Every pensioner whose pension is paid through a bank must prove once a year that they are alive, and for central government pensioners the usual window is November, closing on 30 November. Pensioners aged 80 and above can submit earlier, from 1 October. You no longer need to visit the bank: Jeevan Pramaan, the government’s digital life certificate service, lets you do it with Aadhaar authentication, now most often by scanning your face on an Android phone.
The digital certificate goes straight into an online repository that your bank or pension disbursing agency can see. In the 2025 nationwide campaign, over 1.54 crore digital life certificates were processed, and more than 91 lakh of them used face authentication, according to the pensions department.
Who uses it
Jeevan Pramaan is open to pensioners of the central government, state governments and other government organisations, the official site says. Central civil, defence, railway and public sector bank pensioners in Chennai typically submit in October or November through their bank. Tamil Nadu state government pensioners have a separate annual mustering with the state treasury; the Treasuries and Accounts Department lists a Jeevan Pramaan certificate as one accepted way to muster, but the window has been changed by government orders over the years, so confirm the current dates with your Pension Pay Office or treasury.
Before you start
| Document | Who needs it | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Aadhaar number or Virtual ID | Every pensioner | Authentication is Aadhaar-based |
| Pension Payment Order (PPO) number | Every pensioner | On your PPO or pension slip |
| Pension disbursing agency and account details | Every pensioner | The bank branch or office that pays you |
| Active mobile number | Every pensioner | The certificate link arrives by SMS |
| Android phone with a working front camera | Face authentication at home | Android 8.0 or later; a family member’s phone works |
Source: Jeevan Pramaan.
The steps
- Check your window. If you are 80 or older, you can submit now. Others should submit in November, before the 30th.
- Install the apps. On an Android phone, install AadhaarFaceRD and the Jeevan Pramaan Face App from the Play Store. A child’s or neighbour’s phone is fine; the certificate is tied to your Aadhaar, not the handset.
- Enter your Aadhaar and mobile. Open the Jeevan Pramaan Face App and enter your Aadhaar number or Virtual ID and an active mobile number, verifying as the app prompts.
- Fill in pension details. Enter your name exactly as in Aadhaar, your PPO number and your pension disbursing agency and account details.
- Scan your face. Sit in good light facing the front camera and follow the on-screen prompts. If it fails, try again in brighter light, or use another route below.
- Save the certificate ID. On success you get an SMS with a link to the certificate. Keep it until your pension for December is credited.
- Use another route if needed. If face scanning keeps failing, visit your bank branch, a Jeevan Pramaan centre run by a CSC or bank, or a campaign camp, where fingerprint or iris devices are used.
Ways to submit
| Route | What you need | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Face authentication app | Android phone, Aadhaar, PPO | Anyone who can manage a smartphone with help |
| Fingerprint or iris device | Visit a bank, CSC centre or camp | Pensioners whose face scan fails |
| Campaign camps and doorstep service | Contact your bank or post office | Pensioners who cannot travel |
| Paper life certificate | Visit the disbursing bank | Those who prefer the old way |
Source: Jeevan Pramaan; DoPPW guidelines for DLC Campaign 4.0.
For the 2025 campaign the pensions department set camps with India Post Payments Bank and pension-paying banks across about 2,000 cities and towns through November, its guidelines show.
Pensioners aged 80 and above can submit their life certificate from 1 October, a month before everyone else.
Common mistakes
- Entering a different name spelling from Aadhaar, which makes authentication fail.
- Choosing the wrong disbursing agency, so the certificate never reaches your bank.
- Waiting until the last days of November, when branches and camps are busiest.
- Responding to calls asking for your OTP to “update” your life certificate. Banks do not ask for it.
If it goes wrong
If your bank says it has not received the certificate, show the SMS link or certificate ID and ask the branch to check the repository. If your pension is held up, ask the branch to record your life certificate manually, and write to your pension sanctioning authority. Seniors who are unwell may want a family member to handle the app with them.
Quick answers
When must pensioners submit a life certificate in 2026?
Pensioners aged 80 and above from 1 October; others in November, by 30 November.
Can I submit a life certificate from home?
Yes, through face authentication on an Android phone using the AadhaarFaceRD and Jeevan Pramaan Face apps.
Does Jeevan Pramaan work for Tamil Nadu state pensioners?
The treasury lists Jeevan Pramaan as a way to muster, but state pensioners follow the state’s mustering window. Confirm the dates with your Pension Pay Office.
Information checked against official sources on 19 October 2026. Fees, dates and rules can change; confirm on the linked official pages before acting.
