Sanjeev Kumar Sharma
newbegining1234@gmail.com
Gone are the days when pensioners had to endure long queues and make repeated trips to bank branches to submit their life certificates. For years, many elderly citizens faced the stressful prospect of rushing to offices before deadlines, knowing that missing them often meant suspension of their pension. Add to that the challenges of age-related ailments, poor health, and difficulties travelling long distances, and the process often caused undue anxiety and hardship for senior citizens. Thankfully, those troublesome days are swiftly becoming a thing of the past as digital technology ushers in a new era of ease, comfort, and dignity for pensioners across Jammu and Kashmir.
The Finance Department of the Union Territory has wholeheartedly embraced this digital transformation. Partnering with J&K Bank, the department is promoting the use of the Jeevan Pramaan App, which enables pensioners to generate their life certificates online, from the comfort of their homes. This effort aligns with the Government of India’s nationwide drive-the 4th Nationwide Digital Life Certificate Campaign-running from November 1 to 30, 2025. This ambitious initiative covers over 2,000 districts with a clear focus on empowering pensioners who are elderly, ailing, or living in remote and inaccessible areas.
How does this work? Pensioners authenticate their existence through Aadhaar-based biometrics using the Jeevan Pramaan app and the Aadhaar Face RD application. Upon successful verification, the Digital Life Certificate is generated automatically. This milestone marks an end to the era when senior citizens had to physically visit offices just to prove they were alive, thereby simplifying the entire pension verification process.
In Jammu and Kashmir, awareness campaigns and facilitation kiosks set up in collaboration with J&K Bank have boosted pensioners’ adoption of this technology. For those who are comfortable using smartphones, the process is straightforward-download the Jeevan Pramaan and Aadhaar Face RD apps, authenticate using an Aadhaar-linked OTP, and complete a quick face scan. Subsequently, a confirmation slip containing the Pramaan ID and PPO number is generated, which pensioners can view or download anytime from the official website https://jeevanpramaan.gov.in.
This shift represents a significant step under the government’s comprehensive e governance agenda, emphasizing transparency, efficiency, and citizen convenience. For senior citizens who have dedicated their lives to public service, this initiative restores dignity and eases the process of receiving their rightful pensions. The response from pensioners has been heartening, with many appreciating the removal of physical signatures and paperwork, thanks to Aadhaar-based face authentication. Particularly in districts like Kupwara, Kishtwar, and Poonch, where remoteness posed barriers, this digital reach translates into a revolutionary improvement in service delivery.
Beyond modernizing administrative systems, the government’s “Ease of Living for Pensioners” initiative focuses on restoring comfort and dignity in pensioners’ twilight years. This is achieved through accessible technology, online verification, and doorstep services, replacing tedious and physically demanding procedures with clicks and face scans-a true human-centred digital evolution.
Last year, the Finance Department undertook a comprehensive physical verification of pensioners across the region. This mammoth task involved digitizing pensioners’ data and reconciling records with banks. Treasury staff conducted door-to-door verification for the elderly and critically ill, which laid the foundation for now seamlessly switching to digital submission of life certificates. Today, banking officials from J&K Bank and Treasury Officers across all districts are fully geared to make this digital transition successful.
For pensioners wondering how to generate their Digital Life Certificates, the process is user-friendly and systematic:
1. Download the Aadhaar Face RD App from Google Play Store or App Store (issued by UIDAI).
2. Install the Jeevan Pramaan App from the Play Store after installing the Face RD app.
3. Open the Jeevan Pramaan App, navigate to Operator Authentication, and enter Aadhaar number, mobile number, and email ID.
4. Authenticate using the OTP sent to the registered mobile number and email.
5. Enter name as per the Aadhaar card and proceed to the face scan.
6. Post-operator authentication, go to Pensioner Authentication, re-enter Aadhaar and mobile number, and verify with OTP.
7. Input pension details including name, type of pension, sanctioning authority, disbursing agency, PPO number, and bank account number.
8. Provide consent and complete the biometric face scan.
9. Once the scan is successful, a confirmation message with your Pramaan ID and PPO number will appear.
10. To download your certificate anytime, visit https://jeevanpramaan.gov.in/, log in under Pensioner login, and enter your Jeevan Pramaan ID.
This straightforward procedure significantly reduces the dependency on physical interactions and brings much-needed convenience to pensioners.
Prior to promoting digital life certificates this year, the Finance Department has also launched the Pension Suvidha Portal, setting another milestone in digitizing pension management in Jammu and Kashmir. This portal revolutionizes the pension process by enabling online application submissions, pension sanctioning, and post-retirement service tracking-dramatically cutting down paperwork and manual workload.
Among its notable features are early SMS and email alerts sent eight months prior to retirement, integration with JKHRMS&JKPaySysfor seamless access to service records, and real-time tracking of application statuses. The portal supports online submission of life certificates through Jeevan Pramaan and ensures timely issuance of Pension Payment Orders (PPOs). It also addresses issues such as duplicate payments or pensions disbursed after death, thereby increasing transparency and accountability.
From the days of waiting tensely in long queues and multiple office visits, Jammu and Kashmir’s pensioners are now witnessing a smoother, faster, and more dignified pension process. This digital revolution, combining technology with human sensitivity, marks an inspiring chapter in public service delivery-assuring that those who served the region with dedication can now retire with peace of mind and respect.
(The author is presently serving as AAO in Finance Department of UT of J&K)
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