LEGAL FRAMEWORK FOR ELECTRONIC SIGNATURE AND DIGITAL CONTRACT

This article is written by Achal Dhanpal Gedam of 7^th Semester of Manikchand Pahade Law College, Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar (Aurangabad), Maharashtra, an intern under Legal Vidhiya

Abstract

 India’s lawful system recognizes e-signatures beneath the Data Innovation Act, 2000. With the surge in advanced proficiency and the appropriation of e-signatures encouraged by Aadhaar and other advances, there’s a developing require to return to the legitimate system administering e-signatures. The proposed Advanced India Act presents an opportunity to modernize these laws, adjusting them with the country’s aspiration of a trillion-dollar advanced economy. This article analyses the current lawful system, suggests modernization based on worldwide points of reference, and proposes approach changes to grow the scope, upgrade security, and solidify controls related to e-signatures. Such changes point to boost computerized exchanges, cultivate financial development, and adjust India with worldwide best hone.

Keywords

Digital, contracts, legality, bindingness, free consent, offer, document signing, authenticity and integrity.

Introduction

The advancement of innovation has brought a few changes to the arrangement and execution of contracts. One of the major changes presented in this advancing period is the move to electronic marks from conventional paper-based marks. It is relevant to note that mechanical advance and government programs such as Computerized India are driving this computerized insurgency and subsequently, a surge in advanced exchanges and online associations is being watched in India. The current advanced change in India has highlighted the significance of recognizing the legitimacy of e-signatures and the enforceability of e-contracts. The display article bargains with the concept of e-signatures and e-contracts in the Indian settings. Contract which are not necessary to paper based and are digital in nature are the digital contract. This contract is made for the easy and comfort of the parties or to levelled up the speedy work. In this contract parties sitting thousands of miles far they only need of the virtual signature to enter into the contract. While E-signature are those sign that are made by the digitally there is no place for confusion and chaos. E-signs are easy and simple to handle and it decrease the load or the pressure of physical work.

What is an E-Signature (Electronic Signature)

An e-signature (electronic signature) is a computerized form of an ordinary manually written signature. In numerous nations, counting the Joined together States, an e-signature can give the same legitimate commitment as a written by hand signature if it meets certain criteria. The terms e-signature and computerized signature are frequently utilized traded, in spite of the fact that this is inaccurate. An advanced signature is a sort of e-signature, but not all e-signatures are computerized signatures. An e-signature gives a fast and simple way to sign electronic archives without the required to print paper or join damp ink marks. Basically, it is a prepare where computers are utilized to certify the judgment of an archive and to verify the individual marking the report (signer). E-signatures do not require write and paper but permit the parties included to concur with or favour an archive, fair like they would do with transcribed signatures. Secure and legitimately enforceable, e-signatures can supplant written by hand marks for numerous reports and in numerous forms. Progressed e-signatures are supported by innovation to guarantee the genuineness of marks and underwriters, as well as the keenness of records^[1].

Electronic Contracts

An electronic contract is an understanding defined online. The parties connected with one another in a computerized arrange, or maybe than in-person or over the phone. In spite of the fact that it is computerized, an e-contract is still a contract. It is an assention between two people or companies to make an official common commitment that must incorporate certain basic components to be enforceable:^[2]

Offer: A particular offer from one party to the other to perform a few benefits or pay for a few good.

Acceptance: An acknowledgment from the other party concurring to the terms of the offer.

Promise: A guarantee to do the activity that has been acknowledged, such as instalment for certain goods.

Consideration: Something of esteem given by one party to the other in trade for merchandise or administrations. For illustration, $5,000 for office supplies.

Capacity: Whether or not the underwriters get it the terms being concurred to.

Legality: The contract matter itself is legal.

