E-signature legality · Asia-Pacific
Is electronic signature legal in India?
Yes. The IT Act gives electronic signatures legal recognition, and e-contracts are enforceable under the Contract Act. Aadhaar eSign and digital signature certificates carry a statutory presumption; other methods are valid but must be proved if challenged.
The law
- Information Technology Act 2000, sections 3, 3A and 5
- Indian Contract Act 1872 — contracts need no particular form
- Indian Evidence Act (Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam 2023) — admissibility of electronic records
What still needs wet ink, a notary or a qualified signature
- Negotiable instruments other than cheques
- Powers of attorney
- Trusts
- Wills and other testamentary dispositions
- Contracts for the sale or conveyance of immovable property
Stamp duty still applies to many agreements; several states now accept e-stamping.
Where Clinch fits
Clinch is built for everyday commercial agreements — freelance and agency contracts, statements of work, NDAs, quotes and service agreements — which in Indianeed no special form. Every signature is captured with the signer's explicit consent, and the signed PDF carries an audit trail (name, email, timestamp of every event, hashed IP) plus a SHA-256 fingerprint of the exact document, so anyone can check it was not changed after signing.
It is a simple electronic signature, not a qualified one: for the documents listed above, use the formality the law requires.
Draft and send a contractOther countries in Asia-Pacific
This page is general information, not legal advice, and laws change. For a document with high stakes or a formality requirement, check with a lawyer in India.
Also available in: Español · Deutsch · Français · Italiano · Português (Brasil)