eSignature law in India

Electronic signatures are legally binding in India under the Information Technology Act 2000.

Drop your document here and sign it now. PDF, Word and Excel all work: a .docx or .xlsx is laid out in your browser exactly as it was written, so there is nothing to convert first. Add a signature, a date, a company stamp or a watermark, then download it sealed. Free to start, no account, and the file is never uploaded to open it.

Governing law: Information Technology Act 2000 (Sections 3, 3A, 5) (2000)

India recognized electronic signatures in 2000 under the Information Technology Act (IT Act), with the IT (Amendment) Act 2008 introducing the concept of "electronic signature" alongside "digital signature." The IT Act Sections 3 and 3A define two valid forms: digital signatures (using PKI from a Controller of Certifying Authorities licensed CA) and electronic signatures (any technique notified by the Central Government, including Aadhaar-eKYC-based signatures via the eSign service). The Indian Evidence Act 1872 (Section 65B) governs admissibility. Most B2B contracts in India are now signed electronically, with Aadhaar eSign being especially common for individual signers and DSC tokens for corporate signatories.

What makes an eSignature valid in India

Where eSignatures are not valid

FAQ

Are electronic signatures legal in India?

Yes. The IT Act 2000 grants electronic and digital signatures the same legal effect as handwritten signatures, except for a narrow list of excluded documents.

What is Aadhaar eSign?

Aadhaar eSign is the Indian government's electronic signature service that uses the signer's Aadhaar number + eKYC for identity verification, producing a legally valid digital signature without needing a physical DSC token.

Do I need a Digital Signature Certificate (DSC) for Indian contracts?

Only for specific corporate filings (MCA, GST), tax returns above thresholds, and some tender submissions. Most commercial contracts work with non-DSC electronic signatures.

Is a PDF Verified signature valid in India?

Yes, for the broad category of commercial contracts. For high-formality use cases (corporate filings, tax returns), pair with a DSC or Aadhaar eSign on top of PDF Verified.

What PDF Verified is, and what it is not

Electronic signature law is settled in broad terms and specific in the details. The ESIGN Act, UETA, eIDAS and their equivalents recognise electronic signatures across more than 190 countries, and what decides a particular case is intent to sign plus evidence connecting the signature to the signer, which is what the audit certificate records. Certain document types carry their own formalities wherever you are: deeds, wills, some property instruments, and anything requiring a witness or a notary. Sign only what you are authorised to sign, since applying another person signature without their authority is forgery whatever tool is used.

PDF Verified is a tool for preparing, signing, stamping and checking documents. It is not a law firm, a compliance service or a forensic examiner, and nothing here is legal, financial or compliance advice. Requirements differ by country, by document type and by the party asking, so check what applies to your document before you rely on it, and take advice where the document matters. You are responsible for the documents you create, sign and send, and for having the authority to do so: signing or stamping in somebody else name, or as an organisation you do not represent, is forgery whatever tool is used. To the extent the law allows, we accept no liability for how a document made with this tool is used or relied on. The full position is in our terms of service.