Electronic contracts are held to numerous of the same measures as conventional contracts. There must be a “meeting of the minds” for the agreement’s basic terms. The contract ought to clearly diagram each party’s obligations and direct the prerequisites fundamental for full compliance

Background

 Indian law recognizes electronic marks (‘e-signatures’) beneath the Data Innovation Act, 2000 (‘IT Act’). With the approach of Aadhaar, one-time passwords, and the rise in advanced education, India has seen a spurt in the appropriation of e-signatures. All-inclusive as well, the e-signature advertise is anticipated to develop over USD 14 billion by 2026. As the Service of Gadgets and Data Innovation (‘MEITY’) is in the prepare of patching up the IT Act in shape of the proposed Advanced India Act (‘DIA’), it is a fortunate time to re-consider the ampleness of the legitimate system on e-signatures. Encourage, this will adjust with the Indian government’s point to make a USD 1 trillion-dollar computerized economy – which may exceptionally well include a expansive number of contracts executed electronically. In such a situation, having a legitimate system adjusted with specialized headways in the final two decades will guarantee that pertinent members in such electronic exchanges are ensured. In this manner, modernized e-signature laws will ensure more noteworthy volume of commerce exchanges being conducted electronically – subsequently cultivating the headway of the computerized economy and by and large financial development in India. Given the commercial significance of e-signatures, as well as their vital part in India’s advanced economy, this article notes the current legitimate system on e-signatures and prescribes a modernization of the existing legitimate system overseeing e-signature in India based on universal points of reference.

Types of E-Signatures

There are three benchmarks for e-signatures: Simple electronic signature (SES). Advanced electronic signature (AES). Qualified electronic signature (QES).

Simple Electronic Signature (SES):  is the most essential — and slightest secure — sort of e-signature. It alludes to any strategy of applying an electronic signature, such as a written title or other advanced generation of a signature, to advanced archives, such as contracts and understandings. It requires no personality confirmation from the underwriter and employments no encryption or confirmation. As a result, an SES is simple to adulterate and the most helpless to extortion, making it appropriate for lower-risk transactions.

Advanced Electronic Signature (AES):  gives more vigorous security by guaranteeing that as it were the planning endorser can get to and sign a record, hence decreasing the chance of extortion. This is ordinarily fulfilled through the utilize of open key foundation to create and join a advanced certificate to the e-signature. The endorser keeps up sole control of the private key, which serves to confirm their character. Moreover, when the AES-signed report is opened by the beneficiary, the CA confirms that no changes have been made to the record. It is suggested for moderate-risk transactions.

Qualified Electronic Signature (QES):  is the most secure and fraud-resistant frame of e-signatures, however too the most complex. In the EU, it is legitimately proportionate to a written by hand signature. It contains all the security measures utilized in AES, additionally extra shapes of character confirmation, such as a face-to-face or video confirmation through a Qualified Believe Benefit Supplier.

The Benefits of E-Signatures

E-signatures speed up numerous documentation workflows by quickening endorsements and assertions. Too, they kill the require to print, sign, filter and resubmit reports, forms that can lead to delays if the underwriter does not have get to the vital innovation. Since they do not require paper, e-signatures are a naturally inviting elective to written by hand signatures.

E-signatures moreover give adaptability and comfort by permitting underwriters to utilize their favoured gadget and marking application. E-signature arrangements are convenient, so the parties included in an exchange can both sign and ask e-signatures, notwithstanding of their worldwide area.

Legal Framework For E-Sign

Section 2(1) (ta) of Information Technology Act, 2000 gives for the definition of e-signature as “Authentication of any electronic record by a supporter by implies of the electronic method indicated in the moment plan and incorporates advanced signature.” The said definition of electronic signature is comprehensive of computerized signature and other strategies in electronic frame which are indicated on the moment plan of the Act. The joining of such a definition recognized two strategies of marking carefully which are a) cryptography procedure (hash capacities etc) and b) checking e-signature utilizing other technologies. ^[3]

Any person can carefully sign an e-contract in agreement with section 3 of the IT Act, 2000. Moreover, section 10A of the IT Act makes contracts made by electronic records and communication legitimately binding.

Section 5 of the IT Act gives legitimate acknowledgment to computerized marks based on asymmetric cryptosystems.

