Quick answer: Jeevan Pramaan is the government’s Aadhaar-based digital life certificate for pensioners. You can generate one at home with the Jeevan Pramaan and AadhaarFaceRD apps using face authentication, with a fingerprint or iris device, at a bank, post office or Common Service Centre, or through a postman at your doorstep. Central government pensioners usually submit it in November, and those aged 80 or above can submit from 1 October.
What is Jeevan Pramaan?
Every pensioner has to prove once a year that they are alive, or their pension can stop. Before 2014 that meant standing in a queue at the bank or treasury with a paper life certificate. Jeevan Pramaan, a Digital Life Certificate (DLC) service from the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), replaces that visit with Aadhaar authentication.
According to the official portal (jeevanpramaan.gov.in), the process has four parts:
- You confirm your identity with Aadhaar biometrics: fingerprint, iris, or face.
- A certificate is generated with a unique Pramaan ID.
- The certificate is stored in an online Life Certificate Repository.
- Your bank or other Pension Disbursing Agency picks it up from the repository. You do not have to hand it over yourself.
The portal showed 12.43 crore DLCs submitted since 2014 when we checked in October 2026.
Who can use it?
The portal says Jeevan Pramaan is open to pensioners of the Central Government, State Governments and other government organisations, as long as their Pension Sanctioning Authority has been onboarded. Two groups are excluded under the portal’s FAQ: pensioners who have been re-employed, and pensioners who have remarried.
The original version of this article said you must “enrol” in Jeevan Pramaan before using it. There is no separate enrolment. You simply generate a fresh certificate each time one is due.
What you need
- Your Aadhaar number, and a mobile number.
- Your pension details, which you declare yourself:
- Pension Payment Order (PPO) number;
- pension account number and bank name;
- your Pension Sanctioning Authority and Pension Disbursing Agency.
- Biometrics: fingerprint, iris, or a live face scan.
Incorrect details can lead to the certificate being rejected by your pension authority, so keep your PPO handy.
Four ways to get your digital life certificate
1. Face authentication on your own Android phone
Face authentication was introduced in November 2021. In the Department of Pension and Pensioners’ Welfare (DoPPW) campaign of November 2025, it was used for more than 60% of the certificates generated, according to PIB. It helps older pensioners whose fingerprints have faded.
- Install the AadhaarFaceRD app (from UIDAI) and the Jeevan Pramaan face app on an Android phone. The Jeevan Pramaan portal’s Download section links to the official app.
- Open the Jeevan Pramaan app and authenticate as the operator with your Aadhaar number and the OTP sent to your Aadhaar-linked mobile. A family member’s phone can be used, but the pensioner must be present.
- Enter the pensioner’s Aadhaar, mobile number and pension details.
- Scan the pensioner’s face in good light, following the on-screen guidance, until the capture succeeds.
- On success, an SMS with the Jeevan Pramaan ID arrives on the pensioner’s mobile.
2. Fingerprint or iris device at home
On a Windows 10 (or later) computer or an Android 10 (or later) phone, you can use the Jeevan Pramaan client app with a fingerprint or iris scanner. The portal says the scanner must be STQC-certified, with its “RD Service” software installed. To download the app, enter your email ID on the portal and verify the OTP, and a one-time download link is emailed to you.
3. At a bank, post office, CSC or government office
Many places run Jeevan Pramaan centres:
- pension-disbursing bank branches;
- post offices;
- Common Service Centres (CSCs);
- treasuries and some government offices.
To find one, use “Locate a Centre” on jeevanpramaan.gov.in, or send an SMS of “JPL” followed by your PIN code (for example, JPL 110003) to 7738299899. A CSC may charge a service fee, so ask first.
4. Doorstep service
India Post Payments Bank (IPPB) offers doorstep DLC through postmen and Gramin Dak Sevaks for a nominal fee, according to the Department of Pension and PIB. Some public sector banks also collect life certificates through their Doorstep Banking alliance. This is the best option for pensioners who are bedridden or cannot travel.
When to submit: the November rule
- Central government pensioners: submit your life certificate in November each year.
- Pensioners aged 80 and above: a special window opens from 1 October, under a DoPPW order of 18 July 2019, to help them avoid the November rush.
- EPS pensioners (EPFO): the rule is different. Pensioners under the Employees’ Pension Scheme, 1995 can submit a DLC at any time of the year, and it stays valid for one year from submission (EPFO, 2020).
- Other pensioners (state governments, PSUs and others): the validity period is set by your Pension Sanctioning Authority, so follow its rules.
Each year the Department of Pension runs a nationwide DLC campaign from 1 to 30 November. In 2025 this was Campaign 4.0, which generated 1.54 crore certificates in November, with camps across the country. Check with your bank before the due date, because a missed life certificate can hold up your pension.
After you submit
- You receive an SMS with your Pramaan ID.
- You can download a PDF of the certificate from jeevanpramaan.gov.in using that ID.
- The certificate is still subject to acceptance by your Pension Sanctioning or Disbursing Authority, so if your pension does not continue, ask your bank whether it was received.
For help, call the Jeevan Pramaan helpline 1800 111 555 or email jeevanpramaan@gov.in, as listed on the portal.
Biometric failures are usually caused by Aadhaar details or fingerprints that need an update. Our guide to Aadhaar authentication explains the methods and what to do if one fails. If your Aadhaar address or mobile number is outdated, see how to update your Aadhaar address. If you are still saving for retirement rather than drawing a pension, read our guide to opening an NPS account with Aadhaar.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to take the Jeevan Pramaan certificate to my bank?
No. The certificate goes to the online repository, and your Pension Disbursing Agency picks it up from there. You only need to keep the Pramaan ID.
Is the digital life certificate valid for life?
No. Its validity depends on your Pension Sanctioning Authority’s rules, so most pensioners generate a new one every year.
My fingerprints do not work. What can I do?
Use face authentication on a smartphone, or ask the centre for an iris scanner. Pensioners whose biometrics have changed may also need a biometric update at an Aadhaar centre.
Can a family member do it for me?
A family member can operate the phone or app, but the pensioner’s own face or fingerprint must be authenticated against their Aadhaar. Nobody else can give a life certificate on your behalf.
Is Jeevan Pramaan free?
Generating a certificate yourself with the app is free. CSCs and the IPPB doorstep service may charge a small fee.
Steps and rules in this guide were checked in October 2026 against the Jeevan Pramaan portal and FAQs, Department of Pension and Pensioners’ Welfare releases, and EPFO releases published through PIB. Pension rules differ between central, state and EPFO pensioners, so confirm your deadline with your pension disbursing bank.
