Quick answer
Central Government pensioners must submit their annual life certificate in November 2026 (1 to 30 November). Pensioners aged 80 years and above can submit from 1 October 2026. You can do it at your bank or post office, through a designated official’s signature, or online via Jeevan Pramaan using fingerprint or face authentication on a smartphone. Confirmed (DoPPW OM)
Key points
- Who: every Central Government civil pensioner and family pensioner drawing pension through a bank, post office or CPAO-linked disbursing authority.
- When: November every year; 80+ pensioners from 1 October (DoPPW OM dated 18 July 2019, restated in OM dated 31 October 2025).
- How: six modes, three of which need no visit to the bank (Jeevan Pramaan face app, IPPB postman doorstep service, PSB Alliance doorstep banking).
- Validity: a certificate submitted now stays valid until 30 November of the following year.
- 2026 campaign: as of 14 October 2026 DoPPW has not yet announced the dates of a 2026 nationwide Digital Life Certificate campaign.
What the official order says
The Department of Pension and Pensioners’ Welfare (DoPPW) restated the rules in Office Memorandum F. No. 11/1/2025-P&PW(H)-V dated 31 October 2025, titled “Submission of Annual Life Certificate”. It says every Central Government pensioner has to submit an Annual Life Certificate in the month of November for further continuation of pension. Confirmed
The same OM recalls an earlier order, OM No. 1/20/2018-P&PW(E) dated 18 July 2019, which gives pensioners aged 80 years and above an exclusive window from 1 October every year, so that super-senior pensioners avoid the November rush at bank branches. That rule is permanent; it does not need a fresh order each year. Confirmed
Life certificate 2026 dates at a glance
| Pensioner | Submit from | Last date | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aged 80 years and above | 1 October 2026 | 30 November 2026 | Confirmed |
| Below 80 years | 1 November 2026 | 30 November 2026 | Confirmed |
| Family pensioners | Same as above, by age | 30 November 2026 | Confirmed |
| Certificate validity | Until 30 November 2027 | Confirmed (UIDAI/DoPPW FAQ) | |
Example: a retired Level 7 Section Officer aged 82 can walk into the bank, or open the face app at home, any day from 1 October. Her 79-year-old husband, a retired Railway employee, has to wait until 1 November. Both must finish by 30 November 2026.
Six ways to submit your life certificate
| Mode | Visit needed? | What you need |
|---|---|---|
| 1. In person at the bank / Pension Disbursing Authority | Yes | PPO number, bank passbook, Aadhaar |
| 2. Paper form signed by a designated official | No personal appearance | Form signed by e.g. a Gazetted officer, Postmaster, Tehsildar, bank officer or MP/MLA (para 14.3, CPAO Scheme Booklet) |
| 3. Jeevan Pramaan with fingerprint/iris device | No (or at a CSC) | Aadhaar, UIDAI-approved biometric device, PPO and bank details |
| 4. Jeevan Pramaan face authentication app | No | Android smartphone with front camera, Aadhaar linked with pension records |
| 5. IPPB doorstep service through the postman | No | Request via Post Info app or your post office |
| 6. PSB Alliance doorstep banking | No | Book on the Doorstep Banking app, psballiance.com, or the toll-free number listed there |
How to submit through the face authentication app
- Install the AadhaarFaceRD app and the Jeevan Pramaan app from the Google Play Store.
- Open Jeevan Pramaan, complete operator authentication with your Aadhaar and mobile OTP.
- Enter pensioner details: Aadhaar, name, PPO number, pension type, sanctioning and disbursing authority, bank account.
- Scan your face with the front camera in good light and blink when asked.
- On success you get an SMS with a Pramaan ID. Keep it; you can download the certificate from jeevanpramaan.gov.in.
Family members can operate the phone for an elderly pensioner, but the face scanned must be the pensioner’s own.
Who this affects
All Central Government civil pensioners and family pensioners, including Railway and Postal pensioners, whose pension is paid by a bank or post office. Defence pensioners on SPARSH follow the same November cycle through SPARSH, CSCs or banks; check the date shown on your SPARSH dashboard. Pensioners of state governments and EPS-95 (EPFO) pensioners follow their own rules and are not covered by this OM.
What happens if you miss the 30 November deadline
The DoPPW OM requires the certificate for “further continuation of pension”. So if no valid certificate is on record after November, your pension may not be credited until you submit one. Late certificates are still accepted; ask your branch how it will release any withheld amount.
Is there a 2026 Digital Life Certificate campaign?
In 2025 DoPPW ran the nationwide Digital Life Certificate Campaign 4.0 from 1 to 30 November 2025 in about 2,000 districts, sub-divisions and cities, under guidelines issued on 30 July 2025 (PIB release). Confirmed A similar 2026 campaign is expected, but as of 14 October 2026 no official 2026 campaign notice was found on the DoPPW website or PIB. Proposed We will update this page when it is issued.
Check your pension while you are at it
Your life certificate keeps your pension flowing; the numbers are a separate question. Current Dearness Relief is 60% from 1 January 2026, and the July 2026 instalment is still awaited (see our DA/DR hike tracker). To see what your pension could look like after the 8th Pay Commission, use the 8th Pay Commission pension calculator. If you draw or expect family pension, read our guide to family pension rates and rules. Serving employees can check the 8th CPC salary calculator.
Source: DoPPW OM F. No. 11/1/2025-P&PW(H)-V dated 31.10.2025 (doppw.gov.in); DoPPW OM No. 1/20/2018-P&PW(E) dated 18.07.2019; UIDAI Digital Life Certificate FAQ (PDF); jeevanpramaan.gov.in; PIB, 4 November 2025.
Last updated: 14 October 2026
Life certificate 2026: FAQs
What is the last date for life certificate 2026?
30 November 2026 for all Central Government pensioners. Pensioners below 80 can submit from 1 November 2026; those aged 80 and above from 1 October 2026.
Can pensioners aged 80 and above submit the life certificate in October?
Yes. Under DoPPW OM dated 18 July 2019, pensioners aged 80 years and above can submit from 1 October every year. No fresh yearly order is needed.
How can I submit my life certificate from home?
Use the Jeevan Pramaan face authentication app on an Android phone, book the India Post Payments Bank postman doorstep service, or book PSB Alliance doorstep banking.
How long is a life certificate valid?
A life certificate submitted in October or November 2026 is valid until 30 November 2027.
What if I miss the November deadline?
Your bank may stop crediting pension from December until a valid certificate is received. Submit it as soon as possible and ask your branch about release of the withheld amount.
