Digital Contracts and E-Signatures - Legal Validity and Enforcement under Indian Contract Law

Digital Contracts Under Indian Law Digital contracts hold the same legal status as traditional paper-based agreements in India, provided they meet the essential elements of a valid contract. These essentials include a lawful offer and acceptance, lawful consideration, the capacity of parties to contract, free and genuine consent, a lawful object and the agreement not being expressly declared void. Indian law does not mandate that a contract must be in written or physical form unless required by specific statutes. This means that agreements formed through electronic means such as emails, digital platforms or mobile applications are legally valid and enforceable, as long as they satisfy the foundational requirements of a contract. This legal recognition facilitates seamless and efficient contracting in the digital age, without compromising on legal certainty. While the Information Technology Act recognizes contracts formed through electronic means, the absence of a digital sig...