Download the official documentÂ
More than 20.48 lakh defence pensioners have successfully submitted their Digital Life Certificates (DLCs) under the Nationwide Digital Life Certificate Campaign 5.0, according to the Ministry of Defence.
In an official announcement dated 12 November 2026, the Controller General of Defence Accounts (CGDA) confirmed that the figure, recorded as of 11 November, was the highest among participating government departments.
The nationwide campaign runs from 1 to 30 November 2026, with special assistance for elderly pensioners, family pensioners and persons with disabilities.
A major development is the availability of support through 194 SPARSH Service Centres, lakhs of Common Service Centres and a special outreach camp scheduled in Kochi.
20.48 Lakh Defence Pensioners Complete Digital Life Certification
The Ministry of Defence has reported significant participation in the ongoing pension verification campaign.
The latest figures are:
The achievement reflects the scale of annual pension identification across the defence pension system.
However, 20.48 lakh is the number reported during the campaign as of 11 November, not the total number of defence pensioners requiring annual identification.
The figure is expected to change as further submissions are processed during November.
How Can Defence Pensioners Submit a Digital Life Certificate?
A Digital Life Certificate is an electronic method of confirming a pensioner’s continued eligibility for pension payment through annual identification.
The Government is promoting Aadhaar-based Face Authentication through the Jeevan Pramaan system, allowing eligible pensioners to complete the process using a compatible smartphone.
The main advantage is that pensioners can authenticate their identity without using an external fingerprint scanner.
This facility is particularly helpful for elderly pensioners whose fingerprints may be difficult to recognise through biometric devices.
The Ministry of Defence reports that more than 80% of Digital Life Certificates generated under the campaign have used face authentication.
Pensioners seeking to use this facility should ensure they have the necessary identification details, a compatible smartphone and access to the official applications.
Official portal: https://jeevanpramaan.gov.in/
Where Can Pensioners Get Assistance?
Pensioners who cannot complete their Digital Life Certificate independently can obtain assistance through the outreach network mobilised by the Defence Accounts Department.
The support network is intended to reduce difficulties faced by super-senior citizens, differently-abled veterans and family pensioners who may have trouble travelling or using digital services.
Important: Pensioners should verify the availability of the required service at their chosen branch or centre before visiting.
Kochi Mega Digital Life Certificate Camp on 23 November 2026
The CGDA has announced a Mega Digital Life Certificate Camp in Kochi on 23 November 2026.
The camp will provide on-the-spot assistance to eligible defence pensioners and family pensioners who need help generating their life certificates.
The 12 November PIB release does not specify the exact venue, reporting time or detailed programme schedule.
Pensioners intending to attend should obtain these details from the concerned defence pension authorities before travelling.
The Government has prioritised convenient identification for pensioners with reduced mobility and those who may be unfamiliar with smartphone-based authentication.
Before submitting a certificate, pensioners should check that their pension identification details are correct.
They should also:
Use official Jeevan Pramaan or authorised SPARSH services.
Keep their PPO or relevant pension identification details available.
Ensure that the necessary Aadhaar-linked information is accurate.
Retain the acknowledgement or certificate reference after successful submission.
Seek assistance through recognised service centres if face authentication fails.
A failed authentication attempt should not be treated as automatic rejection of pension eligibility. Affected pensioners should seek assistance through an authorised identification channel.
How Has SPARSH Outreach Expanded?
The Defence Accounts Department has also released updated information on its pension administration and grievance-resolution activities.
As of October 2026, approximately 35.11 lakh defence pensioners had been onboarded onto SPARSH.
The department reported 301 SPARSH Outreach Programmes and 204 Raksha Pension Samadhan Aayojans, through which more than 8,000 grievances were resolved on the spot.
These figures illustrate the broader effort to improve pension administration and provide direct assistance to beneficiaries.
For comparison, the Defence Accounts Department generated more than 20.94 lakh Digital Life Certificates during the November 2025 campaign. That was a completed campaign figure, whereas the November 2026 figure is an interim count.
Sources
1. Ministry of Defence — Controller General of Defence Accounts
Date: 12 November 2026
Subject: Over 20 lakh defence pensioners complete Digital Life Certification under National DLC Campaign 5.0
https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleseDetailm.aspx?PRID=2335578&lang=1®=3
2. Department of Pension & Pensioners’ Welfare
Subject: Nationwide Digital Life Certificate Campaign 5.0, November 2026
https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleaseIframePage.aspx?PRID=2330361&lang=2®=48
3. Jeevan Pramaan — Government of India
4. SPARSH — Defence Pension Portal
Leave a Reply