What changed
2026-07-30 10:33 UTC → 2026-08-02 10:15 UTC ·
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Following a series of digital upgrades, EPFO continued expanding services in late July. The Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) has moved from announcing to launching its Aadhaar‑linked portal. On 28 31 July the organisation unveiled an Aadhaar‑linked portal that lets members verify inactive Provident Fund accounts, view full service histories and went live, letting beneficiaries locate roughly 30.9 million dormant PF accounts holding about ₹9,330 crore, transfer balances into to a single active Universal Account Number, eliminating the need for in‑person visits. Labour Number and Employment Minister Shobha Karandlaje presented the tool in withdraw funds without visiting an office. The rollout reinforces the Lok Sabha, stressing its role in consolidating multiple UANs earlier July 28 announcement and reducing paperwork. A day later, the government announced that the General Provident Fund interest rate will stay at 7.1 % for July‑September 2026, aligning with the Public Provident Fund rate, while the Employees’ Provident Fund continues to earn the crediting of an 8.25 % interest rate for FY 2025‑26. The announcement reiterated Two days later EPFO unveiled a new automated withdrawal system. Claims are now settled within 24–48 hours, with about 90 % processed automatically, a sharp cut from the Aadhaar‑based portal, highlighting its capability previous seven‑to‑ten‑day window. The speed‑up is aimed at workers needing funds for tracing dormant accounts medical emergencies, education, home purchases and filing settlement claims online. These steps build on other needs. EPFO also outlined its EPFO 3.0 upgrade, which will eventually allow PF withdrawals via UPI and cash withdrawals at ATMs; these features are not yet live but are slated for future release. Together with earlier reforms: the 2026 EPF Scheme retained reforms—such as the 12 % wage cap and ₹1,800 contribution ceiling; major easements introduced cap, UPI/ATM withdrawals up to 75 % of balances; e‑nomination became mandatory; withdrawal limits, mandatory e‑nomination, tighter claim‑settlement times were tightened; system‑migration times, migration to the CITES platform was completed; platform, interest crediting began for 34 crore accounts; accounts, reduced advance categories were reduced; and the restored Passbook portal was restored. The portal—these actions deepen the digital push aims to streamline PF management, improve transparency and accelerate transformation of India’s provident fund system, aiming for greater transparency, faster payments and better access for India’s the workforce.