INTRODUCTION
A life certificate (Digital Life Certificate/ Manual Life Certificate) is a document that proves that a pensioner is alive and eligible to receive a pension. It is required by the pension disbursing agencies (PDAs) such as banks, post offices, etc. to ensure that the pension is not paid to a deceased person or a fraudster.
Traditionally, pensioners have to physically present themselves before the PDAs (Banks, Post offices etc) or get a life certificate issued by a designated authority and submit it to the PDAs every year. This can be a hard and uncomfortable thing to do, especially for the old and weak pensioners who may have to go far away or have problems getting the certificate.
To overcome this problem, the Government of India has introduced digital platforms such as Jeevan Pramaan and SPARSH that enable pensioners to submit their life certificates online using Aadhaar or other modes of identification. These platforms use biometric authentication or face recognition to verify the identity and existence of the pensioners and generate a digital life certificate that is stored in a central repository and accessed by the PDAs.
In this article, we will explain the types, benefits, and steps of submitting a digital life certificate and share some tips and resources for defence pensioners to make the transition easier.
UNDERSTANDING PDAs AND PSAs
Pension Disbursing Authority (PDA) and Pension Sanctioning Authority (PSA) are two different entities involved in the pension processing and payment of government pensioners.
Pension Disbursing Authority (PDA): PDA is the agency that is responsible for disbursing the pension to the pensioners. It can be a bank, a post office, or any other authorized institution. PDA accesses the digital life certificate of the pensioners from the central repository and ensures timely and error-free pension disbursement.
Pension Sanctioning Authority(PSA): PSA is the authority that is responsible for sanctioning the pension to the pensioners. It can be a ministry, a department, or any other organization. PSA verifies the pension documents of the pensioners and issues the pension payment order (PPO) to the PDA.
TYPES OF LIFE CERTIFICATE
There are two types of life certificates: Manual and Digital.
Manual life certificate: This is the traditional way of submitting a life certificate. It involves getting a physical copy of the certificate from a designated authority such as a gazetted officer, a bank manager, a magistrate, etc. and submitting it to the PDA in person or by post. The certificate has to be submitted every year, usually in November.
Digital life certificate: This is a new and improved way of submitting life-certificates. It involves using a digital platform such as Jeevan Pramaan or SPARSH to submit the certificate online using Aadhaar or other modes of identification. The certificate is generated instantly and stored in a central repository and accessed by the PDA. The certificate can be submitted anytime during the year.
BENEFITS OF DIGITAL LIFE CERTIFICATE
There are many benefits of using digital platforms to submit life certificate, such as:
Convenience: Pensioners do not have to visit the PDA or the designated authority physically or send the certificate by post. They can submit the certificate from the comfort of their home or any nearby service centre using a smartphone, tablet, laptop, or biometric device.
Security: Pensioners do not have to share their personal or financial details with anyone. The digital platforms use Aadhaar or other modes of identification to verify the identity and existence of the pensioners and generate a unique digital life certificate number that is encrypted and secure.
Hassle-free pension disbursement: Pensioners do not have to worry about delays or errors in pension payments due to missing or incorrect life certificates. The digital platforms ensure that the life certificate is updated in the PDA’s system and the pension is disbursed smoothly and timely.
WAYS TO SUBMIT DIGITAL LIFE CERTIFICATE
There are two main digital platforms that pensioners can use to submit their life-certificate: Jeevan Pramaan and SPARSH.
JEEVAN PRAMAAN
Jeevan Pramaan is a biometric-enabled digital service for pensioners of the Central Government, State Government, or any other Government organization. It uses Aadhaar for the biometric authentication of pensioners. Defence pensioners can use their Aadhaar number and biometrics, such as fingerprint or eye scan, online to verify that they are alive. They do not have to travel anywhere or mail anything. They can do this from their home or any nearby centre that offers Jeevan Pramaan service. Click here to visit Jeevan Pramaan website.
Step by Step guide to submit a digital life certificate using Jeevan Pramaan
SPARSH
SPARSH is a digital platform for pensioners of the Armed Forces viz. Army, Navy, Air Force, and Defence Civilians. It uses Aadhaar or other modes of identification such as a Manual life certificate (MLC) or Jeevan Pramaan to submit a digital life certificate.
MLC and DLC are two ways of submitting digital life certificates on the SPARSH portal. MLC stands for Manual Life Certificate, which is a physical copy of the certificate that is uploaded on the portal. DLC stands for Digital Life Certificate, which is a certificate that is generated online using Aadhaar or Jeevan Pramaan. MLC requires face recognition, while DLC requires biometric authentication. Both MLC and DLC are stored in a central repository and accessed by the pension disbursing agencies. Click here to visit SPARSH portal
Step by Step guide submit a life certificate using SPARSH
TIPS AND RESOURCES FOR DEFENCE PENSIONERS
To make the transition from manual to digital life certificate easier, here are some tips and resources for defence pensioners:
- Update your mobile number, Aadhaar number, PAN, and bank account details with the PDA Pension Disbursing Authority) and the pension sanctioning authority (PSA) to ensure smooth communication and pension payment.
- Find a mentor or a friend who has already used the digital platforms to submit a life certificate and seek their guidance and support.
- Utilize the support services and programs offered by the Ministry of Defence, the Department of Ex-Servicemen Welfare, the Kendriya Sainik Board, and various ex-servicemen associations for veterans. These include pension grievance redressal, welfare schemes, skill development, health care, education, employment, etc.
- Visit the official websites of Jeevan Pramaan and SPARSH for more information, FAQs, user manuals, videos, and helpline numbers.
CONCLUSION
A digital-life-certificate is a convenient, secure, and hassle-free way of submitting a life-certificate for pensioners. It eliminates the need to physically visit the PDA or the designated authority and ensures timely and error-free pension disbursement. Defence pensioners can use Jeevan Pramaan or SPARSH to submit their life-certificates online using Aadhaar or other modes of identification. They can also avail of various tips and resources to make the transition easier and access various pension-related services. We encourage all defence pensioners to use digital platforms to submit their life-certificates and enjoy the benefits of digital India.
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