CGCA Launches Campaign to Achieve 100 % Digital Life Certificates and Save ₹40 Crore Annually

SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions | SDG 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure
Institutions: Ministry of Communications & IT | Controller General of Communication Accounts

India’s pension system is taking a big digital step. The Controller General of Communication Accounts (CGCA) has launched a nationwide push to ensure every pensioner under its system submits a Digital Life Certificate (DLC) — an online proof that confirms a pensioner is alive, so payments continue smoothly.

Instead of standing in long queues or visiting government offices, pensioners can now use Aadhaar-based facial recognition, mobile apps or local camps to submit their life certificates. To make this easy, CGCA will run 320 camps across the country this month, covering more than 22,300 pensioners whose certificates are due to expire in November 2025.

So far, 3.28 lakh pensioners have already shifted to SAMPANN, a digital pension platform, helping the government save over ₹40 crore every year by preventing manual delays, paperwork, and fraud.

This drive also adds a human touch: the camps include health check-ups and cyber-safety sessions, including guidance on using the Sanchar Saathi app to avoid online scams.

This initiative bolsters the digital-governance agenda of Digital India, strengthens the pension-disbursement architecture under the National Pension System, and supports inclusive institutional frameworks for ageing populations. It enhances transparency, efficiency and service delivery — key objectives of the National e-Governance Plan.

Relevant Question for Policy Stakeholders:
What additional support systems are needed to ensure elderly citizens in rural and low-connectivity areas can securely submit digital life certificates without exclusion?

Follow the full news here: CGCA Launches Campaign to Achieve 100 % Digital Life Certificates

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