Comparison
These overlap more than you'd expect, here's how to know which situation you're actually in.
Your existing certificate is expiring soon, or has recently expired, and your identity details haven't changed.
Your situation has genuinely changed, not just your certificate's age.
Behind the scenes, "renewal" and "new DSC" go through nearly the same process, both require fresh Aadhaar eKYC verification, since CCA regulations don't allow skipping identity verification even for renewals. The distinction mostly matters for what happens next, renewal often reuses your existing token, while a genuinely new certificate (different holder type, name change) typically starts fresh.
Tell us your situation and we'll confirm whether it's a renewal or a fresh certificate, and what that means for cost and process.
Certificate pricing is generally similar either way, since both require fresh issuance, you may save on token cost if reusing your existing one for renewal.
No, a revoked certificate can't be renewed or reactivated, that situation requires a completely new DSC.
Yes, if you incorporate a company after previously having a Proprietorship's Individual DSC, that's a new holder type, requiring a fresh Organization DSC, not a renewal.