Authentication of electronic records
Section 3 of the Information Technology Act, 2000 deals with authentication of electronic records. Subject to the provisions of this section any subscriber may authenticate an electronic record by affixing his digital signature. The Act came into force on 17 Oct 2000.
1[3. Authentication of electronic records.--(1) Subject to the provisions of this section any subscriber may authenticate an electronic record by affixing his digital signature.
(2) The authentication of the electronic record shall be effected by the use of asymmetric crypto system and hash function which envelop and transform the initial electronic record into another electronic record.
Explanation.--For the purposes of this sub-section, "hash function" means an algorithm mapping or translation of one sequence of bits into another, generally smaller, set known as --hash result" such that an electronic record yields the same hash result every time the algorithm is executed with the same electronic record as its input making it computationally infeasible--
(a) to derive or reconstruct the original electronic record from the hash result produced by the algorithm;
(b) that two electronic records can produce the same hash result using the algorithm.
(3) Any person by the use of a public key of the subscriber can verify the electronic record.
(4) The private key and the public key are unique to the subscriber and constitute a functioning key pair.]
Section 3, The Information Technology Act, 2000 (Act 21 of 2000).
Cross-references
Extracted from the operative text of the enactments themselves. Every destination below exists in our corpus.
Referred to by 2
Made under this section, and citing it
3 instruments state that it was made under this provision — the power to make it comes from here, so a change to any of them changes what this section requires in practice. Newest first.
Another 12 instruments name this provision in its title or its text without being made under it.
- The Information Technology (Procedure and Safeguards for Interception, Monitoring and Decryption of Information) Amendment Rules, 2024Rule 2024
- Information Technology (Preservation and Retention of Information by Intermediaries Providing Digital Locker Facilities) Amendment Rules, 2017Rule 2017
- Electronic Signature or Electronic Authentication Technique and Procedure Rules, 2016.Rule 2016
- Information Technology (Certifying Authorities) Amendment Rules, 2015Rule 2015
- Information Technology (Security Procedures) Amendment Rules, 2015Rule 2015
- Notification for declaring TETRA Secured Communication System Network of Govt. of NCT of Delhi as Protected System under section 70 of the IT Act, 2000Notification 2010
- Notification for rescinding of earlier notifications G.S.R. 181(E) and G.S.R. 529(E)Notification 2010
- Information Technology (Security Procedure) Amendment Rules, 2004Rule 2004
- The Information Technology (Certifying Authorities) (Amendment) Rules, 2004Rule 2004
- Information Technology (Other Standards) Rules, 2003Rule 2003
- INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (CERTIFYING AUTHORITY) REGULATIONS, 2001Regulation 2001
- Information Technology (Certifying Authorities) Rules, 2000.Rule 2000
Questions about Section 3
What does Section 3 of the Information Technology Act deal with?
Section 3 of the Information Technology Act is headed "Authentication of electronic records". [3. Authentication of electronic records.--(1) Subject to the provisions of this section any subscriber may authenticate an electronic record by affixing his digital signature.
How do I find court cases under Section 3 of the Information Technology Act?
In judgments and charge sheets this section is written several ways, and each form finds a different set of orders. These search the full text of every order eCourtsIndia holds, best matches first: IT Act 3, section 3 IT Act, section 3 of the Information Technology Act. Each opens the full list of orders on eCourtsIndia, where it can be narrowed by court, year and outcome.
What should I read with Section 3 of the Information Technology Act, and has it changed?
2 other provisions in this corpus refer back to it. The rules and notifications made under it are where it actually bites, and there are 3: most recently Cyber Forensic Laboratory, under Army Cyber Group, Directorate General of Military Operations (2018), then Electronic Signature or Electronic Authentication Technique and Procedure (Amendment) Rules, 2015. (2015), and 1 more.
When did Section 3 of the Information Technology Act come into force?
Section 3 of the Information Technology Act, cited as IT Act 3, came into force on 17 Oct 2000, having been enacted on 09 Jun 2000. It is in force as at the date shown on this page.
Other sections of this Act
- 2. Definitions1304 words
- 87. Power of Central Government to make rules877 words
- 43. Penalty and compensation for damage to computer, computer system, etc506 words
- 46. Power to adjudicate370 words
- 89. Power of Controller to make regulations345 words
- 70B. Indian Computer Emergency Response Team to serve as national agency for incident response326 words
Source and method. Compiled from the enactments of Parliament and of the State legislatures as published on India Code, and republished together with commentary and other original matter under section 52(1)(q)(ii) of the Copyright Act, 1957. Structured, cross-referenced and maintained by eCourtsIndia. Text as in force on 14 Oct 2026. This page is not a substitute for legal advice.