More than 20 lakh defence pensioners have successfully submitted their Digital Life Certificates (DLCs) under the nationwide Digital Life Certificate Campaign 5.0, marking a significant achievement in the government’s efforts to simplify pension-related services for retired military personnel and their families.
According to the Ministry of Defence, over 20.48 lakh defence pensioners had completed their Digital Life Certification as of November 11, 2026, representing the highest contribution among all departments participating in the nationwide campaign.
The month-long initiative, being conducted from November 1 to 30, 2026, is spearheaded by the Controller General of Defence Accounts (CGDA) under the Ministry of Defence and coordinated by the Department of Pension & Pensioners’ Welfare (DoP&PW).
The campaign aims to ensure that retired personnel of the Indian Armed Forces and family pensioners can complete their mandatory annual life certification without unnecessary travel, lengthy procedures or dependence on physical verification at pension offices.
Nationwide Network Mobilised to Assist Defence Pensioners
To ensure maximum participation, the Defence Accounts Department (DAD) has activated an extensive network of service centres, banking partners and outreach programmes across India.
A total of 194 SPARSH Service Centres have been equipped to assist pensioners in generating Digital Life Certificates and accessing other pension-related services through the SPARSH platform.
Additionally, approximately 4.63 lakh Common Service Centres, 13 partner banks and India Post Payments Bank (IPPB), along with 29 nodal officers, are supporting pensioners throughout the certification process.
Around 80 outreach programmes are being conducted across the country to provide direct assistance, particularly to elderly veterans and family pensioners who may face difficulties accessing digital services independently.
As part of the initiative, a Mega Digital Life Certificate Camp is scheduled to be organised in Kochi on November 23, 2026. The camp will provide on-the-spot assistance to defence pensioners seeking to complete their annual certification.
Over 80% of Certificates Generated Through Face Authentication
One of the major highlights of DLC Campaign 5.0 is the widespread adoption of Aadhaar-based Face Authentication Technology.
According to the Defence Accounts Department, more than 80% of Digital Life Certificates generated under the initiative have been completed using facial authentication.
The technology, available through the Jeevan Pramaan system and its mobile application, enables pensioners to verify their identity using a smartphone without requiring external biometric devices.
This development is particularly beneficial for elderly and super-senior pensioners who may experience difficulties with fingerprint-based authentication because of age-related biometric changes.
The facility also provides significant relief to differently-abled veterans and pensioners with limited mobility, allowing them to complete their annual verification from home instead of travelling to banks or pension offices.
By encouraging smartphone-based certification, the government also aims to promote digital independence among veterans and their families.
Defence Accounts Department Builds on Previous Campaign Success
The latest achievement follows the successful implementation of Digital Life Certificate Campaign 4.0 in November 2025, during which the Defence Accounts Department generated more than 20.94 lakh Digital Life Certificates through its nationwide network of SPARSH Service Centres, Common Service Centres and banking partners.
The department has also made substantial progress in expanding the SPARSH pension administration system.
As of October 2026, approximately 35.11 lakh defence pensioners had been onboarded onto SPARSH, reflecting the growing adoption of the digital pension management platform.
To improve accessibility and resolve pension-related issues, the department has conducted 301 SPARSH Outreach Programmes and 204 Raksha Pension Samadhan Aayojans across the country.
These initiatives have facilitated the on-the-spot resolution of more than 8,000 grievances, helping veterans and family pensioners address pension-related concerns without prolonged administrative delays.
Defence Pensioners Encouraged to Complete Certification Before November 30
The Defence Accounts Department has urged all defence pensioners and family pensioners who have not yet submitted their annual Digital Life Certificates to complete the process during the ongoing campaign.
Pensioners can visit their nearest SPARSH Service Centre, participating bank, Common Service Centre or designated outreach programme for assistance. Those equipped with compatible smartphones can also use Aadhaar-based face authentication to generate their certificates remotely.
The initiative reflects the Ministry of Defence’s continuing commitment to improving pension delivery, strengthening digital accessibility and reducing administrative difficulties faced by retired Armed Forces personnel.
Guided by its principle of “Right Pension to the Right Pensioner at the Right Time,” the Defence Accounts Department aims to make pension verification more convenient, transparent and accessible for millions of veterans and their families across India.
