DSC Basics

What's the difference between Sign Only, Encryption Only and Combo DSC?

This is the single most important thing to get right before buying a DSC, the wrong type simply won't work on the portal you need it for.

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Three certificate types, three different jobs

Each certificate does a specific cryptographic job, and most portals require a specific one.

Signing DSC

Authenticates who signed a document and proves it hasn't been altered.

✓ Used for: Income Tax, MCA/ROC, GST, EPFO/ESIC filings
✓ Does NOT support encrypted bid submission

Encryption Only DSC

Encrypts documents for secure exchange, without a signing function.

✓ Used where only confidential submission is needed, not authentication
✓ Less common as a standalone purchase than Signing or Combo

Combo DSC, the one most people actually need for tenders

A Combo DSC includes both a Signing certificate and an Encryption certificate in one package. This is what's required for ICEGATE, GeM, CPPP eProcure, IREPS and virtually every government e-tendering portal, because these portals encrypt bid documents until the tender opening date, a Signing-only certificate cannot decrypt or submit to them.

Which portals require Combo vs. Signing

A quick reference so you don't have to guess before applying - check your portal against this table.

Portal	Certificate required	Why
MCA / ROC (MCA21)	Signing only	Authenticates the filer, no encrypted submission required
Income Tax e-filing	Signing only	Same as above
GST returns & registration	Signing only	Same as above
EPFO / ESIC	Signing only	Same as above
Trademark / IP India	Signing only	Same as above
ICEGATE (customs)	Combo required	Bill of Entry & Shipping Bill documents are encrypted before submission
GeM Portal	Combo required	Bid documents encrypted until the tender opening date
CPPP eProcure	Combo required	Same as above
IREPS (Railways)	Combo required	Railway procurement mandates encrypted bid security
MahaTenders & most state e-tenders	Combo required	Same encrypted-bid requirement as central portals
DGFT	Usually Signing	DGFT DSC (a separate IEC-linked product) covers most filings; some specific schemes may ask for Combo - confirm before applying

Requirements are set by each portal and can change - if in doubt, message us your specific portal and we'll confirm before you apply.

Not sure which one your portal needs?

Tell us which portal you're filing on and we'll confirm exactly which certificate type to buy, before you spend on the wrong one.

Free guidance matched to your specific portal

All three types available across our 4 partner CAs

Avoid the common mistake of buying Signing-only for a tender portal

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Frequently asked questions

You can't technically "upgrade" the same certificate, but we can issue a Combo certificate alongside your existing one, message us to find the most cost-effective path.

Generally yes, since it includes two certificates instead of one, check our pricing calculator for the exact difference across CAs.

Rarely, most people who need encryption capability buy a Combo DSC (which includes signing too) rather than Encryption Only alone.