Pensioners across India can now make the annual life certificate submission process easier through the government's nationwide Digital Life Certificate Campaign 2026. The fifth edition of the campaign is being conducted from November 1 to November 30 across 2,000 cities and districts.

The initiative, organised by the Department of Pension and Pensioners' Welfare, aims to help senior citizens submit their Digital Life Certificates without the inconvenience of repeatedly visiting banks or government offices. This year's campaign places special emphasis on face authentication technology, which allows pensioners to complete the process using a compatible smartphone.

What is a Digital Life Certificate?

A Digital Life Certificate, popularly known as Jeevan Pramaan, is an Aadhaar-based digital document used by pensioners to prove that they are alive and eligible to continue receiving their pension.

Traditionally, pensioners had to visit their bank or pension-disbursing office and submit a physical life certificate every year. The digital system provides an alternative by allowing the certificate to be generated electronically through an authorised process.

Once successfully generated, the certificate is made available to the pension-disbursing authority for verification and processing.

How can pensioners generate Jeevan Pramaan using face authentication?

Pensioners with a compatible Android or iOS smartphone can use face authentication to generate their Digital Life Certificate.

The general process involves:

1. Downloading the official Aadhaar Face RD application and Jeevan Pramaan application from the authorised app store.

2. Opening the Jeevan Pramaan application and providing the required pensioner details.

3. Completing the Aadhaar-based authentication process.

4. Following the instructions to capture a live photograph of the face.

5. Submitting the details for authentication and certificate generation.

6. Saving the generated Jeevan Pramaan ID for future reference.

Pensioners should use only official applications and ensure that their Aadhaar and pension records contain the correct information.

What if a pensioner does not have a smartphone?

Pensioners who are unable to complete face authentication themselves can use alternative facilities.

They can visit participating bank branches, India Post Payments Bank locations or designated Digital Life Certificate camps. Assistance may also be available through authorised service providers and pensioners' welfare associations.

The government has also included doorstep services for pensioners who face difficulty travelling to service centres. Availability may depend on the local arrangements made during the campaign.

Nationwide campaign to cover 2,000 cities and districts

The 2026 campaign will involve several organisations, including pension-disbursing banks, India Post Payments Bank, UIDAI, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, Railways, EPFO, state governments and pensioners' welfare associations.

The initiative aims to make the process accessible to pensioners living in remote areas as well as those who may have difficulty visiting government offices.

In addition to Digital Life Certificate generation, campaign camps will offer services such as health check-ups and Aadhaar-related assistance. Dedicated grievance officers will also help address problems faced by pensioners during certificate submission.

What documents and details should pensioners keep ready?

Before starting the process, pensioners should keep the following information available:

• Aadhaar number.

• Mobile number linked to Aadhaar, wherever required for authentication.

• Pension Payment Order (PPO) number.

• Bank account details.

• Name of the pension-disbursing authority.

• Other pension-related information requested by the application.

It is important to ensure that the details entered during authentication match the pension records. Incorrect information can create difficulties in generating or processing the certificate.

Is it compulsory to visit a bank every year?

No. The Digital Life Certificate facility provides an electronic alternative to physical submission. Pensioners who successfully generate their certificate through an accepted method generally do not need to submit a separate physical certificate for the same requirement.

However, pensioners should confirm that the certificate has been successfully generated and accepted by their pension-disbursing authority. Merely completing face authentication does not guarantee that every pension-related issue has been resolved.

Important dates pensioners should remember

The fifth nationwide Digital Life Certificate campaign runs from November 1 to November 30, 2026. Pensioners who have not yet submitted their annual life certificate can use the campaign period to access digital or assisted services.

The initiative is particularly useful for elderly citizens, people with mobility difficulties and pensioners living far from their bank branches.

With face authentication, doorstep assistance and camps across the country, the government aims to reduce the paperwork and travel involved in annual life certificate submission. Pensioners should complete the process through authorised channels and retain their Jeevan Pramaan acknowledgement for reference.