DIGITAL LIFE CERTIFICATE (JEEVAN PRAMAAN)

TAG: GS-3: ECONOMIC & GS-2: SOCIAL ISSUES

CONTEXT:  Digital Life Certificate (DLC) Campaign Pensioners must submit life certificates every year, usually in November, to ensure their pension continues without interruption. This process confirms that the pensioner is still alive and eligible for payment. It simplifies pension verification through online and biometric authentication, thereby increasing convenience for pensioners.

EXPLANATION:

About Digital Life Certificate (Jeevan Pramaan):

• • The Digital Life Certificate (DLC) initiative, known as Jeevan Pramaan, was introduced in 2014 by the Government of India to streamline the process for pensioners to submit their life certificates.
  • “Jeevan Pramaan” – an “Aadhar-based Digital Life Certificate” for pensioners. It is a move that could eventually benefit over a crore pensioner.
  • Jeevan Pramana is one of the main requisites for the pensioners to avail pension is to provide Life Certificates (LCs).
  • This innovation addresses the inconvenience senior citizens face, who previously had to visit pension-disbursing offices (such as banks, post offices, or treasury offices) in person or send a physical life certificate to verify their living status.
  • The Digital Life Certificate for Pensioners Scheme of the Government, known as Jeevan Pramaan, is a biometric-enabled digital pension service.
  • The Jeevan Pramaan initiative leverages digital technology to make the process hassle-free and efficient.
  • Maharashtra leads in DLC production, followed by Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh and Karnataka.

Benefits:

• • Pensioners of the Central Government, State Government, or any other Government organization can take benefit of this facility.
  • It is not available to remarried or reemployed Pensioners. They are required to submit the life certificate the conventional way to their pension disbursing authority.
    • Eliminates the need for physical visits.
    • Reduces delays in pension disbursal.
    • Promotes transparency and efficiency in pension management.
    • Offers convenience, particularly to pensioners in rural or remote areas.

Pensioner Statistics and DLC Performance:

Pensioner Data:

• • Majority of DLCs generated for pensioners aged 60-70 (45%), followed by 70-80 (28%), and below 60 (21%).
  • India has 64.88 lakh central government pensioners as of March 31, 2023.
  • Includes Defence, Railways, telecom, and postal pensioners.
  • 48.10 lakh DLCs generated between November 1-11, 2024.
  • Fingerprint authentication preferred by 63% of pensioners, while face authentication use rose to 31%.
  • Most submissions from pensioners aged 60-70 years.

How Jeevan Pramaan Works:

• • Submission Options: Pensioners can use the Jeevan Pramaan Portal, a mobile app, or visit designated centers like Common Service Centres (CSCs), banks, or post offices equipped with the required facilities.
  • Acknowledgment: Pensioners receive an SMS acknowledgment on their registered mobile number with their Jeevan Pramaan Certificate ID
  • Certificate generation: After successful authentication, a DLC is generated and stored in the Life Certificate Repository
  • Download a PDF copy of the certificate from the Jeevan Pramaan website using their Jeevan Pramaan ID or Aadhaar number

• • • Have the DLC electronically delivered to their Pension Disbursing Agency (PDA)

• • Biometric Authentication: The pensioner’s identity is verified using Aadhaar-based biometric authentication, which ensures accuracy and reduces fraud.

Source:

https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/in-life-certificate-month-how-govts-jeevan-pramaan-has-been-faring-9672250/