E-Governance project is gearing up in India and it is necessary to have Digital Signature. Creating trust in electronic environment involves assuring the transacting parties about the integrity and confidentiality of the content of documents along with authentication of the sending and receiving parties in a manner that ensures that both the parties cannot repudiate the transaction. The paper based concepts of identification, declaration and proof are carried through the use of digital signatures in electronic environment.
Digital signatures, a form of electronic signatures, are created and verified using Public Key Cryptography that is based on the concept of a key pair generated by a mathematical algorithm, the public and private keys. The private key used to digitally sign a document is securely held by the owner, while the public key is made known to everyone for verifying the digital signature. Knowing the public key, one cannot compute the private key belonging to its owner.
An electronic document can be described as any instrument that is created or stored on a computer. These include electronic mail (e-mail), letters, memos, contracts and images A digital signature is a data item, which accompanies a electronic document, and which can be used to ascertain both the originator of the message and the fact that the message has not been modified since it left the originator. It is a form of authentication method which is used to authenticate the identity of the sender by convincing the recipient of a document that the person to whom the signature belongs actually signed it.
The Company Poddar Professional Solutions Pvt. Ltd. is managed by professionals like Chartered Accountants and Company Secretaries. It is professionally committed to provide dedicated service in a cost effective manner without diluting the quality.
Our strengths lie in the untiring hardwork of our dedicated teams, the healthy balance of our product and client mix and the long-standing relations with our clients.
The company provides services relating to Digital Signature, Various online filing like VAT eFiling, ITR eFiling, ROC eFiling, eTendering, Company Formation, Accounts and Audit and related Activities.
- IRCTC Ticket Booking
- State Government e-Tendering
- Railway e-Tendering / e-Procurement
- IFFCO e-Procurement
- ONGC e-Procurement
- Neyveli Lignite e-Procurement
- BHEL e-Procurement
- Defence, Navy, Ordinance Factory e-Procurement
- SAIL e-Procurement
- NSDL, NSC e-Procurement
- NTPC e-Tendering
- MMTC E-Produrement
- Garden Reach e-Procurement
- Coal India e-Procurement
- AIR India e-Procurement
- MSTC e-Procurement
Electronic filing otherwise known as eFiling allows authorized users to file a document with the different government authorities directly from a computer using the Internet.
It is one of the most useful, comfortable and friendly innovation. Electronic filing, or e-filing, of tax returns first clicked in India as part of a proposal for Web-based electronic tax administration system for service tax. Considering the ease and the comfort for taxpayers across the country and also technology lending a helping hand, the both the Central and State governments decided to extend e-filing of tax returns to the other types of taxes, including income-tax, excise and VAT.
Various eFiling Websites for different Returns:
FOR OTHER RETURNS LIKE VAT RETURN, PROFESSIONAL TAX RETURN ETC. WE NEED TO VISIT THE RELATIVE WEBSITES OF RESPECTIVE STATE GOVERNMENTS
| Types Of Forms | SIFY | EMUDRA | NCODE | TCS | MTNL |
| (A) Digital Signature Form For Class 2 Individual(Required for Income Tax, ROC, VAT etc.) | New Renewal |
New Renewal |
NA | New Renewal |
NA |
| (B) Digital Signature Form For Class 2 with Organisation Name(Required for eTendering in some websites) | New Renewal |
NA | NA | New Renewal |
NA |
| (C) Digital Signature Form For Class 3 Individual(Required for IRCTC) | New Renewal |
New Renewal |
NA | NA | NA |
| (D) Digital Signature Form For Class 3 with Organisation Name (Signing)(Required for eTendering in Railway, NTPC, Neyveli Lignite, Power Grid, ONGC, Online Auction etc.) | New Renewal |
New Renewal |
New Renewal |
New Renewal |
NA |
| (E) Digital Signature Form For Class 3 with Organisation Name (Signing with Encryption) (Required for eTendering in websites like nprocure.com, Karnataka Government eProcurement etc.) | New Renewal |
NA | New Renewal |
New Renewal |
NA |
| (F) Digital Signature Form For Class 3 with Organisation Name (Signing)(2048 Bit with SHA2) | NA | New Renewal |
NA | NA | NA |
| (G) Digital Signature Form For DGFT/EXIM (For Online Application for Import-Export Licence etc) | New Renewal |
NA | NA | NA | NA |
Certificate Type |
Validity |
Description |
Online Registration |
Certificate Download |
Class 2 Individual |
1 Year |
For Income Tax, ROC, VAT,Plan Sanction etc. |
Enrollment Help |
Download Help |
Class 2 Organisation |
1 Year |
For ROC, VAT,Plan Sanction etc. |
Enrollment Help |
Download Help |
Class 3 Organisation (Government User) |
1 Year |
For e Procurement |
Enrollment Help |
Download Help |
Class 3 Organisation (Private Concern) |
1 Year |
For e Tendering, e Auction e Procurement etc. |
Enrollment Help |
Download Help |
Class 3 Encryption |
1 Year |
For e Tendering, e Auction e Procurement etc. |
Enrollment Help |
Download Help |
DGFT/EXIM |
2 Years |
For Online Application for Import-Export Licence etc. |
Enrollment fresh Enrollment Renewal |
Download Fresh Download Renewal |
DGFT/EXIM |
1 Year |
For Online Application for Import-Export Licence etc. |
Enrollment fresh Enrollment Renewal |
Download Fresh Download Renewal |
HEAD OFFICE - KOLKATA |
HOWRAH OFFICE |
KOLKATA OFFICE (NORTH) |
BERHAMPUR (West Bengal) |
ROURKELA (Orissa) |
BHUWANESHWAR(Orissa) |
DHANBAD (Jharkhand) |
RANCHI (Jharkhand) |
VIJAYWADA (Andhra Pradesh) |
DURGAPUR (West Bengal) |
Secunderabad (Karnataka) |
KOLKATA (SOUTH) (West Bengal) |
A digital signature is a convenient, time-saving, and secure way of signing electronic documents.
