Certifying Authorities (CAs)
- Certifying Authorities are licensed entities authorized to issue DSCs.
- They are regulated by the Controller of Certifying Authorities (CCA).
- CAs are responsible for verifying the identity of applicants.
- They issue digital certificates after due validation.
- Each CA operates under the guidelines of the IT Act, 2000.
Role of the Controller of Certifying Authorities (CCA)
- The CCA is established under the Information Technology Act, 2000.
- It licenses and regulates all Certifying Authorities in India.
- It ensures the credibility and reliability of digital certificates.
- It maintains standards for digital security infrastructure.
- It monitors compliance of CAs with legal and technical rules.
Licensed Certifying Authorities in India
- Multiple organizations are authorized as licensed CAs.
- These include government-affiliated and private sector bodies.
- They are allowed to issue Class 1, Class 2, and Class 3 DSCs.
- They must maintain secure systems for issuing certificates.
- Each CA provides DSCs for individuals, organizations, and servers.
Issuance Procedure by CAs
- CAs collect application forms and verify documents.
- They conduct face-to-face or video verification if required.
- They generate a digital key pair (private and public).
- They deliver the DSC via a USB token or as a digital file.
- The DSC is activated after successful identity validation.
Compliance and Validity Requirements
- CAs must comply with CCA’s rules and security norms.
- They must ensure the identity proof is authentic and valid.
- DSCs are issued for a period of one to three years.
- Renewal requires re-verification and re-issuance.
- Revoked or expired DSCs must be updated with CAs.


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