Every Digital Signature Certificate you see in India is issued by an entity called a Certifying Authority (CA). Understanding what a CA is and how India's Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) ecosystem is organised helps you make better decisions about your DSC purchase.

The Controller of Certifying Authorities (CCA)

At the top of India's PKI hierarchy is the Controller of Certifying Authorities (CCA), a government body under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY). The CCA:

  • Grants and revokes licences to Certifying Authorities
  • Sets standards and guidelines for DSC issuance (Interoperability Guidelines, Key Management Guidelines)
  • Operates the Root Certifying Authority (RCAI) — the trust anchor for all Indian DSCs
  • Maintains the National Repository of Digital Certificates (NRDC)
  • Investigates complaints and imposes penalties for non-compliance

What is a Licensed Certifying Authority (CA)?

A CA is an organisation licensed by the CCA to issue Digital Signature Certificates. Licensed CAs must:

  • Operate a CCA-compliant Certificate Management System
  • Maintain FIPS 140-2 Level 3 Hardware Security Modules (HSMs)
  • Conduct rigorous identity verification of every applicant
  • Publish a Certificate Practice Statement (CPS) that details their issuance procedures
  • Submit to regular CCA audits

Licensed CAs in India (as of 2026)

  • eMudhra: The largest CA in India by volume, promoted by 3i Infotech
  • Capricorn CA: A Tata Group-backed CA with enterprise focus
  • Vsign: Maharashtra government-backed, with wide state government adoption
  • Safescrypt: Sify Technologies' CA arm
  • (n)Code Solutions: Promoted by GNFC (Gujarat Narmada Valley Fertilizers Company)
  • Pantasign: A newer CA gaining traction

Get a DSC from Any Licensed CA

DSC.in.net works with all 6 licensed CAs in India. We recommend the best CA for your needs.

Apply Now About Our CA Partners

When you apply through DSC.in.net, we act as an authorised Registration Authority (RA) — we verify your identity and submit your application to the appropriate CA. The CA issues the actual certificate. This partnership model ensures speed, convenience and CA-level security.