- In these rules, unless the context otherwise requires,-

1. "Act " means the Information Technology Act, 2000 (21 of 2000);
2. "applicant " means Certifying Authority applicant;
3. "auditor " means any internationally accredited computer security professional or agency appointed by the Certifying Authority and recognized by the Controller for conducting technical audit of operation of Certifying Authority;
4. "Controller " means Controller of Certifying Authorities appointed under sub-section (1) of section 17 of the Act;
5. "Digital Signature Certificate " means Digital Signature Certificate issued under sub-section (4) of section 35 of the Act;
6. "information asset " means all information resources utilized in the course of any organisation's business and includes all information, applications (software developed or purchased), and technology (hardware, system software and networks);
7. "licence " means a licence granted to Certifying Authorities for the issue of Digital Signature Certificates under these rules;
8. "licensed Certifying Authority " means Certifying Authority who has been granted a licence to issue Digital Signature Certificates;
9. "person " shall include an individual, or a company or association or body of individuals, whether incorporated or not, or Central Government or a State Government or any of the Ministries or Departments, Agencies or Authorities of such Governments;
10. "Schedule " means a Schedule annexed to these rules;
11. "subscriber identity verification method " means the method used to verify and authenticate the identity of a subscriber;
12. "trusted person " means any person who has-
13. words and expressions used herein and not defined but defined in Schedule IV shall have the meaning respectively assigned to them in that Schedule.