Overseas/NRI Central Government Pensioners: BPS Seeks Email Facility for Annual Life Certificate
The Bharat Pensioners Samaj (BPS) has urged the Government to introduce an additional facility allowing Overseas/NRI Central Government pensioners and family pensioners to submit their Annual Life Certificates through registered email IDs.
In a reminder dated 11 August 2026, BPS requested early action on its earlier representation dated 1 July 2026, citing the practical difficulties faced by elderly pensioners living abroad. The organisation said that the Annual Life Certificate submission period is approaching and sought a decision to prevent hardship and possible interruption of pension payments.
What has BPS proposed?
Under the proposed arrangement, an Overseas/NRI pensioner would be allowed to:
- Obtain a manually signed Annual Life Certificate.
- Get it authenticated by a Notary Public, Magistrate or other recognised competent authority in the country of residence.
- Scan the certificate as a PDF.
- Send it from the registered email ID available with the Pension Disbursing Bank to the bank’s designated official email address.
After verifying the email credentials and the authenticity of the certificate, the bank would treat it as valid compliance and update its records electronically.
Why is the facility being requested?
BPS has highlighted difficulties faced by elderly pensioners in using Aadhaar-based digital authentication, including facial authentication failures, lack of reliable Aadhaar-linked mobile connectivity abroad and limited digital proficiency.
Physical submission through international post or courier can also be difficult because of high costs, delays, loss of documents and customs-related issues. Such delays could potentially result in the Life Certificate not reaching the pension disbursing authority within the prescribed period.
BPS cites SPARSH as a model
BPS has pointed out that the SPARSH system for Defence pensioners already provides an electronic mechanism for overseas pensioners to transmit duly authenticated Life Certificates.
The organisation has suggested that a similar facility could be extended to civilian and Railway pensioners, providing greater uniformity in the treatment of Central Government pensioners.
Existing methods would continue
Importantly, BPS has proposed the email facility as an additional optional mode, and not as a replacement for existing methods of submitting Annual Life Certificates.
The organisation has stated that the proposal would retain authentication safeguards, create an electronic audit trail and have no additional financial implication for the Government.
Government decision awaited
BPS has requested the Department of Pension & Pensioners’ Welfare to examine the proposal in consultation with the Department of Financial Services, RBI, Ministry of External Affairs and other stakeholders.
The proposal is currently a request from Bharat Pensioners Samaj and does not by itself constitute a Government approval or new facility. Overseas/NRI pensioners would need to follow the officially prescribed procedure unless and until the Government issues appropriate instructions.
BPS has sought an early decision, stating that the proposed facility could provide significant relief to Central Government pensioners and family pensioners residing abroad.
View BPS letter:
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