Bihar government: The Government of Bihar has taken a significant step toward improving the delivery of social security pensions by introducing a simplified and transparent Aadhaar-based life certification system. This new arrangement allows pension beneficiaries to complete their life certification free of cost through Common Service Centres, making the process more accessible, efficient, and citizen-friendly. The initiative is designed to ensure uninterrupted pension payments while reducing administrative hurdles and unnecessary delays.
Life certification is a mandatory requirement for pension beneficiaries to confirm that they are alive and eligible to continue receiving benefits. Traditionally, this process required pensioners to visit block or district offices, often involving long travel, queues, and repeated verification. For elderly individuals, widows, and persons with disabilities, these procedures were physically demanding and time-consuming. Recognizing these challenges, the Bihar government decided to modernize the system by integrating Aadhaar authentication with local-level service delivery.
Under the new system, Common Service Centres play a central role in facilitating life certification. These centres are widely available across panchayat and village levels, ensuring last-mile connectivity for beneficiaries. Pensioners can now visit their nearest CSC to complete Aadhaar-based biometric authentication, which serves as proof of life. This approach eliminates the need to travel to distant administrative offices and significantly reduces the burden on beneficiaries.
The primary advantage of this initiative is convenience. Pensioners can complete the certification process close to their homes without incurring any charges. The system also aims to reduce repeated verification procedures, saving time for both beneficiaries and government officials. Additionally, Aadhaar-based verification helps prevent wrongful payments to ineligible individuals, thereby improving the overall efficiency and integrity of the pension distribution mechanism.
By linking life certification directly with Aadhaar authentication, the government seeks to enhance transparency in pension administration. Digital verification minimizes manual intervention, reducing the chances of errors, delays, or misuse. Timely completion of life certification ensures that pension payments are credited without interruption, providing financial stability to beneficiaries who depend on these funds for their daily needs.
Despite its positive objectives, the rollout of the new system has not been without challenges. Some pensioners and CSC operators have reported technical difficulties during the initial phase. Common issues include the non-availability of fingerprint capture options on the portal and problems completing the biometric authentication process. These technical glitches have caused temporary inconvenience for users attempting to complete their certification.
The Social Welfare Department has acknowledged these concerns and clarified that such issues are common when new digital systems are introduced. According to the department, the technical problems are being addressed on a priority basis. Instructions have been issued to the concerned agencies to resolve portal-related issues quickly so that eligible pensioners do not experience disruption in their payments.
Once the technical challenges are resolved, the Aadhaar-based life certification system is expected to significantly improve pension service delivery in Bihar. The integration of digital verification with local service centres represents a move toward inclusive governance and digital empowerment. Over time, this system can serve as a model for other states seeking to modernize their social security frameworks and ensure that benefits reach the right people at the right time.
To fully benefit from the new system, pensioners need to be informed about the process and timelines for life certification. Awareness campaigns at the village level can help beneficiaries understand the steps involved and the importance of timely compliance. Completing life certification within the prescribed period will help avoid any disruption in pension payments and ensure continued access to social security benefits.
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