Jeevan Pramaan: How to Help Your Parent Submit a Digital Life Certificate

If your parent receives a pension in India, they need to submit a life certificate every year to show the pension should continue. Jeevan Pramaan, the Government of India's Digital Life Certificate, lets them do this without visiting the bank in person. Many pensioners now do it on a smartphone using face authentication.

This guide explains when it's due, what's needed and the ways to submit it, including how you can help if you live abroad.

When is it due?

According to the official Jeevan Pramaan procedure document↗ (opens in a new tab), pensioners are required to give a life certificate to their pension disbursing agency, such as their bank or post office, in November every year.

A 2021 government release describes↗ (opens in a new tab) an exclusive window from 1 October for pensioners aged 80 and above, so they can avoid the rush from 1 November.

The Department of Pension and Pensioners' Welfare also runs a nationwide Digital Life Certificate campaign each November. In 2025 it covered more than 2,000 cities and towns↗ (opens in a new tab), with banks and India Post Payments Bank helping pensioners on the spot and at home.

What you'll need

The official procedure lists these prerequisites:

• The pensioner's Aadhaar number.
• A mobile number to receive an OTP.
• The pensioner's Aadhaar already registered with the pension disbursing agency (bank, post office, etc.).
• Internet access, and a supported device if doing it yourself.

During the process you'll also be asked for details such as the PPO (Pension Payment Order) number, type of pension, the sanctioning authority, the disbursing agency and the bank account number. Gather these in advance. They're usually on pension papers or can be confirmed with the bank.

Four ways to submit it

1. On a smartphone, using face authentication

The government has promoted Aadhaar-based face authentication since 2021, so pensioners can submit from home using a smartphone. In the 2025 campaign, a 2026 government release reported↗ (opens in a new tab) that over 60% of digital life certificates were generated this way.

The official Android user manual↗ (opens in a new tab) lists:

• An Android phone running version 9.0 or above, not rooted.
• A camera of 5 megapixels or more, for face authentication.
• Internet access, and enough free storage.

The steps, in outline:

1. Install the AadhaarFaceRD app from the Google Play Store. It has no icon. The manual notes it appears under Settings → App info.
2. Install the Jeevan Pramaan app.
3. Operator authentication. This is a one-time step for the device. The manual notes that the pensioner can be the operator.
4. Pensioner authentication. Enter the pensioner's Aadhaar and mobile number and the OTP, fill in the pension details, and scan the pensioner's face.

The Jeevan Pramaan website also publishes a user manual for the face authentication app on iPhones (iOS)↗ (opens in a new tab).

Tips for a smooth face scan: good, even light on the face; glasses off if they cause glare; phone held steady at eye level; and patience, as it may take a couple of tries.

2. At a bank, post office or Citizen Service Centre

The official procedure says pensioners can visit a nearby Citizen Service Centre or a designated government office or bank to generate a digital life certificate, and may pay a nominal fee. The Jeevan Pramaan website has a locator for centres.

3. Doorstep service

For pensioners who find it hard to go out:

• The Reserve Bank of India has asked banks↗ (opens in a new tab) to offer doorstep services to customers over 70 and to differently abled people, including submitting life certificates at home. Availability and charges vary by bank, so ask your parent's bank.
• In the 2025 campaign, a government release reported that India Post Payments Bank provided doorstep digital life certificate services to super-senior and differently abled pensioners.

4. On a computer with a biometric device

The original method uses a fingerprint or iris scanner connected to a Windows PC or Android device. Most families will find options 1 to 3 easier.

Helping from abroad

Authentication uses your parent's own Aadhaar biometrics, so you can't submit the certificate for them from another country. You can still make it much easier:

• Before November, check with your parent which pension they receive, which bank pays it, and where the PPO number is written.
• Set up the apps on a visit home, if your parent has a suitable phone. See our checklist for your visit home.
• Guide them on a video call through the steps, ideally with a second phone so you can see the screen.
• Ask a local relative or trusted neighbour to sit with them. The manual notes the operator step is separate from the pensioner's own authentication.
• Book a doorstep service through the bank or India Post Payments Bank if your parent can't use a phone easily.
• Don't leave it to the last week of November. Aim for the start of the window, so there's time to try another method if something goes wrong.

After submission

Keep a note or screenshot of the confirmation shown when the certificate is generated. The official procedure explains that the digital life certificate is stored online, where both the pensioner and the pension disbursing agency can access it. If you're not sure it has been received, check with the bank.

Beware of scams

Treat any call or message saying a pension will stop unless details are shared with suspicion. Remind your parent:

• Never share an OTP or Aadhaar details with callers, even if they claim to be from a bank or the government.
• Use only the official app from the official store, or go to the bank directly.
• When in doubt, call you or the bank's official number before doing anything.