Section 65B of the Indian Evidence Act is a critical arrangement in terms of certainly giving acceptability to electronic records. With respect to the tolerability of electronically marked reports, the Prove Act states that they will be permitted as prove as long as the endorser can illustrate in court the judgment and creativity of the electronicor computerized signature.Furthermore, the Prove Act sets up a suspicion with respect to the veracity of electronic marks and records. But as it were in connection to a secure electronic signature or record would there be such an assumption.

Section 85A of the Evidence Act, 1872 presumes that all contracts containing electronic marks are assumed to be last and there might be no address emerging on the legitimacy of such an archive on the grounds of it being marked and verified carefully. Agreeing to Segment 85B of the Prove Act, the court must expect that the individual to whom the secure electronic or computerized signature relates is the one who connected it in any handle including such signatures.

Section 67A of the Indian Evidence Act, 1872 stipulates that in circumstances of a debate concerning the local creation (realness) of an e-signature, the person whose e-signature is in address has to give the confirmation of the inventiveness.

The Madras High Court decided in the Tamil Nadu Natural Pvt. Ltd. vs. State Bank of India that contracts may be upheld by law and that legally binding obligations might rise by electronic strategies. Besides, the Court had pronounced that, as stipulated in segment 3-A of the IT Act, computerized marks are ordinarily utilized to verify electronic records, and that segment 10-A of the IT Act grants the utilize of electronic records andelectronic implies for the execution of contracts, agreements, and other purposes.

The need of computerized marks in electronic exchanges was highlighted by the Delhi High Court in the 2010 case of Trimex Worldwide FZE Ltd. vs. Vedanta Aluminum Ltd. and Ors. The court held that advanced marks have the same lawful standing as manually written marks as long as they are utilized in agreement with the IT Act of 2000. The significance of advanced marks in ensuring the unwavering quality and legitimacy of computer-generated records and money related exchanges was emphasized by this choice

Examples of Electronic Contracts

Many diverse sorts of electronic contracts are utilized in commerce assentions. Well-executed online contracts combine the convention of a conventional contract with the ease of advanced acknowledgment. The particular sort of electronic contract your commerce ought to utilize will depend on the scenarios in which you’ll have to display understandings. The taking after are a few of the most common sorts of electronic contracts:^[4]

Browse wrap understandings: Browse wrap agreement are portable app or site takes note. They state that the client concurs to be bound by the terms and conditions of the understanding basically by utilizing the app or site. This is regularly displayed by means of a hyperlink on the site for clients to press. Browse wrap understandings do not fundamentally require another step to “assent” to the agreement.

Clickwrap understandings: A clickwrap understanding requires a client to tap “I accept” to be bound to the electronic contract. This illustrates that the client expressly consents to the understanding or maybe than an understood agreement through a browse wrap.

Scroll wrap agreement: Scroll wrap understandings take clickwrap understandings another step assist. They require the shopper to scroll all the way through the terms and conditions some time recently they can press the clickwrap.

Sign-in wrap agreement: A sign-in wrap agreement collects acknowledgment at the same time a client signs in to utilize an item or benefit online.

Electronic marks: Any implies of proffering a signature carefully. That frequently implies squiggly lines, but can too be as basic as the press of a button or checking of a box

Each sort of contract may be fitting in diverse circumstances. For case, clickwraps are best utilized for high-volume, low-value agreement like Terms and Conditions, security approaches, and EULA’s. In each case, viable contract administration computer program can offer assistance keep up records and guarantee the enforceability of electronic agreement.

Are electronic contracts lawfully binding: Yes, electronic contracts are legitimately official. Much obliged to the Electronic Marks in the Worldwide and Universal Commerce Act (ESIGN Act) and the Uniform Electronic Exchanges Act (UETA), they are fair as enforceable as conventional pen-and-paper contracts. Both acts stipulate that e-Signatures are substantial, fair like their conventional paper counterparts. The UETA particularly holds that clickwraps and other “standard webpage click-through process” agreement are substantial. When clickwraps meet the prerequisites of the law and best hones, clients have taken note of the terms and conditions and deliver agreed consent. When this is the case, courts will uphold electronic contracts-including clickwraps. Other shapes of electronic contracts, like browse wrap and sign-in wrap understandings, tend to have moo enforceability. These understanding regularly come up short since the court finds that clients were not mindful of what they concurred to. These understandings ordinarily don’t require the user’s positive consent to the terms, making an equivocal circumstance that courts do not like. Sign-in wraps are in some cases considered unenforceable, as courts have held, they utilize a “dual-purpose” button and don’t clearly illustrate that the client concurred to be bound to the terms.