What does a digital signature look like?
-------BEGIN SIGNATURE------
IQB1AwUBMVSiA5QYCuMfgNYjAQFAKgL/ZkBfbeNEsbthba4BlrcnjaqbcKgNv+
a5kr4537y8RCd+RHm75yYh5xxA1ojELwNhhb7cltrp2V7LlOnAelws4S87UX80c
LBtBcN6AACf11qymC2h+Rb2j5SU+rmXWru+=QFMx
------END SIGNATURE------
What is an electronic document?
An electronic document is any document that is generated or stored on a computer, such as a letter, a contract, or any such document. In addition, an electronic document can be an image, such as a blueprint, a survey plat, a drawing, or even a photograph. A digital signature can be used to sign these documents.
How do actually sign an electronic document?
It's a simple process and may vary slightly in the software you use, but your digital signature does all the work. You finalize the document, then select the signature option, and finally enter your secret password. Everything is accomplished electronically; you do not take a pen in hand and sign a paper.
How do I get a legally valid digital signature certificate?
An application for the digital signature certificate is required to be made to any one of the Licensed Certifying Authority in their prescribed Form accompanied by Proof for identification and other verifications as may be prescribed..
How am I identified as the signer?
When you use your digital signature software, you use a matched pair of keys. One is the "private" key, which is typically stored in your cryptographic device. The private key is used only by you and is required during the signing process. It creates a Message Digest using Hash function of the signed document and the Public Key gets appended to the Signed document and remains there till the Message Digest is not altered. A Message Digest gets altered when we alter the contents of the document. The second key is the "public" key. The public key is available for use by anyone wishing to authenticate documents you sign. The public key will "read" the digital signature (Message Digest) created by the private key and verify the authenticity of documents created with it. By verifying the Public key, the identity of the signer can be established.
If my private key is stored in the cryptographic device, can't someone sign the documents without my permission by getting access to the said device?
No. Your private key is encrypted when it is stored in the device. When you sign an electronic document, you enter a digital signature Authorization Code to decrypt the private key for as long as it takes to sign the document. If someone learns of your Authorization Code and also has access to the device holding your private key, the integrity of your private key is compromised. In this case you should revoke your digital signature certificate and obtain another. This would be the same as reporting a stolen or lost credit card.
Can I change the Authorization Code of the Cryptographic device in which my Private Key have been stored.
Yes. As many times as you want, you can change the Authorization Code of the Device. However, care should be taken to remember it.
Can a digital signature be forged?
Not likely. It is protected by encryption. We like to think that a handwritten signature is unique to the signer and to the pieces of paper which hold it. What if someone produces a good likeness of your handwritten signature? Or, what if on a long contract, someone changes the text of the pages previous to the signature page? In these instances, the signature is valid, but the document has been altered. With digital signatures, forgery is next to impossible – much more difficult than forging a handwritten signature. First, a digital signature is more of a process than just affixing a signature. For example, when the document is "digitally signed," the digital software scans the document and creates a calculation which represents the document. This calculation becomes part of the "digital signature." When the recipient authenticates the signature, a similar process is carried out. The sender's and the receiver's calculations are then compared. If the results are the same, the signature is valid; if they are different, the signature is not valid.
What are the responsibilities and the liability of a digital signature certificate subscriber?
The subscriber is responsible for safeguarding access to the private key.
If somebody uses others computer, instead of his own computer, then is there any possibility of threat to the security of the owners/users digital signature?
No, there is no threat to the security of the owner / users digital signature, as the private key lies on the smartcard /crypto token and does not leave the Smart Card / crypto token.
If a person is transferred from one post to another (say in govt. department), the digital signature will also change (yes/no)? Please explain?
Yes. On moving from one department to another, if the procedures in place so demand, the existing certificate will be revoked and a new one issued.
In paper world, date and the place where the paper has been signed is recorded and court proceedings are followed on that basis. What mechanism is being followed for dispute settlements in the case of digital signatures?
Under the IT Act, 2000 Digital Signatures are at par with hand written signatures. Therefore, similar court proceedings will be followed.
When you cancel an earlier communication you can get it back, but how does this work in environment?
A new message saying that the current message supersedes the earlier one can be sent to the recipient(s). This assumes that all messages are time stamped.
What is the difference between signing and encrypting an e-mail?
Signing an e-mail message means that you attach your Digital Certificate to it so that the recipient knows it came from you and was not tampered with en-route to their inbox. Signing authenticates a message, but it does not provide protection against third party monitoring. Encrypting a message means scrambling it in such a way that only the designated recipients can unscramble it. This safeguards messages against monitoring or interception. In order to send a signed message, you must have a Digital Certificate. Since message encryption is done using specific keys available in the certificate, you cannot encrypt a message unless you possess the recipient's Digital Signature Public key.