'EPF interest rate will be raised to 8.6% this year'

The interest rate on employees' provident fund will be increased to 8.6 per cent for the current financial year, a move which will benefit around five crore subscribers. "The rates were brought down due to lower income (on investment in Special Deposit Schemes)...There is no question of minimum or maximum interest rates. We distribute it as per our revenue. Next time, it will be 8.6 per cent," labour minister Mallikarjun Kharge said.