encrypted using the signer's private key. Anyone receiving the document can verify the signature using the corresponding public key stored in the Digital Signature Certificate, ensuring the document is authentic, unchanged, and signed by the rightful owner.