Over 1.25 crore pensioners in the country will no longer be required to submit physical proof of being alive every November, thanks to an Aadhaar-based digital certification system soon.

On Monday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched a new system called ‘Jeevan Pramaan,’ another initiative in line with self-certification. At present, there are around 50 lakh Central Government pensioners, with a similar number drawing pensions in States and Union Territories. In addition, over 25 lakh retired personnel draw pension from the Armed Forces, while several public sector undertakings also provide pension to retired employees.

Under the new system, a software will help senior citizens to ensure continuity of pension being credited into his/her account. The software application has been developed by the Department of Electronics and Information Technology and will record the pensioner's Aadhaar number and biometric details. Pensioners can record this from his/her home or any other place.

However, pensioners will have to take a biometric reading device and connect it to their smart phone or computer. They will also be required to install an application on their handset/computer. The Government said that the reading device is inexpensive while the software will be provided at no extra cost.

As a pensioner plugs in the reading device with his mobile handset/computer, his/her key details, such as date, time, and biometric information, will be uploaded to a central database on real-time basis. This will enable the Pension Disbursing Agency to access a Digital Life Certificate, which will conclusively establish that a pensioner was alive at the time of authentication.

The earlier requirement entailed that a pensioner either personally presents himself before the Pension Disbursing Agency, or submits a Life Certificate issued by the authorities specified by the Central Pension Accounting Office (CPAO). Now, the Aadhar-Based Digital Life Certificate will go a long way in reducing hardship of many senior citizens who have to produce a Life Certificate every year.

If a pensioner does not have a mobile phone or computer, he/she can use this facility at Common Service Centres being operated under the National e-Governance Plan. This will benefit pensioners in remote and inaccessible areas.

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