Pensioners rushed online as DLC drive hits record
India’s nationwide effort to streamline pension verification through digital certificates has produced more than 5.2 million submissions since the initiative began earlier this month. Union Minister Jitendra Singh announced the figure during the official kickoff of Digital Life Certificate Campaign 4.0, which targets 20 million certifications by month’s end across nearly 2,000 locations nationwide.
The program operates through 2,500 centers coordinated by 1,250 officers working alongside 19 banking institutions, India Post Payments Bank, and multiple government agencies to reach elderly citizens in distant areas. Singh emphasized that facial recognition capabilities developed with technology ministry support will simplify the authentication process for senior participants this cycle. Last year’s campaign generated 16.2 million certificates during November alone, with nearly 5 million coming from federal retirees and more than 85,200 from citizens over age 90.
Singh explained that officials created the electronic system out of concern for older residents who previously needed to appear in person to confirm they remained alive for pension payments. The minister noted that international observers are studying the biometric verification approach as other nations consider similar programs.
