The government has implemented a new system for age verification of elderly individuals applying for old-age pension in urban areas, offering relief to those lacking High School certificates or Family Register records. Under the revised arrangement, applicants can now establish their age through alternative documents such as Ration Card and Voter ID card.
Background of the Issue
District Magistrate Jitendra Pratap Singh stated that according to an earlier government order, the date of birth on an Aadhaar card is not accepted as valid proof of age for sanctioning old-age pension. This provision caused significant difficulties for many eligible elderly persons in urban areas who neither possessed High School certificates nor had entries in family registers.
New Alternative Documents Approved
Taking such cases into consideration, the government has now approved alternative documents for age verification in urban areas. Applicants can verify their age using any of the following documents:
- Ration Card
- Voter ID card
- Driving Licence
- Passport
- PAN card
Self-Declaration Requirement
The District Magistrate explained that applicants must submit a self-declaration in the prescribed format, stating that they do not possess a High School educational certificate and that the Family Register facility is not available in their respective urban area.
Applicability in Urban Areas Only
It was further clarified that this new arrangement applies exclusively to urban areas. The earlier system for age verification will continue to be used in rural areas.
