Aadhaar Is No Longer Mandatory For Jeevan Pramaan: Check The New Rule Here

According to a new government rule, Aadhaar is no longer necessary for pensioners to obtain the digital life certificate, Jeevan Pramaan, that is mandatory to receive their pensions. Under the Aadhaar Authentication for Good Governance (Social Welfare, Innovation, Knowledge) Rules, 2020, the government has made Aadhaar authentication optional for its instant messaging solution 'Sandes' and attendance management at government offices. "For Jeevan Pramaan, Aadhaar Authentication is voluntary, and user organisations must provide alternative methods of submitting Life Certificate. The provisions of the Aadhaar Act 2016, the Aadhaar Regulation 2016, and the O.Ms (official memo), circulars, and directives issued by UIDAI from time to time shall be followed by NIC", according to a notification released by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology on March 18.

The Digital Life Certificate for Pensioners scheme was implemented to tackle the problems that retirees encountered, such as having to appear in front of a pension disbursing agency or requiring to have a life certificate issued by an authority where they had previously served and submitted to the disbursing agency. The digital life certificate prevented retirees to physically go to the appropriate organisation. That being said, many retirees have lamented about difficulties in receiving pensions due to the non-availability of Aadhaar cards or the un-authenticable fingerprints. Although some government bodies offered an alternative method of releasing pensions in 2018, a directive to make Aadhaar mandatory for the digital life certificate has now been launched. Concurrently, the Electronics and IT Ministry has declared Aadhaar voluntary for users of the National Informatics Centre's instant messaging solution, Sandes. "In Sandes, Aadhaar authentication is voluntary, and user organisations must provide alternative methods of authentication.

The rules of the Aadhaar Act 2016, the Aadhaar Regulation 2016, and the O.Ms, circulars, and guidelines released by UIDAI from time to time must be followed by NIC "According to a separate memorandum issued on March 18. The app is used within government agencies and was developed under the name Government Instant Messaging System. More than 150 institutions, including Niti Aayog, MeitY, CBI, MEA, Indian Railways, Indian Navy, Indian Army, National Security Council Secretariat (NSCS), Intelligence Bureau, Border Security Force, Central Reserve Police Force, Department of Telecom, Home Ministry, and others, have finished proof of concept for the application. Sandes will also be accessible to the general public, according to the authorities. Another announcement on March 18 made Aadhaar verification voluntary for biometrics attendance systems used in government offices. The notification stated that "Aadhaar Authentication in AEBAS is on a voluntary basis, and user organisations shall provide alternative methods of presence."