Jeevan Pramaan -- Digital Life Certificate via Aadhaar Face Authentication

Overview

Jeevan Pramaan is a biometric-enabled digital service operated by the Government of India that allows pensioners to submit annual life certificates (proof of life) remotely using Aadhaar-based face authentication on Android smartphones. The system was originally introduced in November 2014 by the Department of Pension and Pensioners' Welfare (DoPPW) under the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions, enabling pensioners to generate Digital Life Certificates (DLCs) through biometric authentication (fingerprint or iris scan) via the Aadhaar platform, thereby eliminating the requirement to physically present themselves before pension disbursing authorities. In 2021, DoPPW, in collaboration with the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) and the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI), introduced face authentication technology as an additional biometric modality, which was formally launched in July 2022.

The face authentication capability requires pensioners to install two applications on their Android smartphones: the AadhaarFaceRd app (developed and published on Google Play Store by UIDAI) and the Jeevan Pramaan Face App (developed by the National Informatics Centre, NIC, under MeitY). The AadhaarFaceRd app functions as a Registered Device (Face RD) service that captures the pensioner's live facial image through the smartphone's front camera. The captured image is then matched against the pensioner's facial biometric data stored in UIDAI's Aadhaar database. The system incorporates liveness detection to guard against video replay attacks and static photograph spoofing attempts. Upon successful face authentication, the Jeevan Pramaan app generates a Digital Life Certificate that is stored in the central Life Certificate Repository, from which the pension disbursing agency (bank, post office, or government department) can retrieve it electronically.

The authentication process involves a two-tier workflow. First, an operator (who may be the pensioner themselves or a facilitator such as a bank official, postman, or Common Service Centre operator) authenticates via their Aadhaar-linked mobile number. Second, the pensioner's identity is verified through Aadhaar-based face authentication. The pensioner provides their Aadhaar number (or Virtual ID), Pension Payment Order number, bank account details, bank name, and mobile number. The system requires an Android smartphone running version 7.0 or above (un-rooted device), with at least 4 GB RAM, 500 MB free storage, a 5-megapixel or higher camera, and an active internet connection.

The Employees' Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO), which manages pensions for over 78 lakh beneficiaries under the Employees' Pension Scheme (EPS), has been a major adopter of the face authentication feature. EPFO reports that face-authentication-based DLC submissions increased from approximately 2.1 lakh in FY 2022-23 to approximately 6.6 lakh in FY 2023-24, representing approximately 200 percent year-on-year growth. These 6.6 lakh submissions represented approximately 10 percent of the roughly 60 lakh total digital life certificates received by EPFO during FY 2023-24. Across all pension disbursing agencies, the scale is significantly larger: Campaign 2.0 in November 2023 generated 1.47 crore (14.7 million) digital life certificates across 597 locations in 100 cities, with 25.41 lakh (2.54 million) DLCs submitted using face authentication. As of the Jeevan Pramaan portal's own reporting, over 12.06 crore (120.6 million) certificates have been submitted since 2014.

DoPPW has organised annual nationwide campaigns to promote DLC adoption. Campaign 1.0 in 2022 covered 37 locations and generated 1.41 crore certificates. Campaign 2.0 in 2023 expanded to 100 locations. Campaign 3.0, launched on 6 November 2024 by Dr Jitendra Singh, Minister of State, ran from 1 to 30 November 2024 and was described as the largest-ever digital empowerment campaign, covering 800 districts and cities with 1,900 camp locations, 1,000 nodal officers, and participation from 19 pension-disbursing banks across 750-plus locations. India Post Payments Bank provided doorstep service through 1.8 lakh postmen across 785 districts. Special provisions were made for super-senior and disabled pensioners, including home and hospital visits. Over 30,500 pensioners aged 90 and above participated in Campaign 2.0.

The system serves pensioners from Central Government, State Governments, Union Territories, public sector enterprises, armed forces, and defence services. The underlying regulatory framework includes the Aadhaar (Targeted Delivery of Financial and Other Subsidies, Benefits and Services) Act 2016, the Aadhaar (Authentication and Offline Verification) Regulations 2021, and DoPPW operational guidelines for nationwide DLC campaigns. Authentication is performed against UIDAI's centralised Aadhaar database, with the Aadhaar Face RD app functioning as a UIDAI-certified Registered Device. The system uses end-to-end encryption and does not store new facial images on the device after authentication.

Classification

Programme Details

Jeevan Pramaan is the Government of India's biometric-enabled digital service for pensioners to submit annual life certificates (proof of life) to pension disbursing agencies. Originally requiring fingerprint or iris biometric devices, the system was enhanced in 2021-2022 with Aadhaar-based face authentication enabling contactless submission via Android smartphone. The service covers pensioners from Central Government, State Governments, EPFO/EPS, armed forces, and public sector enterprises.

Implementation Details

Risk & Oversight

Deployment & Outcomes

Sources

1. SRC-004-IND-003 Jeevan Pramaan (no date) 'Digital Life Certificate for Pensioners'. New Delhi: Department of Electronics & Information Technology (DeitY), Government of India. Available at: https://jeevanpramaan.gov.in/ (Accessed: 24 March 2026).
   https://jeevanpramaan.gov.in/
2. SRC-005-IND-003 EPFO (2022) 'Jeevan Pramaan Face App for Android Mobile Phones: User Manual'. New Delhi: Employees' Provident Fund Organisation. Available at: https://www.epfindia.gov.in/site_docs/PDFs/Circulars/Y2022-2023/User+Manual+(2).pdf (Accessed: 24 March 2026).
   https://www.epfindia.gov.in/site_docs/PDFs/Circulars/Y2022-2023/User+Manual+(2).pdf
3. SRC-001-IND-003 Press Information Bureau (2024) 'Use of Facial Authentication Technology by the EPS pensioners for Digital Life Certificate Submission', Press Release PRID 2023558. New Delhi: Government of India. Available at: https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2023558 (Accessed: 24 March 2026).
   https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2023558
4. SRC-002-IND-003 Press Information Bureau (2024) 'PIB Statement on Nationwide Campaign for Digital Life Certificate 3.0', Press Release PRID 2071463. New Delhi: Government of India. Available at: https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleaseIframePage.aspx?PRID=2071463 (Accessed: 24 March 2026).
   https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleaseIframePage.aspx?PRID=2071463
5. SRC-003-IND-003 Press Information Bureau (2024) 'Dr. Jitendra Singh, MOS to Launch Nationwide Digital Life Certificate Campaign 3.0 on November 6, 2024 at National Media Centre, New Delhi', Press Release PRID 2070861. New Delhi: Government of India. Available at: https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2070861 (Accessed: 24 March 2026).
   https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2070861