Alert! No Class 2, Only Class 3 DSC Will Be Issued

In today’s digital world, the signatures of individuals and organizations are carried out electronically using a Digital Signature Certificate (DSC). A DSC is issued by the Controller of Certifying Authorities (CCA) of India and serves as a secure and legally valid form of authentication.

As per the CCA notification dated 26th June 2020, the issuance of Class 1 and Class 2 digital signatures was discontinued from 1st January 2021. Currently, only Class 3 DSCs are being issued, which are valid for both personal and commercial use.

What are the Class 1, Class 2, and Class 3 Digital Signature Certificates (DSC)?

Earlier, there were three types of Digital Signature Certificates (DSCs) you could get, but now only Class 3 DSC is available. Here’s a simple explanation of each and what Class 3 is used for today:

• Class 1 DSC: This was used for basic personal or business work where the risk of data loss was very low.
• Class 2 DSC: This was used for both personal and business purposes, where the risk of data loss was medium or moderate.
• Class 3 DSC: This is now the only type you can apply for. It’s used for both personal and business needs, especially where the data or transactions are highly sensitive and the risk of data loss or fraud is high.

What are the changes that take place from 1.1.2021?

Changes effective from January 1, 2021:

• Class 1 and Class 2 DSCs have been discontinued.
• Video verification is now required for government-related DSCs.
• Paper-based DSCs are no longer issued.
• Once approved, all DSCs must be downloaded within 30 days.
• Class 3 DSCs will be used across all departments, including those that previously used Class 1 and Class 2 DSCs.
• From January 1, 2021, Certifying Authorities (CAs) will issue only Class 3 individual signing certificates (for both organizational and personal use) on secure tokens.

How to Apply for a Class 3 DSC?

Get your Class 3 Digital Signature Certificate (DSC) by following these simple steps:

Step 1: Visit our digital signature portal.

Step 2: Select the class, certificate type, and user category.

Step 3: Choose the validity period (1 or 2 years).

Step 4: Fill in all the required details carefully in the form and make the online payment.

Step 5: Once the process is complete, you will receive your Digital Signature Certificate (DSC) at your registered email address.

Importance Guidelines for Class 3 Digital Signature Certificate (DSC)

Please read the important guidelines below:

• The Certifying Authorities (CAs) must inform clients that, starting from January 1, 2021, Class 3 DSC is mandatory, and its cost is higher compared to Class 2 DSC.
• Clients have the option to renew or purchase Class 2 DSCs with a validity of two or three years before December 31, 2020, allowing them to save costs for at least the next two to three years.

Will you lose anything after the discontinuation of Class 1 and Class 2 Digital Signature Certificates?

No, you won't lose any benefits after the discontinuation of Class 1 and Class 2 Digital Signature Certificates. Class 3 Digital Signature will serve all the same purposes, such as for Income Tax, GST, E-Ticketing, ROC, Tenders, etc. However, there is a catch to all of these modifications. Class 3 Digital Signature Certificates will cost you more than Class 1 and Class 2 GST.

Effect of the changes

• The system will automatically reject all pending downloads, so certifying authorities will need to download the DSC from the system.
• It will result in the rejection of even the previously approved DSCs if they are not downloaded on or before December 31st, 2020.
• Conversion from DSC 2 to DSSC 3 will take place automatically.
• All digital signature certificates that have been generated but not verified in their entirety will be rejected and invalidated as of December 31st, 2020.

Why choose edigitalsignature.org?

E-digitalsignature.org offers a wide range of digital signature services, including Class 3 DSC and DGFT online registration, making it easy for individuals to access these services. Our team of qualified consultants is here to assist you in obtaining the right digital certificate for your needs.

All you need to do is fill out the online form on our website, and we will guide you through the first steps to get your e-digital certificate online.

For any queries, you can visit our DSC FAQ page or contact us at edigitalsignature.org, We will get back to you shortly.

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