How to Sign an Electronic Contract

Before choosing a signature strategy for your electronic contracts, you ought to know your distinctive alternatives. A few choices are less effective than others, and this list reflects the best alternatives close the bottom.

Pen and E-mail: Companies still acknowledge contracts online by marking a difficult paper duplicate, filtering, and emailing it. This isn’t advanced contracting, but it is still a strategy utilized by numerous companies. It is wasteful and will make executing, overseeing, and following marked agreement challenging.

Digital Signature Cushions: A computerized signature cushion employments an electronic write to sign, much like marking a conventional signature. Be that as it may, it requires having uncommon hardware and is not much more productive than conventional pen-to-paper contracts.

Electronic Marks: Present day innovation permits for genuinely advanced marks. Numerous of these require uncommon sign-in methods and confirmation of a passcode. A few essentially permit clients to sort their names into a fitting field to “sign” the document.

Clickwrap: By distant, the most productive arrangement is the clickwrap understanding. This sort of contract permits a client to tap a button, check a box, or hit “I agree.” Modern forms track who concurred, when, and what form of the contract was signed.

Embedded marking: You can implant lawfully enforceable contracts into distinctive exchange focuses. Inserted marks let you customize contract dialect and areas whereas coordination information back into your claim inside systems.

While there are numerous distinctive strategies you can utilize on your contracts, viable contract administration computer program can offer assistance you select the right alternative for you.

Advantages of Electronic Contracts

Traditional contracts must be altered each time if there is indeed a single alter. In numerous exchanges, as it were the party names and other comparative data needs to alter, not the body of the contract. A conventional contract must still be physically adjusted. E-contracts permit autofill data and customizable formats to alter this fundamental data without physically changing a paper report. The rest of the contract can be effortlessly altered as well to fit the needs of the current deal.

Ease of use: Electronic contracts are altogether less demanding to utilize. Not as it were they modifiable, but they are too more open. Computerized agreement can be put away in an energetic store, making them simple to discover and utilize. Contracts kept in the store can be consequently analysed for their information and measurements to evaluate trade contracting over the board.

Low exchange cost: Electronic contracts offer a lower in general taken a toll per exchange. This is particularly genuine in high-volume agreement, like Terms and Conditions changes. A modern clickwrap agreement, for illustration, can consequently require acknowledgment of the unused terms from all pertinent parties. It will at that point record critical data without the required for costly representative time. It moreover spares cash on paper, ink, and other costs related with conventional contracts.

Saves time: Traditional contracts require awkward redlining and going back and forward on emails. It may indeed require a physical assembly to sign the record or hash out the remaining points of interest. Electronic contracts can be dealt with online without the required to meet in individual.

How to Create and Manage electronic contracts: Contract administration is the prepare of taking care of agreement with sellers, workers, accomplices, or customers. Contracts are at the centre of your company and require suitable administration. Out-of-date contract administration strategies can moderate your company down and lead to expensive blunders. Compelling contract administration lets you control your understandings at each arrange of the process:

Generate: Oversee drafting contracts and effectively handle demands. You can make easy-to-use workflows customized to your contract process.

Negotiate: Communicate effectively with contracting parties inside a single stage. The Ironclad Editor lets you work collaboratively in one framework, or maybe than redlining through emails.

Approve: Run the contract by partners and get endorsement inside a single platform.

Accept: Choose how the contract will be marked, and all parties can sign digitally

Fulfil: Once the contract is affirmed, you can meet imperative due dates, account for reestablishments, and meet other obligations.

