Provident Fund

EPFO launches WhatsApp services, automatic settlement of small accounts

The interactive services will make routine account-related information accessible via EPFO's verified WhatsApp service, reducing the need for physical visits to EPFO offices

EPFO board may consider a hike in minimum pension at November 19 meeting

EPFO's Central Board of Trustees is likely to discuss raising the minimum monthly pension under EPS at its November 19 meeting in Gujarat, amid longstanding demands from pensioners and trade unions.

New PF limit: ₹20 lakh less at retirement, ₹9,600 a month for life

More employees now have part of their employer's PF contribution diverted to a pension.

EPFO 3.0 rollout a year away; gig worker benefits may be delayed

EPFO 3.0 may take another year to roll out after tendering is completed, potentially delaying social-security benefits for gig, platform, unorganised and construction workers.

Imperfect providence

India needs a more open retirement-saving framework

EPFO ceiling hike to raise employer cost by ₹1,200 per worker

Higher EPF wage ceiling could raise employer costs by up to ₹1,200 per employee while reducing take-home pay for workers in the affected wage band

12%, 9% or ₹1,800 PF? How to choose which option is best for your salary

Want a higher take-home salary? Here's what choosing a lower PF means

What is new about the EPF 2026 Scheme and what it means for subscribers

While subscribers get greater flexibility in making partial withdrawals, they should exercise this freedom judiciously so that they don't deplete their retirement corpus drastically

EPFO invites applications from provident fund trusts for amnesty scheme

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 ...

EPFO members likely to get 8.25% interest credit for FY26 this month

After ratification by the government, interest likely to be credited to more than 70 million contributing members

Govt ratifies 8.25% EPF interest rate for FY26, to be credited this month

The government has ratified 8.25 per cent rate of interest on employees' provident fund (EPF) deposits for 2025-26, which is likely to be credited to over seven crore contributing members this month, a source said on Thursday. EPFO provides the rate of interest on EPF after it gets ratified by the government through the finance ministry. The source told PTI that the finance ministry has given its concurrence to 8.25 per cent rate of interest fixed by Central Board of Trustees (CBT), the apex decision making body of the Employees' Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO). Earlier on March 2, 2026, the CBT in a meeting chaired by the Union Labour Minister Mansukh Mandaviya had decided to fix 8.25 per cent rate of interest for the financial year 2025-26, marking the third consecutive year this rate has been maintained. Thereafter the proposal was sent to the finance ministry for concurrence as the guarantor of the EPF is the Government of India. The source said that the finance ministry ha

Provident fund investment: What to know about EPF, VPF and passbooks

EPF is the standard contribution deducted from one's salary. VPF is optional - you choose to contribute more.

EPFO looks to frame exit strategy amid rising stressed debt exposure

Employees' Provident Fund Organisation plans an exit policy as exposure to downgraded corporate debt rises, aiming to streamline decisions on selling stressed securities

SC to hear challenge against EPF rules governing international workers

Supreme Court issues notice on plea challenging EPF Scheme provisions requiring foreign nationals working in India to contribute to provident fund

EPFO retains employees' provident fund interest rate at 8.25% for 2025-26

This is the second year in a row that the EPF interest rate has been kept unchanged at 8.25%

Labour Ministry to auto-refund small balances in inoperative EPFO accounts

Pilot to cover 7.11 lakh inoperative EPFO accounts with ₹1,000 or less; funds to be auto-credited to Aadhaar-seeded bank accounts without fresh claims

EPFO likely to link with govt databases to enhance compliance monitoring

EPFO is also expanding data integration with state governments to widen compliance checks. Its payroll data is regularly shared with the governments of Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, and Rajasthan

EPFO to appoint new partner agencies, change custodian after 15 years

Retirement fund body EPFO is preparing to empanel new partner agencies and appoint a fresh custodian, as it revamps investment, audit and management arrangements

New EPFO app to allow members to withdraw EPF money via UPI: Report

Subscribers of retirement fund body EPFO will be able to withdraw their employees' provident fund (EPF) directly into their bank accounts through UPI payment gateway using its newly designed mobile application to be launched in April this year, a top source said. The labour ministry is working on a project where a certain proportion of the EPF will be frozen, and a large chunk will be available for withdrawal through their bank account using Unified Payment Interface (UPI), the source told PTI. The source further informed that the Employees' Provident Fund Organisation will roll out a new mobile phone application through which the member would be able to withdraw their EPF money using UPI gateway as well as avail other services like passbook balance. Currently, the member uses either the Universal Account Number (UAN) portal or the UMANG app to access their EPF accounts and avail of their services. The source said that these services will remain available on both platforms, while t