Equivalent to your physical signature, It’s a secure key to certifying and validating the identity of a person, organization or both. It contains a public key for a digital signature and specifies the identity associated with the key, such as the name of an Individual organization or both.

Digital Signature Certificate’s are being issued by the certifying authority regulates and moderates by The Controller of Certifying authorities in India. https://cca.gov.in/

Three types : Class 1, Class 2, Class 3 and all the three type of digital signature certificate can be issued to individuals and organization however from 1^st January 2021, only Class 3 type DSC can only be issued in India as per new CCA Guidelines. https://cca.gov.in/sites/files/pdf/guidelines/CCA-IVG.pdf

Cost of digital signature certificate varies and depends on the validity and its type of dsc. Services providers may charge different amount. https://signing.digital/product/buy-digital-signature-certificate/

To authenticate or a person or entity verifying or certifying the action online on a website or in by a documents .pdf, .doc etc.

Contact an Organization, working under licenced certifying authorities, submit required documents & complete required verifications. https://signing.digital/

Class 3 type DSC provides the highest level of authentication in its type. However as per new CCA Guidelines with effects from 1^st January 2021 only Class 3 Digital Signatures are being issed. https://cca.gov.in/sites/files/pdf/guidelines/CCA-IVG.pdf

Digital Signature Certificate issued to an organization with the IEC Code Embedded in certificate.

As per the CCA Guidelines, Renewal of Digital Signature Certificate are now allowed, renewal of digital signatures requires fresh identity verification. It simply means that new dsc is to be obtained.

https://cca.gov.in/licensed_ca.html

No, you cannot get a Digital Signature Certificate (DSC) for free. 

What you can do for free:

• Create digital signatures: Some platforms offer free tools to create digital signatures using existing documents.
  However, these signatures are not legally valid without a DSC .
   

   
• Verify digital signatures: There are online tools that can verify the authenticity of a digital signature, but they cannot replace a DSC.
• If you need a legally valid digital signature for official purposes, you’ll need to purchase a DSC from a certified Certification Authority (CA). Would you like to know more about how to obtain a DSC or which CAs are trusted? Click here

Think of a DSC as your digital ID card. It proves you are who you say you are online. It’s like an electronic signature that can’t be faked

• Security: Keeps your information safe.  
   

   
• Trust: Shows you’re real and reliable.
• Legality: Many official things need a DSC.