A parent calls to say their bank has asked for a life certificate, but travelling to a branch is difficult. In November 2026, they may be able to generate a Digital Life Certificate (DLC) from a phone using face authentication, visit a nearby camp, or request assisted service. The important final check is whether the certificate has been accepted for the right pension account, not just whether an SMS arrived.
The Department of Pension & Pensioners’ Welfare (DoPPW) is running Nationwide DLC Campaign 5 from 1 to 30 November 2026. This guide explains how to prepare, choose a submission method and check the result. DoPPW's campaign announcement says activities are planned in 2,000 districts/cities. Its goals of 2.30 crore DLCs and 1.50 crore face-authenticated DLCs are campaign targets, not certificates already completed.
What is Jeevan Pramaan?
Jeevan Pramaan is the Government of India's Aadhaar-based Digital Life Certificate service for eligible pensioners. After successful authentication and entry of pension details, it creates a certificate with a unique Pramaan ID. The certificate is available electronically to the pension disbursing agency (PDA), such as a participating bank or post office. The official Jeevan Pramaan FAQ says the pensioner normally does not need to submit a printed copy to the PDA.
The digital method is optional; the conventional life-certificate method remains available. A DLC is also not valid for life: its validity follows the pension sanctioning authority's rules, and another certificate is needed when that period ends. Confirm that the pension sanctioning authority is supported and check any scheme-specific instructions. Some pension situations, including re-employment or remarriage, require the conventional process under the portal's FAQ.
Who needs to act in November?
For many pensioners, November is the annual life-certificate submission month. Pensioners aged 80 or above can also submit in October under the central government's arrangement. The government's April 2026 reply confirms that early October option. If a valid certificate has already been submitted for the current period and accepted, another submission merely because Campaign 5 has begun is generally unnecessary; check your pension authority's record.
Do not assume that all pension schemes have identical deadlines or that the campaign's 30 November end date changes a scheme-specific rule. If you receive a bank, EPFO, railway, defence or state pension notice, follow the applicable authority's instructions.
Keep these details ready
- Pensioner's Aadhaar number or VID, name and a working mobile number.
- Pension Payment Order (PPO) number or the scheme's pension identifier.
- Pension account number and bank details.
- Correct names of the pension sanctioning authority and pension disbursing authority.
- Access to the pensioner for their own face scan or biometric authentication.
The information is self-declared in the app or entered by an assisted-service operator. Incorrect PPO, bank or authority details may cause the PDA to reject the certificate even after authentication succeeds. Do not send full Aadhaar, OTPs or banking credentials to an unknown person offering help. The official Jeevan Pramaan FAQ lists the required pension information and explains the rejection risk.
Option 1: Use an Android or iPhone at home
The current official app download page lists Android 10 or later and iOS 14 or later on unrooted devices. For face authentication, install both Jeevan Pramaan and AadhaarFaceRd from the relevant official app store. A separate fingerprint or iris scanner is not needed for the face method; the phone camera performs the capture. The iOS version currently supports face authentication only. Follow the latest user manual linked from the download page if screens change.
- Install the two apps and allow the needed camera permissions. Use a reliable internet connection and good, even lighting.
- Complete the app's one-time operator authentication. A family member may assist as operator, but the pensioner's own face must be authenticated for the pensioner's certificate. The pensioner can also be the operator.
- Enter the pensioner's Aadhaar or VID and the correct PPO, pension account, sanctioning authority and disbursing authority details.
- Follow the in-app face-capture prompts for the pensioner. Check the data before final submission.
- Save the Pramaan ID from the acknowledgement. Download the certificate and verify the status afterwards.
For the operator and pensioner steps, see the official iPhone face-authentication manual and the current manual on the download page. If the phone or face authentication fails, use a camp, bank/post office or another supported method instead of repeatedly submitting uncertain details.
Option 2: Visit a camp or Jeevan Pramaan centre
The November campaign brings together banks, post offices, pensioners' associations, EPFO, Railways and other agencies. A camp can help someone who does not have a compatible phone or needs assistance entering the pension information. Camp dates, locations and available services vary; check a local pension disbursing branch, post office or official announcement before travelling.
The Jeevan Pramaan site also provides a Locate a Centre facility for participating centres. Carry the pension details listed above and any additional documents the particular organiser requests. An operator can help with the application, but the pensioner must complete their own authentication.
Option 3: Request a doorstep visit
India Post and India Post Payments Bank (IPPB) participate in doorstep DLC services where available. Ask the local post office or IPPB how to book, what method will be used and what charge applies before requesting a visit. A PIB release for Goa states ₹70 including GST per successfully generated DLC for that service there; it is not a nationwide price quotation. Other arrangements, including some pension-scheme-specific services, may differ.
If the pensioner cannot travel, also ask their pension disbursing authority about assistance or a conventional life-certificate route. Keep a receipt where a charge is payable.
After submission: check acceptance, not only the SMS
Successful generation normally triggers an SMS containing the Pramaan ID. Use the official pensioner sign-in to download the PDF with an OTP. Review the name, PPO, bank and authority details and check whether the certificate is accepted or rejected. The Jeevan Pramaan FAQ says a generated DLC is subject to the pension authority's acceptance; it directs pensioners to the PDF/status and PDA if rejected.
If the certificate is rejected, contact the pension disbursing agency to learn why. Correct the details and generate a fresh certificate if necessary. Keep the Pramaan ID and a copy of the final accepted record. If no SMS arrives, do not assume failure or success without checking the app/portal and the PDA's record.
If the face scan or details do not work
First check that both apps are installed and updated from the official store, the phone meets the current system requirements, and camera access is allowed. Try a bright, evenly lit place and hold the camera steady at the pensioner's eye level. If the app still fails, use an assisted centre or ask the pension disbursing agency about another accepted method. A person helping with the phone cannot replace the pensioner's own authentication.
If the face scan succeeds but the certificate is later rejected, recheck the PPO, pension account, sanctioning authority and disbursing authority against the pension documents. Do not keep repeating the same incorrect entries. Ask the PDA which field or pension record needs correction. The certificate is generated through Jeevan Pramaan, while the pension authority handles acceptance for the pension account; those are two different checkpoints.
Quick checklist for a family member
- ○ Confirm the pension scheme, applicable life-certificate period and whether a certificate is already accepted.
- ○ Gather the correct Aadhaar/VID, PPO, bank and authority information.
- ○ Choose phone face authentication, a local camp/centre or a doorstep service.
- ○ Make sure the pensioner completes the face or biometric authentication.
- ○ Save the Pramaan ID; download and check the certificate and PDA acceptance.
- ○ If rejected, contact the disbursing authority and correct the record promptly.
Where TaxQue can help
The DLC must be authenticated through the official Jeevan Pramaan or authorised assisted-service process. For related pension-income questions, TaxQue can help review TDS, an income-tax return or a refund position separately. Contact TaxQue for tax assistance; use the official pension authority or Jeevan Pramaan support for certificate-generation and acceptance issues.
