SPARSH Pension Portal: How to Submit Digital Life Certificate for Defence Pensioners (2026 Guide)

How to Submit Digital Life Certificate for Defence Pensioners

Portal: sparsh.defencepension.gov.in | Helpline: 1800-180-5325

If you are a retired defence personnel or a family pensioner, you already know that submitting your Life Certificate every year is not optional. Miss it, and your pension payments stop. The good news is that the SPARSH Pension Portal has made the whole process much simpler than it used to be.

This guide covers everything you need — what SPARSH is, what the Life Certificate means, how to submit it digitally or manually, and how to check whether your submission went through.

What Is the SPARSH Pension Portal?

SPARSH stands for System for Pension Administration (Raksha). It is an online pension management platform launched by the Controller General of Defence Accounts (CGDA) under the Ministry of Defence. The system is administered by the Defence Accounts Department (DAD) through the Principal Controller of Defence Accounts (Pensions), Prayagraj.

Before SPARSH, defence pensioners had to deal with multiple bank branches, paper vouchers, and long verification chains. The old system was slow, error-prone, and required pensioners to visit offices in person repeatedly.

SPARSH changed that. Today, over 31 lakh defence pensioners across India and Nepal are onboarded on this single unified platform. Everything — pension disbursement, grievance redressal, profile updates, Form 16 downloads, and Life Certificate submission — happens through one portal.

Banks like SBI, PNB, HDFC Bank, Bank of Baroda, and India Post Payments Bank are linked to SPARSH, and pension is credited directly to your account without any middlemen.

What Is the SPARSH Life Certificate (Jeevan Pramaan Patra)?

The Life Certificate, also called Jeevan Pramaan Patra, is an annual document that confirms you are alive and eligible to receive your pension. Every defence pensioner must submit it once a year, usually in November, to avoid any disruption in pension payments.

Without this certificate, SPARSH has no way to verify that the pension is going to the right person. It is a fraud prevention measure as much as it is a formality.

You can submit it in two ways:

• DLC (Digital Life Certificate) — submitted online using biometric or face recognition
• MLC (Manual Life Certificate) — a physical form that gets scanned and uploaded

Both methods are accepted. Which one you choose depends on what device and documents you have available.

Quick Reference Table

How to Login to SPARSH Portal

Before you can submit anything, you need your login credentials.

1. Go to sparsh.defencepension.gov.in
2. Use your Aadhaar number, Aadhaar-registered mobile number, and pension account number to generate login credentials (User ID and Password)
3. Your login details will be sent to your registered mobile number
4. Use those credentials to log in

If you forgot your password, use the Forgot Password option and reset it through OTP sent to your registered number.

If you never received login credentials, you can visit the nearest SPARSH Seva Kendra or raise a grievance on the portal. The Seva Kendra staff will help you access the portal using temporary credentials after identity verification.

Method 1 — Manual Life Certificate (MLC) Submission

This is the offline option. It takes slightly longer to process but works well if you do not have the required smartphone or biometric device.

Step 1: Log in to your SPARSH account at sparsh.defencepension.gov.in

Step 2: Download the Manual Life Certificate (MLC) form from the portal

Step 3: Fill in all required details carefully

Step 4: Get the form signed and stamped by a first-class Gazetted Officer

Step 5: Scan the completed and signed form

Step 6: Upload the scanned file on the SPARSH portal

• File must be in PDF format
• File size must be less than 10 MB

Step 7: Submit and wait for SPARSH approval

Once approved, you will see the next due date in the MLC status bar on your dashboard.

Method 2 — Digital Life Certificate (DLC) Submission

The DLC method is faster and does not require any physical document. You can do it from home. SPARSH offers two ways to generate a DLC:

Option A — Face Recognition (Mobile App)

Device requirements:

• Android smartphone with version 7 or higher
• At least 5 MP camera
• Minimum 4 GB RAM
• Aadhaar-linked active mobile number

Apps to install (from Google Play Store):

• Jeevan Pramaan Face
• AadhaarFaceRD

Steps:

1. Install both apps on your Android phone
2. Open the Jeevan Pramaan app
3. Enter your mobile number, email ID, and Aadhaar number
4. An OTP will be sent to your registered email — enter it to verify
5. The app will ask you to scan your face using the front camera
6. Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the face scan
7. Once the scan is successful, operator authentication is complete
8. Repeat the same authentication process for the pensioner
9. Once both authentications are done, the DLC is generated automatically and submitted to SPARSH

After successful submission, you will receive a link on your registered mobile number and email. Use that link to download your DLC certificate.

Option B — Biometric Fingerprint Device

If face recognition is not working or your internet connection is unstable, you can use a fingerprint scanner (biometric device) connected to your computer, laptop, or phone.

This method is particularly useful in rural areas. The steps are similar to the face recognition process, but authentication is done through fingerprint instead of the camera.

How to Check Life Certificate Submission Status

After submitting your DLC or MLC, always verify that it was accepted. Here is how:

1. Log in to the SPARSH portal
2. Go to Services
3. Click on Track
4. Select Know your SPARSH PPO and Identification (Life Certificate) Status
5. Enter your details and check the current status

If your submission is pending for more than 24 to 48 hours, check whether your Aadhaar mobile number is correct and resubmit if needed.

Common Issues and Solutions

Important Points to Remember

• Life Certificate must be submitted every year, typically in November
• The due month is usually the same as last year's submission month — not always November
• Family pensioners must also submit the Life Certificate through SPARSH
• Aadhaar is mandatory for digital submission
• Even though your bank disburses the pension, Life Certificate submission is centralized under SPARSH
• Digital submission is especially convenient for senior citizens or pensioners with mobility issues

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: When should defence pensioners submit the Life Certificate?

Most pensioners need to submit it in November each year. However, always check SPARSH portal notifications for updated timelines and your specific due date.

Q: Can I use fingerprint instead of face scan for DLC?

Yes. If face recognition is not working on your device, you can use a biometric fingerprint scanner connected to your computer or phone.

Q: Is Aadhaar mandatory for digital submission?

Yes. Aadhaar-based authentication is required for the DLC process through Jeevan Pramaan.

Q: How do I get my DLC certificate after submission?

Once authentication is successful, a download link is sent to your registered mobile number and email ID. Use that link to download and save the certificate.

Q: Can family pensioners use SPARSH?

Yes. Family pensioners are also required to submit their annual Life Certificate through SPARSH.

Q: What if my pension stops due to a missed certificate?

Submit your Life Certificate immediately through the portal or visit a SPARSH Seva Kendra. Once verified, payments resume.