Jeevan Pramaan — How to Get Digital Life Certificate Online for Pensioners

What is Jeevan Pramaan?

Jeevan Pramaan is the Digital Life Certificate (DLC) scheme launched by the Government of India in November 2014. It allows pensioners to submit their annual "proof of life" digitally — without visiting the pension office in person.

Every year, pensioners must prove they are alive so that their pension continues. Earlier, this required physically going to the bank or pension office. With Jeevan Pramaan, you can do this from home using your Aadhaar number and biometric authentication (fingerprint, iris scan, or face recognition).

The system is developed by the Department of Electronics and IT (DeitY), Government of India, and works through the Aadhaar (UIDAI) platform.

Who Needs a Life Certificate?

You need to submit a life certificate every year if you receive a pension from any of these:

• Central Government (civil or defence pensioners)
• State Government pensioners
• EPFO (Employees' Provident Fund Organisation) pensioners
• Bank pensioners or pensioners whose pension is disbursed through banks
• Post Office pensioners
• Any other government organisation that requires annual life certificate

Note: The life certificate is usually required once a year, typically in November. Some agencies may have different deadlines — check with your Pension Disbursing Agency (PDA).

Details Required

Before you start, keep these details ready:

1. Aadhaar Number — Your 12-digit Aadhaar number (must be linked to your pension account)
2. PPO Number — Pension Payment Order number (found on your pension documents)
3. Bank Account Number — The account where your pension is credited
4. Bank Name and Branch
5. Mobile Number — Registered with Aadhaar (you will receive an OTP or confirmation SMS)
6. Pension Disbursing Agency — Name of the agency (e.g., SBI, CPAO, Treasury, etc.)
7. Biometric Device — Fingerprint scanner, iris scanner, or a smartphone with a front camera (for face authentication)

Method 1: Generate via Jeevan Pramaan App (At Home)

This is the easiest method if you have an Android smartphone or a computer with a biometric device.

On Android Phone (Face Authentication)

1. Open Google Play Store on your phone
2. Search for "Jeevan Pramaan" and install the official app
3. Open the app and tap "Generate DLC"
4. Enter your Aadhaar Number
5. Enter your Mobile Number registered with Aadhaar
6. Enter your PPO Number
7. Select your Pension Disbursing Agency (e.g., SBI, PNB, CPAO)
8. Enter your Bank Account Number
9. Select authentication method — choose Face Authentication if you don't have a fingerprint device
10. The app will use your phone's front camera for face verification
11. Follow the on-screen instructions (look straight at the camera, remove glasses if asked)
12. Once authentication is successful, your Digital Life Certificate is generated
13. You will receive a Pramaan ID — note it down carefully
14. The certificate is automatically sent to your Pension Disbursing Agency

On Computer (With Fingerprint/Iris Device)

1. Go to https://jeevanpramaan.gov.in
2. Download and install the Jeevan Pramaan software for Windows
3. Connect your biometric device (fingerprint or iris scanner) to the computer
4. Open the software and fill in: Aadhaar Number, PPO Number, Bank Account, Mobile Number, Pension Agency
5. Place your finger on the scanner or look into the iris device
6. After successful Aadhaar authentication, your DLC is generated
7. Note down your Pramaan ID

Method 2: Generate at Common Service Centre (CSC)

If you don't have a smartphone or computer, visit your nearest Common Service Centre (CSC). There are over 4 lakh CSCs across India.

1. Visit your nearest CSC centre (find one at https://csc.gov.in)
2. Tell the operator you want to generate a Jeevan Pramaan / Digital Life Certificate
3. Provide your Aadhaar Number, PPO Number, Bank Account Number, and pension agency details
4. The operator will enter your details in the system
5. You will be asked to provide biometric authentication (fingerprint or iris scan) using the device at the centre
6. After successful authentication, your DLC is generated
7. You will receive a Pramaan ID on your registered mobile number
8. Ask for a printed copy of the certificate for your records

Tip: CSC centres may charge a small service fee (₹30–₹50). Carry your Aadhaar card and pension documents.

