Centre to Launch Nationwide Digital Life Certificate Campaign for Pensioners

In a major move aimed at simplifying pension management for senior citizens, the Government of India is set to launch the fourth edition of the Digital Life Certificate (DLC) campaign, running from November 1 to 30, 2025. The nationwide initiative seeks to ensure seamless submission of life certificates by pensioners, helping them receive uninterrupted pension payments.

Life certificate for pensioners | Economic Times

Streamlining Pension Verification

The Digital Life Certificate is a critical document that serves as proof of a pensioner’s continued existence. Traditionally, pensioners needed to visit banks or pension offices in person to submit this certificate, a process often cumbersome for the elderly or those with mobility challenges. The DLC system leverages technology to simplify this process, allowing pensioners to submit their certificates digitally, reducing dependency on physical visits and making the process secure, efficient, and hassle-free.

Nationwide Reach and Collaborative Efforts

The 2025 campaign, dubbed DLC Campaign 4.0, will cover 2,000 districts and sub-divisional headquarters, ensuring accessibility even in remote areas. Spearheaded by the Department of Pension & Pensioners’ Welfare (DoPPW), the initiative involves collaboration between 19 pension disbursing banks, India Post Payments Bank (IPPB), Pensioners’ Welfare Associations, UIDAI, Railways, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, and other central ministries and departments.

To maximize reach, IPPB will deploy its network of 1.8 lakh postmen and Gramin Dak Sewaks to conduct DLC camps, offering doorstep services to pensioners, regardless of their bank affiliation. The use of biometric technologies, including fingerprint and facial recognition, will facilitate secure and efficient submission, further enhancing accessibility for elderly citizens.

Awareness and Participation

The government is undertaking a robust awareness campaign to ensure maximum participation. Pensioners will be informed via SMS, WhatsApp, social media, banners, and local media coverage. Moreover, 57 registered Pensioners’ Welfare Associations will play a key role in mobilizing pensioners and coordinating DLC camps with banks and IPPB.

This structured outreach has proven effective in previous campaigns. During the third edition of the DLC campaign, over 1.62 crore digital life certificates were generated, including more than 50 lakh using face authentication technology, across 1,900 camps in 800 districts. This success reflects the effective collaboration between banks, IPPB, ministries, and welfare associations.

Technological Empowerment for Pensioners

The campaign highlights the government’s push towards digital empowerment for senior citizens. By using modern authentication methods, the DLC system ensures both security and convenience, while drastically reducing the administrative burden on banks and pension disbursing offices. Elderly pensioners, who often face physical or logistical difficulties, can now avail these services with ease, sometimes even from their doorstep.

The MGMM Outlook

The Government of India’s upcoming fourth edition of the Digital Life Certificate (DLC) campaign marks a significant step in simplifying pension management for senior citizens. Scheduled from November 1 to 30, 2025, the initiative aims to make the submission of life certificates seamless, ensuring uninterrupted pension payments. Traditionally, pensioners had to visit banks or pension offices in person—a process that posed challenges, especially for the elderly or those with limited mobility. The DLC system addresses this by enabling digital submission, reducing reliance on physical visits while ensuring security, efficiency, and convenience.

DLC Campaign 4.0 will span 2,000 districts and sub-divisional headquarters, reaching even the most remote areas through collaboration with 19 pension disbursing banks, India Post Payments Bank (IPPB), UIDAI, Railways, and various central ministries. Leveraging IPPB’s extensive network of postmen and Gramin Dak Sewaks, the campaign will provide doorstep services, supported by biometric authentication technologies such as fingerprint and facial recognition. With robust awareness drives via SMS, WhatsApp, social media, and Pensioners’ Welfare Associations, the initiative reflects a blend of technology and outreach designed to empower senior citizens, streamline administrative processes, and make pension services more accessible than ever before.

(Sources: Hindustan Times, Press Information Bureau, Economic Times)