DSC – 1 Year Combo – Complete Overview
A Digital Signature Certificate (DSC) is an electronic equivalent of a handwritten signature, legally recognized under the Information Technology Act, 2000. The 1-Year Signing & Encryption Combo DSC is a dual-purpose certificate that allows users to digitally sign documents and securely encrypt sensitive data.
It is mandatory for several government filings, online authentication processes, secured transactions, and e-governance activities.
What is a Signing & Encryption DSC?
A Signing DSC is used to authenticate identity and digitally sign forms, agreements, returns, and legally binding documents.
An Encryption DSC is used to protect confidential data by encrypting documents before upload or transmission.
The Combo DSC combines both functions in a single token, making it suitable for users who require end-to-end security and legally valid digital authentication.
Features of a 1-Year Combo DSC
The 1-year DSC provides all essential security and compliance functions needed for business, taxation, and government-related operations.
It includes:
- Legally valid digital signature recognized by courts and government authorities
- High-level encryption for securing sensitive files and data uploads
- 1-year validity with renewable certification
- eToken-based storage, providing tamper-proof access
- Use across multiple government portals without needing separate certificates
Why a Combo DSC is Important
A single certificate with both signing and encryption capabilities eliminates the need to maintain two separate DSCs.
It is especially useful for users who require both authentication and secure file transmission on portals such as:
- MCA (company filings and ROC submissions)
- GST portal
- Income Tax portal
- E-procurement, e-auctions, and tender portals
- DGFT (for import/export activities)
- Courts and e-filing platforms
Use Cases of a 1-Year Combo DSC
The DSC is widely used across industries and compliance areas, including:
- Filing annual returns, financial statements, and forms on MCA
- GST filing, IT return verification, and statutory e-verification
- Online tender participation and eProcurement bidding
- Signing contracts, invoices, agreements, and board resolutions
- Uploading encrypted documents to banks, courts, or regulatory bodies
- DGFT applications related to import/export
Technical & Security Standards
The DSC is issued under strict security protocols defined by the Controller of Certifying Authorities (CCA).
It uses public key infrastructure (PKI) technology, providing a secure match between the certificate holder and the encrypted digital identity.
Each certificate contains:
- Holder’s name and email
- Country and PIN
- Certifying Authority details
- Public key
- Issue and expiry dates
These parameters ensure the certificate is tamper-proof and legally verifiable.