An Analysis of Shared Compliance Responsibilities under the Indian Information Technology Act, 2000

Electronic signatures have been recognized by Indian law via the Information Technology Act, 2000 (“IT Act”) for over two decades. With the Government of India’s increased focus on digital inclusion, ease of doing business, and the safety and cost-efficiency of electronic records, there has been a surge in the use of e-signatures.

1. Introduction

This whitepaper delves into a detailed analysis of the technical features and integrations that, when implemented correctly, enable the use of IT Act-compliant signatures by using Acrobat Sign Solutions. We aim to shed light on how Adobe, eSign Service Providers (ESPs), licensed Certifying Authorities (CAs), and organizations using Acrobat Sign Solutions share responsibilities to achieve compliance with the IT Act.

2. Scope

This document emphasizes the compliance profile of Acrobat Sign Solutions (e.g., Aadhaar eSign service and Digital ID), and the tools and features that help customers comply with the IT Act. The target readers for this paper are organizations looking to achieve compliance with the IT Act using Acrobat Sign Solutions.

3. Conformance with Regulations

Our analysis includes a comprehensive chart discussing how Acrobat Sign Solutions support customer compliance with the IT Act and its related rules and regulations. This chart emphasizes shared responsibilities among Adobe, CAs, ESPs, and customers in achieving IT Act compliance.