Analyse: Contract administration lets you analyse your contract after the bargain has concluded. Valuable metadata can illuminate commerce and contracting choices for the future. Optimize: Analysed information can be utilized to computerize forms, progress trade operations, and discover development opportunities.

Renew: You can make alarms to remain on best of recharging dates. Contract administration computer program too gives you the information to know whether you need to reestablish based on your trade.

Recognized Forms of E-Signatures

The IT Act recognizes two shapes of e-signatures as implies of verification which are advanced marks and electronic marks. Computerized marks are a sort of e-signature that capacities through deviated or public-key cryptography by utilizing a combine of private and open keys. The private key is safely possessed by the signatory and is utilized to scramble a hash created by a hash work. This innovation has continuously been considered exceedingly secure and is for the most part favoured for different critical exchanges (including budgetary exchanges and/or lawful documents). On the other hand, electronic marks incorporate a broader scope of confirmation strategies wherein the handle of confirmation of records ranges from fundamental methods (viz. filtered marks, PINs, and checkboxes affirming understanding) to more specialized methods (including personality confirmation by utilizing administrations such as Aadhar or e-KYC). It is to be considered that the electronic marks are adaptable which permits the parties to utilize them in diverse cases and makes them appropriate for day-to-day exchanges with the office of changeable security requirements.

 E-Contracts in India

Electronic contracts or e-contracts are formal agreement entered into electronically, and they are significant in encouraging commerce by killing geological obstructions and lessening the contract arrangement handle. In modern times, e-contracts have gotten to be progressively common, empowering parties to execute agreement without the required for conventional paper-based marks. In this period ruled by e-contracts, the essential part played by e-signatures cannot be overstated. E-contracts in India are substantial and enforceable beneath the arrangements of Area 10-A of the IT Act^[5]. The as it were pre-requisite for the enforceability of an e-contract is that the contracting parties are required to take after the conditions of a contract set forward in the Indian Contract Act, 1872.

The Hon’ble Supreme Court of India, in the matter of Trimex Worldwide FZE Ltd. Dubai Vs. Vedanta Aluminum Ltd., India, watched that the terms of an assention that had been concurred to over mail was legitimately enforceable. Encourage, in the nonappearance of a marked understanding between the parties, emails traded between the parties served as satisfactory endorsement and affirmation since it given for a record of the understanding.^[6]

Legal Validity of E-Sign in India

The term ’contract’ is characterized beneath Area 2(h) of the Contract Act, 1872 (Contract Act) as an understanding enforceable by law. In spite of the fact that, Contract Act does not particularly for electronic contracts (e-contracts), it does not forbid them per se. Like any other frame of contract, an e-contract is moreover essentially represented by arrangements of section 10 of Contract Act. The basic components required for approving an e-contract set out beneath Contract Act are as follows:

• Legal offer and acceptance
• Legal object
• Legal consideration
• Free consent
• Parties to be competent to contract
• Deliberate of parties to make legitimate relationship
• Not explicitly announced to be void, it will meet the test as a substantial and authoritative contract

Therefore, an e-contract cannot be truly executed unless it fulfils all the fundamentals of a substantial contract, as endorsed beneath the Contract Act. In Trimex Universal FZE Ltd, Dubai v. Vendata Aluminium Ltd, the Preeminent Court (SC) held that a contract entered into between the parties that was genuinely acknowledged through e-mails.

Is E-Sign Secure?

While e-Sign offers irrefutable comfort, security is a best need for any electronic exchange. Concerns might emerge around the plausibility of fraud or altering with records after they’ve been marked electronically. However, eSignatures regularly join strong security measures that can indeed outperform conventional written by hand marks. Here’s why:^[7]

• Many eSignature stages utilize encryption innovation to scramble the information inside the marked report. This makes it for all intents and purposes outlandish for somebody to captured and change the record without detection.
• E-Sign arrangements regularly make a point-by-point review path that records the whole marking handle. This path incorporates timestamps, endorser personality confirmation subtle elements, and any changes made to the record. This point-by-point log gives a clear picture of who marked the record, when, and if any alterations were made.
• For exchanges requiring the most elevated level of security, Advanced Signature Certificates (DSCs) can be utilized. These act like computerized travel permits, confirming the signer’s personality and including an additional layer of tamper-proof security to the eSignature. E-Sign utilizes a combination of encryption, review trails, and discretionary highlights like DSCs to guarantee the security and keenness of electronic archives. This makes eSignatures a dependable and secure way to conduct trade electronically.

