Lok Sabha Q&A : Face Authentication not mandatory for the life certificate

The Government has replied in Rajya Sabha that Face Authentication is not mandatory for the life certificate for the Central Government pensioners. The Government had introduced Face Authentication Technology in November 2021 for pensioners as an added option to submit the Life Certificate. India Post and Payment Bank (IPPB) provide doorstep service for the submission of life certificate of Central Government pensioners. IPPB is utilizing its national network of more than 1,36,000 access points in Post Offices and 1,89,000 Postmen & Gramin Dak Sevaks with smartphones and biometric devices to provide Doorstep Banking Services.

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF PERSONNEL, PUBLIC GRIEVANCES AND PENSIONS
LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO: 1180
ANSWERED ON: 14.12.2022

Face Authentication Technology

Ritesh Pandey
Raju Bista
Will the Minister of

PERSONNEL, PUBLIC GRIEVANCES AND PENSIONS be pleased to state:-

(a) whether the Government has introduced face authentication technology for the pensioners to submit a ‘Life Certificate’ and if so, the details thereof along with the progress made in this regard;

(b) the number of pensioners who are required to submit life certificate;

(c) whether it is mandatory for pensioners to use face authentication technology for the life certificate and if so, the details thereof;

(d) whether the pensioner will be denied the benefits of a pension if he/she refuses to submit a Life Certificate through Jeevan Pramaan App by using the face authentication facility and if so, the details thereof; and

(e) whether the Government has taken any step to provide assistance for those Pensioners from the mountain regions who are unable to access technology due to remote location, if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF PERSONNEL, PUBLIC GRIEVANCES AND PENSIONS AND MINISTER OF STATE IN THE PRIME MINISTER’S OFFICE
(DR. JITENDRA SINGH)

(a): Yes Sir. The Government has introduced Face Authentication Technology in November 2021 for the pensioners to submit a Life Certificate. From 1st October to 6th December 2022, total 2,99,026 Life Certificate have been generated by using Face Authentication for Central Government pensioners in comparison to 72,338 in previous year.

(b): All Central Government pensioners are required to submit life certificate.

(c): No Sir. Face Authentication is not mandatory.

(d): No Sir. The pensioner can submit life certificate by other modes also.

(e): Yes Sir. India Post and Payment Bank (IPPB) provide doorstep service for submission of life certificate of central Government pensioners. IPPB is utilizing its national network of more than 1,36,000 access points in Post Offices and more than 1,89,000 Postmen & Gramin Dak Sevaks with smart phones and biometric devices to provide Doorstep Banking Services.