Gujarat Narmada Fertiliser Corporation (GNFC) Ltd''s (n)Code Solutions has been licensed by the ministry of IT, government of India, as a certifying authority for providing digital signature certificates to individuals and organisations.

Launching the services at the ''India leadership forum 2005'', NASSCOM president Kiran Karnik said, "With the presence of a large, credible public sector organisation in this domain ensuring the safety and security of net-based transactions, businesses and governments will be able to usher in higher levels of excellence at lower costs."

Digital certificates are digital passports, which help in authentication of the bearer on the internet. They help maintain the privacy and integrity of net-based transactions. Digital signatures are accorded the same value as paper-based physical signatures by the Indian IT Act, 2000. These functions bring trust into internet-based transactions.

(n)Code has simultaneously released a suite of applications like (n)Procure, (n)Sign, (n)Form and (n)Pay that make use of digital signatures to ensure safety and security in the virtual world, handling net transactions from online procurement to signing and sending web forms and enabling safe online payments to securing web servers or VPN devices. (n)Code has nation-wide machinery to support different market segments like banking and financial institutions, public and private sector enterprises and state and central government organisations.

GNFC managing director A K Luke said: "The (n)Code Solutions infrastructure is at par with the best in the world. GNFC is committed to diversification in emerging fields like e-security." GNFC is a Rs1,800 crore fertilisers and chemicals giant with an impressive record of profitability and growth.