The Information Technology Act, 2000 has provisions for use of Digital Signatures on the documents submitted in electronic form in order to ensure the security and authenticity of the documents filed electronically. This is secure and authentic way to submit a document electronically. All submissions done by the entities on IFSCA Single Window IT System(SWIT) are required to be filed using Digital Signatures by the person authorised to sign the documents.

1. Legal Warning: You can use only the valid Digital Signatures issued to you. It is illegal to use Digital Signatures of anybody other than the one to whom it is issued.

2. Certification Agencies: Certification Agencies are appointed by the office of the Controller of Certification Agencies (CCA) under the provisions of IT Act, 2000. The details of these Certification Agencies are available on the portal Certifying Authorities

3. Validity of Digital Signatures: The DSCs are typically issued with one year or two year validity. These are renewable on expiry of the period of initial issue.

4. Costing/ Pricing of Digital Signatures: It includes the cost of medium (a USB token which is a one time cost), the cost of issuance of DSC and the renewal cost after the period of validity. The entity representatives and professionals required to obtain DSCs are free to procure the same from any one of the approved Certification Agencies. The issuance costs in respect of each Agency vary and are market driven.

5. Obtain Digital Signature Certificate: