How does PDF SignCheck verify a PDF digital signature?

PDF SignCheck cryptographically validates the digital signatures embedded in PDF documents. It checks that the document has not been tampered with after signing, verifies the signer's certificate chain against trusted root Certificate Authorities (CAs), and outputs a stamped PDF with a "Verified ✓" badge — similar to clicking "Trust this certificate" in Adobe Acrobat.

Is my PDF document stored or saved during digital signature verification?

No. Your file is processed entirely in memory on the server. It is never written to disk, never stored in any database, and is discarded immediately after the verified PDF is returned to your browser. We take privacy seriously — your documents remain yours.

What types of PDF digital signatures and certificates are supported?

PDF SignCheck supports PDFs that contain PKCS#7 / CMS digital signatures — the standard used by government portals, official certificate authorities, and digital signing platforms. This includes documents from DigiLocker, e-District, MCA, UIDAI, and similar government services worldwide.

Why does Adobe Acrobat Reader display a PDF signature as "Not Verified"?

Adobe Acrobat only trusts certificates from its own Adobe Approved Trust List (AATL). Many government and institutional signers are not on that list. Our tool auto-trusts the signer's certificate after cryptographic verification — exactly what Adobe asks you to do manually when you click "Trust this certificate." The downloaded verified PDF includes a visual stamp so it's clear the signature has been validated.

Is the online PDF signature verification process cryptographically secure?

Yes. We perform full PKCS#7 signature verification: we extract the signed hash from the signature, independently compute the hash of the document's byte ranges, and compare them. We also validate the certificate chain up to a trusted root CA from the Mozilla CA trust store. This is the same process that Adobe Acrobat and other professional PDF tools use.

Are there daily or rate limits for PDF cryptographic verification?

To prevent abuse, we rate-limit to 10 requests per minute per IP address. The maximum file size is 50 MB. These limits are sufficient for normal usage. If you need higher throughput for enterprise use, please contact us.

Which Indian government certificates and portals are supported?

PDF SignCheck fully supports digital signature verification for official Indian government certificates. This includes UIDAI Aadhaar Cards, state e-District certificates (such as Caste, Income, Domicile, and Birth/Death certificates), DigiLocker-issued PDF documents, NFSA Ration Cards, Income Tax / PAN documents, and any official PDF signed via CCA India (Controller of Certifying Authorities) root credentials.

How do I resolve the "Signature Not Verified" or "Signature Not Checked" warning on Aadhaar or Caste certificates?

Simply upload your signed PDF to PDF SignCheck. Our system extracts the digital signature, cryptographically validates the hash integrity against trusted root certificates, and generates a stamped PDF. When you download this verified document, the signature will show as valid, making it suitable for direct submission.

What does Section 5 of the IT Act 2000 state?

Section 5 gives electronic and digital signatures full legal recognition, establishing that documents authenticated with a digital signature carry the same legal validity as physical hand-signed documents.

What is a Certifying Authority (CA) in India?

A Certifying Authority is a licensed entity under the Controller of Certifying Authorities (CCA India) authorized to issue Digital Signature Certificates (DSC) to citizens, officers, and systems.

Indian Law & Compliance Guide

Legal Validity of PDF Digital Signatures Under IT Act 2000

An authoritative legal analysis of the Information Technology Act 2000 (Section 5, Section 15, Section 65B), CCA India root certificate authorities, DigiLocker certificates, and court admissibility for digital signatures.

By Minhaj, Founder of PDF SignCheck·July 2026

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Verify Indian Government Digital Certificates Instantly

Upload your Aadhaar, DigiLocker, e-District, or Income Tax PDF certificate to validate CCA India root trust chains and receive a stamped verified PDF.

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1. Overview of the Information Technology Act, 2000

In India, electronic governance and digital transactions are governed by the Information Technology Act, 2000 (IT Act 2000), along with its major amendments in 2008.

The primary purpose of the IT Act 2000 is to provide legal recognition for transactions carried out by means of electronic data interchange and other means of electronic communication, commonly referred to as "electronic commerce" and "electronic governance."