Method 3: Generate at Bank or Post Office

Many banks and post offices now offer Jeevan Pramaan generation as a service.

1. Visit your pension-disbursing bank branch or a nearby post office
2. Ask for Digital Life Certificate / Jeevan Pramaan generation
3. Provide your Aadhaar Number, PPO Number, and other pension details
4. The bank/post office staff will use their biometric device to authenticate you
5. Place your finger on the scanner or use iris/face authentication
6. After successful verification, your DLC is generated
7. Note down your Pramaan ID
8. The certificate is automatically shared with your pension agency

Note: Not all bank branches may have this facility. Call your branch in advance to confirm.

Face Authentication (Without Fingerprint Device)

Many senior citizens have worn-out fingerprints or difficulty using biometric devices. The government has introduced face authentication as an alternative.

How Face Authentication Works

1. Open the Jeevan Pramaan app on your Android smartphone
2. Select Face Authentication as your verification method
3. The app will activate your front camera
4. Look straight at the camera with your face clearly visible
5. Follow instructions on screen (blink, turn head slightly if asked — this is a liveness check)
6. The app matches your face with your Aadhaar photo
7. If the match is successful, your certificate is generated

Tips for Face Authentication

• Use in good lighting (natural daylight works best)
• Remove glasses, cap, or mask before scanning
• Keep your face steady and centred in the frame
• Ensure your Aadhaar photo is recent — if your appearance has changed significantly, update your Aadhaar photo first

How to Download Your Certificate

Once your Digital Life Certificate is generated, you can download it anytime:

1. Go to https://jeevanpramaan.gov.in
2. Click on "Download DLC" or "Fetch DLC"
3. Enter your Pramaan ID (received via SMS after generation)
4. Your certificate will be displayed — click Download to save as PDF
5. You can also view your certificate in the Jeevan Pramaan app under "My Certificates"

Important: Keep your Pramaan ID safe. You will need it to download or verify your certificate.

How Pension Agencies Verify It

You don't need to submit the certificate manually to your pension office. Here's how it works:

1. When you generate a DLC, it is stored on the Jeevan Pramaan server (managed by Government of India)
2. Your Pension Disbursing Agency (PDA) — bank, treasury, CPAO, EPFO — can access this server
3. The PDA logs into the Jeevan Pramaan portal and searches for your certificate using your PPO Number or Aadhaar
4. The system confirms that your life certificate has been submitted
5. Your pension continues without interruption

The certificate is valid for one year from the date of generation. You must generate a new one before the next deadline (usually November).

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Is Jeevan Pramaan free?

Yes. Generating a Digital Life Certificate through the Jeevan Pramaan app or website is completely free. CSC centres may charge a nominal service fee of ₹30–₹50.

2. Can someone else generate the certificate on my behalf?

No. The pensioner must be present for biometric authentication (fingerprint, iris, or face). A family member can help operate the app, but the pensioner must personally provide the biometric.

3. My fingerprint is not being recognised. What should I do?

Try iris authentication if a scanner is available, or use face authentication on the Jeevan Pramaan Android app. If all biometric methods fail, visit your bank or pension office for manual life certificate submission.

4. When should I submit my life certificate?

Most pension agencies require it in November every year. However, you can generate a Jeevan Pramaan certificate at any time. Check with your specific pension agency for their deadline.

5. I lost my Pramaan ID. How do I get it again?

You can retrieve it by visiting https://jeevanpramaan.gov.in and using the "Fetch DLC" option with your Aadhaar number. You can also check your SMS history for the original message.

6. Does Jeevan Pramaan work for EPFO pensioners?

Yes. EPFO pensioners can use Jeevan Pramaan to submit their digital life certificate. Select "EPFO" as your Pension Disbursing Agency in the app.

7. What if the Jeevan Pramaan website or app is not working?

The portal sometimes experiences heavy traffic during November. Try again after a few hours, or visit a CSC centre or your bank branch to generate the certificate offline.