In the period 2014-2022 the number of pensioners submitting DLCs in India has increased by 128 times.

In 2021, Face Authentication Technique was developed for the generation of DLCs. Government has conducted nationwide DLC campaigns to ensure the digital empowerment of pensioners in 2022 and 2023. 38.99 lac central government pensioners submitted DLC including 9.76 lac through face authentication in DLC Campaign 2023.

This information was given by the Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) Science & Technology; MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances, Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr Jitendra Singh in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha today.

Dr Jitendra Singh said, government has provided doorstep service for the annual submission of DLCs to super senior pensioners. 285739 central government pensioners above the age of 80 including 24645 pensioners above 90 years of age submitted DLC in 2023.

The details of the number of DLCs generated in the country are as below:

Table: DLCs in India from 2014-2023

*progress upto 30 November 2023, annual data is collated upto 31 March 2023

Pensioners’ Awareness Programs, Bankers’ Awareness Programs and Pre-Retirement counseling workshops are held on regular basis, both physically and online to familiarize and popularize DLCs and the Face Authentication Technique, he said.

Central Civil Pensioners, Defence, Railway, Telecom, Postal Pensioners and EPFO Pensioners have to submit a life certificate in the period from 1-30 November every year for the continuation of pension. In 2014, Government launched the Digital Life Certificate (Jeevan Pramaan) based on the Aadhaar database.

 ****

SNC/PK/RS202