PCDA Bengaluru Reschedules SPARSH Outreach Programme to November 18–19 for Defence Pensioners
Bengaluru, November 15, 2026 | By Antara Tripathy | IBG NEWS
The Office of the Principal Controller of Defence Accounts (PCDA), Bengaluru, under the aegis of the Controller General of Defence Accounts (CGDA), Ministry of Defence, Government of India, will organise a two-day SPARSH Outreach Programme on November 18 and 19, 2026, as part of the ongoing Digital Life Certificate (DLC) Campaign 5.0.
The programme, initially scheduled for November 4 and 5, has been rescheduled to November 18 and 19. The inaugural ceremony will take place at 9:30 AM on November 18 at PCDA Bengaluru, with the Hon’ble Controller General of Defence Accounts, Smt. Alka Nangia Arora, IDAS, inaugurating the event. Senior Indian Army officers and other distinguished dignitaries are also expected to attend.
A significant number of Defence Pensioners and Family Pensioners are expected to participate in the initiative, which aims to provide direct support for resolving pension-related difficulties under the System for Pension Administration (Raksha) – SPARSH platform.
Direct Assistance for Pensioners
The primary objective of the outreach programme is to establish a direct interaction channel between pensioners and the concerned officials, enabling faster identification and resolution of SPARSH-related grievances. Special assistance will also be provided for generating and submitting Digital Life Certificates.
A dedicated team of PCDA officials will remain available throughout the programme to address pension-related queries, provide technical guidance and facilitate on-the-spot grievance redressal. The initiative is expected to minimise procedural difficulties and reduce the need for pensioners to make repeated visits to government offices.
Programme Schedule and Venue
- Programme: SPARSH Outreach Programme and DLC Campaign 5.0
- Dates: November 18 and 19, 2026
- Time: 9:30 AM to 5:00 PM
- Venue: Multi-Purpose Hall, PCDA Bengaluru
- Address: 107, Lower Agram Road, Bengaluru – 560007
- Helpline/WhatsApp: +91 8147527246
The Digital Life Certificate Campaign 5.0 will continue throughout November 2026. Pensioners who cannot attend the outreach programme may also utilise the DLC submission facilities available at designated SPARSH Service Centres.
Documents Pensioners Should Carry
To ensure smooth processing and timely resolution of grievances, attending pensioners and family pensioners are advised to bring the following documents:
- Original Pension Book or Discharge Book (for Army, Navy and Air Force pensioners).
- Ex-Servicemen Identity Card.
- Bank Passbook and Pension Payment Order (PPO).
- Aadhaar Card and the mobile phone number linked to Aadhaar for biometric or OTP authentication during Digital Life Certificate generation.
- PAN Card.
- Previous grievance applications, supporting documents or relevant official correspondence, wherever applicable.
Advance Registration Introduced for Faster Grievance Redressal
In a significant organisational measure, PCDA Bengaluru has introduced an advance-registration system for this year’s outreach programme. The new arrangement is intended to streamline the process, accommodate more pensioners and facilitate quicker resolution of individual pension-related complaints.
The Advance Registration Form, along with the prescribed format, has already been circulated through Col. Veteran and various Pensioners’ Associations.
Pensioners are requested to complete the registration form and the prescribed format and send the duly filled-in documents through WhatsApp to +91 8147527246 by November 16, 2026.
Advance submission will help the concerned officials prepare for individual cases and make the grievance-redressal process more organised and efficient during the two-day event.
Strengthening Pensioners’ Welfare Through Digital Support
The SPARSH Outreach Programme reflects PCDA Bengaluru’s continued efforts to improve pension administration, strengthen digital accessibility and ensure that retired defence personnel and their families receive timely assistance.
Defence Pensioners and Family Pensioners are encouraged to take advantage of this initiative, particularly those facing difficulties with SPARSH services, pension documentation or Digital Life Certificate submission.
Through direct engagement, dedicated technical support and advance registration, the programme seeks to make pension-related services more accessible, transparent and convenient for the defence pensioner community.
Editorial note: The advance-registration deadline is November 16, 2026, so this is an important detail to highlight
IBG NEWS | Defence & Public Administration
