The Department of Pension & Pensioners’ Welfare (DoPPW) announced on Saturday that 67.94 lakh Digital Life Certificates (DLCs) have been generated so far this year, with 40.42 lakh submitted through face authentication technology. The initiative aims to improve convenience and accessibility for pensioners across the country.
According to the official statement, 25.60 lakh DLCs were generated between November 1 and 5, of which 15.62 lakh, or 61 per cent, were processed using face authentication. Among these, more than 37,000 certificates were from pensioners above 90 years of age, while 985 were from those aged over 100.
Officials highlighted that the face authentication process allows pensioners to submit their life certificates conveniently through smartphones “anytime, anywhere.” This digital feature eliminates the need for physical visits to banks or pension disbursing authorities, proving particularly beneficial for senior, aged, and infirm pensioners.
To further strengthen outreach, the Department has launched Digital Life Certificate Campaign 4.0, in collaboration with key stakeholders including Pension Disbursing Banks, India Post Payments Bank, Pensioners’ Welfare Associations, CGDA, EPFO, DoT, Railways, UIDAI, and MeitY. The nationwide campaign runs from November 1 to 30, 2025, with the goal of ensuring coverage for pensioners even in remote areas.
V. Srinivas, Secretary, Department of Pension & Pensioners’ Welfare, inaugurated a mega DLC camp organized by Punjab National Bank (PNB) at its Sansad Marg branch in New Delhi. During his address, Srinivas underscored the government’s commitment to digital empowerment of pensioners and highlighted how digital submission modes have significantly improved the ease of living for retired citizens.
Punjab National Bank, one of the key partners in the campaign, is organizing DLC camps in 39 cities across 185 locations throughout the country. During these camps, pensioners were guided through the process of submitting Digital Life Certificates using the Face Authentication feature.
According to the Department, this digital approach not only simplifies the verification process but also ensures timely and transparent delivery of pension benefits. The “anytime, anywhere” functionality of face-based authentication has been cited as a key step toward making pension disbursement more efficient and inclusive.
The campaign’s success reflects a growing adaptation of digital tools among senior citizens and aligns with the government’s broader push for digital governance. The initiative continues through November, aiming to cover pensioners in every part of the country and make life certificate submission seamless and accessible.
