{"id":6438,"date":"2022-05-06T07:38:05","date_gmt":"2022-05-06T07:38:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/signdesk.com\/in\/?p=6438"},"modified":"2025-09-17T07:24:21","modified_gmt":"2025-09-17T12:54:21","slug":"can-any-document-be-esigned","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/melento.ai\/en-in\/blog\/can-any-document-be-esigned","title":{"rendered":"Can any document be eSigned?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Signatures – A Short Introduction<\/b><\/span><\/h2>\n

\"esign<\/p>\n

A signature is a handwritten (and frequently stylized) representation of a person’s name, nickname, or even a simple “X” or another mark that is written on documents as confirmation of identification and purpose.<\/p>\n

At its core, a signature is an indicator of consent to certain conditions or terms, usually being the terms of a contract. To fulfill this function, signatures need to be both unique and verifiable. These key criteria have directed the evolution of signatures through the decades.<\/p>\n

Following the development of cryptographic schemes, signatures have taken numerous forms, the latest being the electronic or digital version of signatures, i.e E-Signatures<\/a> <\/span>which also come in various types.<\/p>\n

Types of Signatures<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/h2>\n

In the corporate world, there are four main sorts of signatures, and their definitions are frequently misunderstood or ambiguous.<\/p>\n

Here are the main types of signatures popular among businesses<\/strong>:<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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  1. Written Signatures<\/span><\/span><\/strong>:\u00a0<\/span><\/i><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    Any physical mark made by a person on paperwork. Most of the time, it’s writing your name in cursive on a piece of paper, document, or contract, with initials on each page showing the scope of what you’re signing.<\/p>\n

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    1. Click Wrap Signatures:\u00a0<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

      This is primarily used for online purchases, where a simple check in a box signifies approval of the terms and conditions outlined on the website. Before the services may be used, the user must first click the box.<\/p>\n

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      1. Electronic Signatures<\/a><\/span> (E-Signatures):<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

        An electronic form of a wet signature<\/a>,<\/span> for which several nations have specified the legality and description of usage. These are the most popular types of signatures used by businesses around the world.<\/p>\n

          \n
        1. Digital Signatures:\u00a0<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

          A digital signature<\/strong><\/a><\/span> is a type of authentication that allows a code to be added to a document as a signature. It is granted by a certifying agency and is required for certain specified agreements.<\/p>\n

          Difference Between Digital Signatures and Electronic Signatures<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/h2>\n

          A digital signature is cryptographically safe and proves that the document has been seen and authorized by someone with your private signing key (in other words, you). It’s safe, but it’s also difficult.<\/span><\/p>\n

          In contrast, an electronic signature is simply an image of your signature put on top of a PDF document. It’s possible to do it with a variety of apps, and it’s what most people expect when they send you a paper to sign. They won’t know what to make of a PDF file with a digital signature if you send it to them. Accepting signed documents via email rather than faxing them is a major technological leap for many firms.<\/p>\n

          Legal Validity of eSignatures In India<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/h3>\n

          The legal validity of eSignatures<\/strong><\/a> <\/span>in India is determined by the IT Act, 2000 and in part by the Indian Contract Act.<\/p>\n

          According to the IT Act, the signer must get a Digital Signature Certificate (DSC) from a Certifying Authority (CA) licensed by the Controller of Certifying Authorities (CCA) in order to create electronic signatures.<\/p>\n

          The identity and address of the signer must be confirmed before a CA issues a DSC. The secret key used to create the electronic signature<\/a><\/span> is kept in a one-time-use hardware cryptographic token.<\/p>\n

          The Indian Contract Act determines what constitutes a legally enforceable contract and how eSignatures<\/a><\/span> fit into the contract execution process.<\/p>\n

          This existing approach of in-person physical presence, identity, and address verification using paper documents, and the issue of hardware cryptographic tokens does not scale to a billion individuals. Digital signature usage must be widespread in order to provide entirely paperless citizen services.<\/p>\n

          What makes an eSignature legally valid?<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/h3>\n

          According to the IT Act, e-signatures must meet five conditions in order to be valid:<\/span><\/p>\n

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          1. \u00a0E-signatures must be linked to the individual who signed the document in a unique way. This criterion is usually addressed by issuing a digital ID that is based on a digital certificate.<\/span><\/li>\n
          2. \u00a0The signer must have complete control over the data used to generate the e-signature at the time of signing. To meet this criterion, most <\/span>online e-signature service providers<\/span> allow signers to directly affix their e-signature to the document.<\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
          3. \u00a0<\/b>Any change to the attached e-signature or the document to which it is attached must be traceable. This is accomplished by encrypting the document and sealing it with a tamper-evident seal.<\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
          4. \u00a0<\/b> An audit trail<\/strong><\/a> <\/span>detailing the processes followed throughout the signing process should be available.<\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
          5. \u00a0 A Certifying Authority (CA) recognized by the Controller of Certifying Authorities (CCA) appointed under the IT Act must issue the digital signature certificate.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

            Types of eSignatures Under the IT Act\u00a0<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/h3>\n

            \u00a0Two types of signatures are recognized by the IT Act:<\/span><\/p>\n