UGC NET Questions (Paper – 1)

Digital signatures are generated using a sender’s private key and verified using the corresponding public key. If verification succeeds, the recipient gains assurance about who signed the document and that its contents have not changed since signing. This supports authentication, integrity and often non-repudiation in electronic transactions. Therefore, the primary function of a digital signature is to provide trustworthy identity and content assurance.

Option A:
Decorative graphics may look like signatures but can easily be copied and do not provide any cryptographic proof of origin or integrity. They are purely visual.

Option B:
Physical ink signatures apply to paper documents and are not equivalent to digital signatures in ICT systems. They do not rely on cryptographic keys or electronic verification.

Option C:
This option correctly explains that a digital signature is based on public-key cryptography and is used to authenticate the sender and detect any alteration of the document, providing integrity and non-repudiation in electronic exchanges.

Option D:
A tool that prevents a document from ever being opened would defeat the purpose of communication and is not what digital signatures do. Signatures verify authenticity and integrity; they do not block access to the document.