Legitimate Acceptability of E-Sign in Other Countries

UNCITRAL’s Appear Law on Electronic Marks, 2001: In 1996, the Joined together Nations Commission on Around the world Trade Law (UNCITRAL) gotten the Illustrate Law on Electronic Commerce which incorporates a well-suited foundation with regard to electronic signature with an point to bring around consistency in cross-border trades and transnational understandings. The Common Gathering of UNCITRAL definitely grasped a Appear Law on Electronic Marks in 2001 as an addendum to the preexisting Illustrate Law. In understanding with the Illustrate Law’s Article 2(a), electronic marks are as takes after: An “electronic signature” is any data in electronic outline associated to, coherently related to, or included in a data message. It can be utilized to recognize the signatory in affiliation with the data message and to show up that the signatoryunderwrites of the substance insides. After looking at with an eagle-eye at the specific procedures of electronic marks in utilize, the Illustrate Law recognized two principal sorts of electronic marks: computerized marks that utilize public-key cryptography and electronic marks that utilize elective strategies.^[8]

England (UK)

Electronic marks are recognized by English law in events where there is no tradition need or commitment to utilize a signature. It’s not crucial for the signature to be significantly specialized. Underneath English law, a checked signature or something as casual as a title composed at the conclusion of a mail might be considered a signature. In the case of Bassano v Toft, the judge chosen that the require of a passable outline of electronic signature was met by clicking the ‘I accept’ button on the computerized customer credit and the same is enforceable in buyer credit laws of the state. An electronic signature overseen by a third party (like an accomplice) would not be commendable if the law orders that the signatory really apply the signature (as a procedural custom) as held in Kassam v Gill.

Argentina

Agreements and collaborations that are not subject to a particular legal outline need underneath Argentine law may be carried out in any way that the parties agree upon, tallying orally, electronically, or in troublesome copy. Requests for specific authentic files may be made in the outline of open deeds or interpreted marks. For the reason of satisfying any physically composed prerequisites requested by adjacent sanctioning, progressed marks are respected fruitful but it only will not be commonsense for substitution as prerequisites of open deed. Carefully stamped records are acknowledged to have been stamped by the signatory recorded with the certifying licensee, and that the substance has not been changed, in this way the position of adequacy of electronic marks is to some degree comparable to India. In both the regions, if a party talk about the root of the computerized signature, they will require to allow confirmation to back their claim.

The Future of E-Sign in India

A Secure and Productive Way Forward The COVID-19 widespread has served as a catalyst for the far- reaching appropriation of eSignatures in India. With the require for farther exchanges and the disturbance of conventional record forms, e-Sign has developed as a basic apparatus for guaranteeing commerce progression. This has cleared the way for potential headways in the legitimate system. We can anticipate upgrades to the IT Act of 2000 and the online archive enrolment prepare. These changes may include streamlining the enlistment handle, growing the appropriateness of eSignatures to a more extensive run of exchanges, and making a more user-friendly experience. As India grasps this modern time of computerized exchanges, open mindfulness is significant. The IT Data Innovation Act gives a clear definition and lawful system for eSignatures. Be that as it may, advance endeavours are required to make strides user-friendliness and upgrade confirmation components. Creating fraud-resistant strategies and dispensing with security vulnerabilities will be fundamental for building believe and certainty in eSignatures for the long term. By focusing on legitimate clarity, client encounter, and strong security measures, India can set e-Sign’s position as a foundation of a secure and productive computerized future.

