A Special Purpose Digital Signature Certificate is a type of digital signature certificate that is designed to serve a specific purpose. It is used in cases where a standard digital signature certificate may not be sufficient, or where additional security features are required.
Special Purpose DSCs are issued by Certifying Authorities (CAs) that are authorized by the Controller of Certifying Authorities (CCA) in India. They are used for a variety of purposes, such as for signing e-tenders, e-auctions, Foreign Trade(DGFT), Foreign National and e-procurement documents, as well as for signing documents related to e-governance and e-commerce.
Special Purpose DSCs come in different classes, depending on the level of security and validation required. For example, a Class 3 Special Purpose DSC is used for signing and verifying documents that require a medium level of security, such as for e-filing of income tax returns, while a Class 3 Special Purpose DSC is used for high-security applications, such as for signing and verifying electronic transactions involving large amounts of money.
In summary, Special Purpose DSCs are specialized digital signature certificates that are designed to provide additional security and validation for specific purposes. They are issued by authorized CAs and come in different classes depending on the level of security required for the specific application.