PFRDA’s new UPS Jeevan Setu facility lets eligible retirees verify their identity through the NPS by Protean eGov app, ahead of the 30 November deadline.
Pensioners covered by India’s Unified Pension Scheme can now submit their annual Digital Life Certificates through a new digital route called UPS Jeevan Setu, a facility activated by the Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority on 30 October, according to the regulator’s notice. The move is intended to make the annual verification process easier by allowing eligible retirees to complete it through Aadhaar-based authentication on a mobile app rather than having to rely on a more cumbersome offline process.
Under the new arrangement, pensioners can generate and submit their Digital Life Certificates through the NPS by Protean eGov application. PFRDA’s circular says the process is designed specifically for UPS subscribers and uses Aadhaar verification, including face authentication, to confirm identity before the certificate is issued. The regulator has directed pensioners to follow the instructions in the official notice and the application itself for the exact procedure and requirements.
The annual deadline for submitting the life certificate remains 30 November. That means pensioners who have not yet completed the verification will need to act within the current window to avoid any disruption to their monthly assured payout, according to the official guidance. The broader digital life certificate system, known as Jeevan Pramaan, was created to reduce the need for pensioners to appear in person before a pension-disbursing agency, and the UPS-specific version now extends that convenience to this scheme’s subscribers.
The submission process is straightforward. Pensioners open the NPS by Protean eGov app, choose the UPS Jeevan Setu Digital Life Certificate option, enter their Permanent Retirement Account Number and date of birth, verify the one-time password sent to their registered mobile number, and then complete Aadhaar authentication. The app then uses face authentication to finish the process, after which a confirmation message should appear if the certificate has been successfully generated.
UPS pension amounts are calculated separately from the life certificate process, but the Department of Financial Services says the full assured payout under the scheme is set at 50% of the average basic pay drawn during the final 12 months before retirement, provided the pensioner has completed at least 25 years of qualifying service. According to the department’s official FAQ, shorter service periods can lead to a proportionate pension, while the scheme also includes a minimum guaranteed monthly payout for those who meet its contribution conditions and service thresholds.
Disclaimer: This article is intended to inform and educate, not to recommend or endorse any financial product, investment or strategy. Please consider your own financial circumstances and seek professional advice where appropriate before making financial decisions.