Need for E-Signatures and E-Contracts: In the show computerized period, e-contracts give security and comfort to the parties as the exchanges happen over geological boundaries and the parties are presently not required to be display physically at any certain area to sign the archives through the conventional methods.^[9]

The utilize of e-signatures empowers parties to verify archives and understandings electronically without any prerequisite of paper-based archives as well as physical marks. In this manner, it is worth specifying that e-contracts give adaptability and are a more available stage for parties to execute understandings. Subsequently, the utilize of e-signatures in the show period is more cost-effective and useful as it disposes of calculated imperatives whereas running operations by the parties.

Furthermore, in the wake of worldwide occasions such as the Covid-19 widespread, there is a clear move towards inaccessible work and computerized exchanges and since at that point the importance of e-signatures and e-contracts in encouraging progression and versatility in trade operations has ended up indeed more articulated.

Conclusion

The lawful acknowledgment of e-signatures and the legitimacy of e-contracts beneath the IT Act clearly grandstand India’s want to guarantee lawful shields whereas grasping innovative headways. As talked about in the article, the IT Act gives legitimate legitimacy to electronic confirmation strategies and enables organizations and people to conduct their trade safely in the advanced time through computerized exchanges. Consequently, it is beneficial to say that the IT Act is an establishment for legitimizing e-signatures, advancing the advancement of electronic commerce, and encouraging administration all through the country.

In conclusion, it is germane to note that a cautious understanding of the fundamentals of a contract and compliance with the IT Act is the need to uphold e-contracts in India. Parties working online in India require to get it that e-signatures can be attached really on any archive in compliance with the legitimate system and ought to moreover guarantee that their contracts meet the legitimate conditions and necessities.

References

1. Treelife, “esign in India-Legal validity, compliance, use cases” treelife.in, April 4, 2024. https://treelife.in/legal/esign-in-india/
2. Rahul Awati, “e-signature(electronic signature), techtarget.com https://www.techtarget.com/searchcontentmanagement/definition/e-signature
3. Apoorva Shishodiya, Sgreyika Walia, “Legal Framework of E-Signature and E-Contracts in India”, March 7, 2024 https://www.ahlawatassociates.com/blog/legal-framework-e-signatures-e-contracts-india#:~:text=The%20use%20of%20e%2Dsignatures%20enables%20parties%20to%20authenticate%20documents,for%20parties%20to%20execute%20agreements
4. Manish Kumar Sharma, Sudhanshu Gupta, “E-signing of contract and documents in India” Singhania.in, Aug 5, 2021 https://singhania.in/blog/e-signing-of-contract-and-documents-in-india
5. Harsh Arora, Raj Nandini, “Understanding e-contracts”, haslegal.com, Oct 12, 2020 https://hsalegal.com/article/understanding-e-contracts/
6. King Stubb and Kesiva, “Navigating the Legal Landscape: Understanding E-contracts in India’s  Digital Economy”  https://ksandk.com/corporate/understanding-e-contracts-in-indias-digital-economy/
7. Ridhi Vyas, Anmol Bharuka, “Modernizing E-Signature Laws in India” ijlt.in, https://www.ijlt.in/post/modernizing-e-signature-laws-in-india

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^[1] Rahul Awati, “e-signature(electronic signature), techtarget.com

^[2] Harsh Arora, Raj Nandini, “Understanding e-contracts”, haslegal.com, Oct 12, 2020

^[3] Treelife, “esign in India-Legal validity, compliance, use cases” treelife.in, April 4, 2024

^[4] Apoorva Shishodiya, Sgreyika Walia, “Legal Framework of E-Signature and E-Contracts in India”, March 7, 2024

^[5] Manish Kumar Sharma, Sudhanshu Gupta, “E-signing of contract and documents in India” Singhania.in, Aug 5, 2021

^[6] Ridhi Vyas, Anmol Bharuka, “Modernizing E-Signature Laws in India” ijlt.in,

^[7] King Stubb and Kesiva, “Navigating the Legal Landscape: Understanding E-contracts in India’s  Digital Economy

^[8] Treelife, “esign in India-Legal validity, compliance, use cases” treelife.in, April 4, 2024.

^[9] Apoorva Shishodiya, Sgreyika Walia, “Legal Framework of E-Signature and E-Contracts in India”, March 7, 2024

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