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The Supreme Court has said the access by private entities to sensitive data of EPFO and ITR records was "worrisome", and asked the Centre to consider devising safeguards to ensure that such information is not misused. A bench comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant and justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana, on Monday, expressed concern over the emergence of a commercial technology ecosystem allegedly accessing, retrieving and verifying sensitive personal information contained in provident fund and income tax records. The CJI, while refusing to entertain a PIL filed by Piyush Sharma on the issue, suggested that the Centre devise an effective mechanism to address the issue with the assistance of domain experts. The PIL raised concerns over private entities accessing and commercially exploiting individual data furnished to government authorities under statutory mandates. The bench said the issue essentially falls within the policy domain, but termed as "worrisome" the private access to ..
Retirement fund body Employees' Provident Fund Organisation has invited applications for an amnesty scheme from provident fund trusts to regularise their status. Employers, stakeholders and the general public are advised to take note of the scheme, which will remain open for six months, a labour ministry statement said. The Employees' Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO), under the Ministry of Labour & Employment, has introduced the Amnesty Scheme, 2026, providing a one-time opportunity for establishments operating exempted Provident Fund (PF) Trusts recognised under the Income Tax Act, 1961, to regularise their status, it stated. The Finance Act, 2026, has aligned the Income Tax framework governing recognised provident funds with the statutory and administrative provisions of the Employees' Provident Fund & Misc Provisions Act, 1952. Recognition under the Income Tax Act, 2025, will be available only to provident funds that have obtained exemption under Section 17 of the ...