India's EPFO rolls out 3.0 digital upgrades and delays interest credit

The Employees' Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) in India is preparing to launch the EPFO 3.0 platform, a technology‑driven overhaul that will let more than 70 million subscribers access their retirement savings through instant Unified Payments Interface (UPI) transfers and card‑less ATM withdrawals. The upgrade, announced by Union Labour Minister Mansukh Mandaviya after core‑system testing was completed, also automates claims up to ₹5 lakh, removes employer verification for many routine changes, and uses Aadhaar‑based OTP authentication to enable self‑service updates. A 25 % mandatory retention rule will ensure a minimum balance remains untouched for future retirement security.

Separately, EPFO has maintained the 8.25 % annual interest rate for the Employees’ Provident Fund for FY 2025‑26, but the credit has not yet appeared in members’ accounts. The decision was announced in March 2026; historically, interest is credited in June‑July. EPFO assures that interest continues to accrue monthly and will be fully credited once the official notification is issued. Members can monitor their balances via the UMANG app, the EPFO e‑Sewa portal, SMS services, or a missed‑call system.