Jeevan Praman, a digital life certificate linked to Aadhaar unique identity number, introduced
Moulishree Srivastava
Daily Newsletter Breaking News Latest News 04:55 PM IST
As many as 5 million individuals draw pension from the central government and a similar number from state and Union Territory governments, official data shows.
Photo: Mint
New Delhi: Soon, pensioners may not have to produce life certificates every year to claim pension, with the government introducing Jeevan Praman, a digital life certificate linked to the Aadhaar unique identity number. As of now, pensioners must either physically collect pension or submit every November a life certificate issued by authorities specified by the Central Pension Accounting Office.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, while launching the scheme, said after the push towards self-certification, this digital life certificate was another enabling mechanism which would benefit the common man.
Jeevan Praman will eventually benefit over 10 million pensioners in the country, he said. This system will enable the recording of a pensioner’s Aadhaar number and biometric details from a mobile device or a computer by plugging in a biometric reading device. The key details for the pensioners will be uploaded to a central database on real-time basis, thus enabling the pension disbursing agency to access a digital life certificate, which will serve as proof that the pensioner alive and entitled.
The software application system, developed by the department of electronics and information technology (IT), will be made available to pensioners and other stakeholders on a large scale at no extra cost, said a government statement. While it can be operated on a personal computer or a smartphone by using a biometric reading device, the facility will also be available at common service centres being operated under the national e-governance olan.
As many as 5 million individuals draw pension from the central government and a similar number from state and Union Territory governments, official data shows. Over 2.5 million retired personnel draw pension from the armed forces, in addition to several public sector units providing pension benefits.