2. Key Statutory Provisions: Section 5 & Section 15

Two core statutory provisions form the legal bedrock of digital signatures on government and commercial PDFs in India:

📜 Section 5: Legal Recognition of Digital SignaturesSection 5 mandates that where any law provides that information or any document shall be authenticated by affixing a signature, such requirement shall be deemed to have been satisfied if such information or document is authenticated by means of an electronic or digital signature affixed in such manner as prescribed by the Central Government.

🔐 Section 15: Secure Digital SignaturesSection 15 provides that an electronic signature shall be deemed to be a "secure electronic signature" if the signature creation data was, at the time of signing, under the exclusive control of the signatory, and any alteration to the information or signature after signing is detectable.

3. The Controller of Certifying Authorities (CCA India) Infrastructure

Under Section 17 of the IT Act 2000, the Central Government appointed the Controller of Certifying Authorities (CCA) to license and regulate Certifying Authorities (CAs) in India.

Licensed CAs issue Digital Signature Certificates (DSC) to individuals, government officers (Tehsildars, Sub-Divisional Magistrates), and automated government systems. Major licensed CAs under CCA India include:

NIC CA (National Informatics Centre): Issues certificates for e-District portals, Aadhaar (UIDAI), e-Courts, and central government departments.
CDAC (Centre for Development of Advanced Computing): Powers eSign services and public digital infrastructure.
eMudhra & Capricorn: Commercial CAs licensed for GST filings, corporate tax returns, and MCA21 signatures.
Pantagon Sign & Safescrypt: Licensed CAs for banking and financial sector e-Signatures.

4. Admissibility of Electronic Records in Indian Courts (Section 65B)

Under the Indian Evidence Act, 1872 (Section 65B) and the Indian Evidence Act amendments, any information contained in an electronic record which is printed on paper or stored in optical/magnetic media produced by a computer shall be deemed to be a document and admissible in any court proceedings without further proof or production of the original.

When a PDF document is cryptographically verified (confirming that the hash digest matches and the signing certificate traces up to a CCA-licensed CA), it provides conclusive evidence of document authenticity under Section 65B certification rules.

5. Why Government Certificates Show "Signature Not Verified" in Adobe

A common issue faced by citizens is that when an e-District caste certificate or DigiLocker marksheet is opened in Adobe Acrobat Reader, it displays a yellow warning mark (⚠️ Signature Not Verified).

This occurs because Adobe Acrobat Reader maintains a proprietary default trust list (the Adobe Approved Trust List - AATL) that by default does not include India's CCA root certificates.

This does not mean the document is invalid under Indian law. PDF SignCheck resolves this by verifying the signature against CCA India root certificates directly in your browser or server memory, stamping a permanent green checkmark on the PDF.

6. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Can a bank or college reject a digitally verified e-District certificate?No. Under Section 5 of the Information Technology Act 2000, digitally signed certificates issued by government portals carry equal legal standing to physical hand-signed certificates and must be accepted by all banks, universities, and government bodies.

How does PDF SignCheck verify CCA India signatures?PDF SignCheck includes the root certificate keys for NIC CA, CDAC, eMudhra, Capricorn, and all CCA-licensed authorities. It inspects the PKCS#7 signature block, verifies byte ranges, and validates the certificate chain.

Zero-Knowledge Privacy

Files are processed strictly in secure memory modules inside your local browser. No server storage.

Cryptographic Standards

Fully compliant with IETF RFC 5652 (CMS), Adobe PDF specs, eIDAS, and Controller of Certifying Authorities (CCA).

Verify Anonymously

No personal registration or document tracking is required. Verify up to 2 files daily as guest.

Detailed Audit Trails

Generates downloadable, verified PDFs with structural signature stamps and trust summaries.

Edge Sandbox Security

Verification executes inside sandboxed browser modules to ensure isolated document handling.

Zero Data Logging

Absolutely no logging of files, names, email contents, or signature details. Pure privacy.

1. Overview of the Information Technology Act, 2000

2. Key Statutory Provisions: Section 5 & Section 15

3. The Controller of Certifying Authorities (CCA India) Infrastructure

Download PDF Signature Validator on Mobile

4. Admissibility of Electronic Records in Indian Courts (Section 65B)

5. Why Government Certificates Show "Signature Not Verified" in Adobe

6. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Ready to verify your PDF digital signature?

Zero-Knowledge Privacy

Cryptographic Standards

Verify Anonymously

Detailed Audit Trails

Edge Sandbox Security

Zero Data Logging

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