Digital Life Certificate Campaign: UPSC Facts

digital life certificate campaign

The digital life certificate campaign held a pensioners’ camp in New Delhi on 2 November 2026. It highlights digital public service delivery for UPSC and state PCS examinations.

Quick answer: The digital life certificate campaign is a nationwide effort to simplify pensioners’ certificate submission. On 2 November 2026, the Department of Pension and Pensioners’ Welfare and State Bank of India held a camp in New Delhi. The bank is also organising special camps in 115 cities.

Important for
Prelims
Pensioner welfare and digital governance
Mains
GS Paper II: Governance
Camp date
2 November 2026
Location
New Delhi
SBI camps
115 cities
Previous campaign
About 25 lakh certificates

What is the digital life certificate campaign?

The campaign helps pensioners submit life certificates through accessible digital services. Its fifth edition aims to make the process easier and more pensioner-friendly.

A digital life certificate gives pensioners an electronic means of submitting proof of life for pension purposes. In addition, face authentication lets pensioners generate it themselves using a smartphone, without visiting a bank or another office.

For background, see CBL’s earlier coverage of the fifth campaign.

Why was the campaign in news?

The Department of Pension and Pensioners’ Welfare held a large camp at the NDCC Conference Centre in New Delhi. It organised the 2 November event with the State Bank of India (SBI).

The department comes under the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions. At the camp, Secretary Nivedita Shukla Verma highlighted smartphone-based face authentication. Joint Secretary Dhruvjyoti Sengupta also urged pensioners to use the available facilities and encourage others.

What are the key facts to remember?

The fifth campaign combines digital certificate generation with assistance from bank personnel.

Feature Fact
Lead department Department of Pension and Pensioners’ Welfare
Technology highlighted Face authentication using a smartphone
Current SBI outreach Special camps in 115 cities, plus branch and support-team assistance
Previous campaign SBI helped generate approximately 25 lakh certificates

SBI has also made special arrangements at branches with large numbers of pensioners. The 25 lakh figure refers to the previous campaign, not the current one.

Why does it matter?

The campaign can reduce the need for office visits and make pension services easier to access. Moreover, assisted camps and branch support help pensioners use the digital option.

The initiative illustrates citizen-centred governance in pension delivery. For a wider context, read about social security coverage in India.

Source: Press Information Bureau, 2 November 2026

Punjab & Haryana PCS Angle

Punjab PCS and Haryana HCS may test the campaign’s ministry, technology and bank partner under General Studies. The initiative also provides an example of digital access to public services.

Prelims Practice Corner

Q1. Consider the following statements:
1. The Department of Pension and Pensioners’ Welfare organised the New Delhi camp with SBI.
2. The department is under the Ministry of Finance.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2

Show answer

Answer: (a). Because the department is under the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions.

Q2. With reference to the campaign, consider the following statements:
1. Pensioners can use face authentication on smartphones to generate a certificate themselves.
2. SBI is organising special camps in 115 cities during the current campaign.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2

Show answer

Answer: (c). Because both smartphone-based generation and camps in 115 cities feature in the announcement.

More practice questions

Q3. Consider the following pairs:
1. New Delhi camp — 2 November 2026
2. SBI assistance in the previous campaign — approximately 25 lakh certificates
3. Current SBI special camps — 115 districts
How many pairs are correctly matched?

(a) Only one
(b) Only two
(c) All three
(d) None

Show answer

Answer: (b). Because SBI is organising camps in 115 cities, not 115 districts.

Q4. The digital life certificate initiative primarily seeks to assist which group?

(a) Pensioners   (b) Exporters   (c) Students   (d) Tourists

Show answer

Answer: (a). Because the campaign simplifies life certificate submission for pensioners.

Mains Practice Questions

Q1. How can digital life certificates improve pension service delivery? Discuss the role of assisted access. (10 marks, GS Paper II)

Answer Structure

Intro: Identify the campaign’s purpose.

Body: Discuss face authentication, fewer visits, bank camps and support teams.

Conclusion: Emphasise accessible and citizen-centred delivery.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who runs the digital life certificate campaign?

The Department of Pension and Pensioners’ Welfare runs it. The department also worked with SBI for the New Delhi camp.

Can pensioners generate a certificate without visiting a bank?

Yes, pensioners can use face authentication on a smartphone. Therefore, they can generate the certificate themselves without visiting a bank or another office.

How many cities will have SBI special camps?

SBI is organising special camps in 115 cities. In addition, its branches and dedicated teams provide assistance.

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