Bengaluru: Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Saturday said no decision has been taken on declaring a government holiday on January 22 when the consecration of Ram Temple will be performed in Ayodhya.

Reacting to BJP’s demand for a holiday on January 22, Siddaramaiah said he has not yet seen the request letter. "No, not yet. We will see. I have not yet seen the letter. We will see it," Siddaramaiah told reporters when he was informed that the Leader of Opposition in the Karnataka Legislative Council Kota Srinivas Pujari had written a letter to him in this regard.

The chief minister was also informed that BJP state president B Y Vijayendra had put forth a similar demand. "Not yet. We will see. I have not yet seen the letter. Let’s see," the chief minister added.

When asked whether he would go to Ayodhya, Siddaramaiah said, "Why are you repeating this question when I have already said that I will go there some other day." The chief minister had earlier said that he would visit Ayodhya but not on January 22. He had even accused the BJP of politicising the Ram temple issue for electoral gain.

ALSO READ: Vijayendra urges state government to take action to prevent any untoward incident on January 22

Meanwhile, addressing a press conference in Bengaluru today, Vijayendra said the Karnataka government should consider declaring a holiday on January 22 in view of Lord Rama's connection with the state as Kishkindha Kshetra is in Hampi in Vijayanagara district. According to the epic Ramayana, Kishkindha Kshetra was the Monkey Kingdom.

The Anjanadri Hill in neigbouring Koppal district was the birthplace of Hanuman, the ardent devotee of Lord Rama. "The consecration of the temple is a historic occasion not just for India but across the globe as many countries are jubilant about it," the Shikaripura MLA said.

Vijayendra also asked the state government to be on alert to thwart any attempt to create disturbance and untoward incidents to disrupt festivities.

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New Delhi: Senior central government pensioners aged 80 and above can now submit their Annual Life Certificate (ALC) starting from October 1, instead of the usual submission date of November 1. The government has provided this extended window to ease the process for senior pensioners.

All central government pensioners are required to submit their ALC annually in November to continue receiving their pensions. If the life certificate is not submitted by the stipulated date, pension payments will be halted until the certificate is provided.

What is Jeevan Pramaan?

Jeevan Pramaan is an Aadhaar-based and biometric-enabled Digital Life Certificate recognized under the IT Act. It allows pensioners to authenticate their existence for the pension authority without physically visiting the office.

How to submit the Digital Life Certificate using face authentication

1. Ensure you have a smartphone with a front camera (minimum 5MP) and internet connectivity.
2. Verify that your Aadhaar number is registered with your pension disbursing authority, such as a bank, post office, or other relevant institution.
3. Download and install the ‘AadhaarFaceRD’ and ‘Jeevan Pramaan Face App’ from the Google Play Store.
4. Perform the operator authentication and scan the operator’s face.
5. Fill in the pensioner’s details.
6. Capture a photograph with the front camera and submit it.

An SMS with a link to download the Jeevan Pramaan Digital Life Certificate will be sent to your registered mobile number. Download it and submit it to the concerned authority.

Last date to submit Annual Life Certificate

The usual deadline for submitting the ALC is November 30 unless extended by the government. For pensioners aged 80 and above, the certificate submitted from October 1 will remain valid till November 30 of the following year.

Consequences of missing the submission deadline

If the ALC is not submitted by November, pension payments will be stopped. However, if the certificate is submitted later within a three-year period, pension payments will resume along with arrears. If the certificate is not submitted for over three years, pension disbursement will require the approval of the competent authority through the Central Pension Accounting Office (CPAO).

Advantages of digital life certificate through face authentication

- Compatible with most Android smartphones.
- Can be done from home, avoiding external biometric devices.
- Eliminates the need to visit the bank.

This solution provides convenience and accessibility for senior pensioners.