**Executive Summary**
This document discusses EPFO reforms aimed at expanding registration and improving regional coverage. Key initiatives include streamlined registration processes, extension of benefits to J&K and Ladakh, self-generation of UAN by workers, and UAN generation via face authentication. These reforms have resulted in a significant increase in new establishment registrations and contributing members between 2019-20 and 2023-24.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Registration Processes**
* **Shram Suvidha Portal & MCA Portal:** Common registration for new companies via Shram Suvidha portal and auto-registration through the MCA portal.
* **Online Registration:** Establishments can register online by providing required data and documents.
* **Auto Registration:** Auto registration for Public, Private Limited, and One Person Companies is done via Spice+ and AGILE-PRO e-forms.
* **Expansion of Coverage**
* **J&K and Ladakh:** Implemented the EPF & MP Act, 1952 in J&K and Ladakh effective October 31, 2019, extending provident fund, pension, and insurance benefits.
* **UAN Initiatives**
* **Self-Generation:** Workers can self-generate UAN for enrollment as EPFO members, launched on November 1, 2019.
* **Face Authentication (FAT):** UAN generation and activation using Aadhaar FAT through the UMANG Mobile App.
* **Centralized Pension Payment System (CPPS)**
* Enables pension disbursement through any bank/branch across India.
* Ensures pension disbursement throughout India without the need to transfer PPOs.
* **Project EPFO 3.0**
* Aims to enhance services by introducing industry-standard Core Banking System-enabled services.
* Streamlines processes and reduces paperwork.
* Faster claims processing with auto-mode processing for claims meeting risk management criteria.
* Reduces manual settlement time from up to 20 days to less than three days.
* **Monitoring and Grievance Handling**
* Regular meetings to review qualitative and quantitative aspects of grievance handling and resolution through Zonal/Field offices.
* Analysis of root causes to address issues systemically.
* **Statistical Data**
* New Establishments: Increased from 1,17,064 (2019-20) to 2,94,910 (2023-24), a 251% increase.
* Contributing Members: Increased from 4,89,21,025 (2019-20) to 7,37,39,204 (2023-24), a 150% increase.
**Impact Analysis**
**Stakeholder: Establishments**
* **Impact:** Simplified registration process through online platforms.
* **Action Required:** Utilize the Shram Suvidha Portal or MCA portal for registration, provide necessary data and documents online.
**Stakeholder: Workers/Employees**
* **Impact:** Easier enrollment through self-generation of UAN and face authentication. Expanded benefits in J&K and Ladakh. Enhanced service through Project EPFO 3.0
* **Action Required:** Self-generate UAN if not already enrolled, use UMANG Mobile App for UAN generation/activation via face authentication.
**Stakeholder: Pensioners**
* **Impact:** Centralized pension disbursement across India regardless of bank or location.
* **Action Required:** Continue to receive pension disbursements without needing to transfer PPOs when relocating or changing banks.
Key Entities Referenced
Employees' Provident Funds and Miscellaneous Provisions Act (EPF & MP Act), 1952: The core legislation governing provident fund, pension, and insurance benefits for employees.
Employees' Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO): The organization responsible for administering the EPF & MP Act, 1952 and providing social security benefits.
Ministry of Labour & Employment: The ministry responsible for overseeing labor and employment policies, including EPFO.
Shram Suvidha Portal: A unified online platform for EPFO registration, aimed at easing the registration process for new establishments.
Universal Account Number (UAN): A unique identification number assigned to workers for managing their social security schemes under EPFO.
Ministry of Labour & Employment
EPFO REFORMS
Posted On: 12 FEB 2026 5:55PM by PIB Delhi
The following initiatives have been taken to expand registration and improve regional coverage:
I. Common registration through Shram Suvidha portal and Auto-registration for new
companies incorporated under Companies Act through MCA Portal: As part of Ease of
Doing Business, Shram Suvidha Portal, a unified platform, was introduced by Ministry of
Labour & Employment, whereby any establishment seeking EPFO registration can register
online by furnishing the necessary data and documents.
Further, from February 2020, auto registration under EPFO is being done for Public and Private
Limited Companies and One Person Companies at Ministry of Corporate Affairs registration portal
through Spice+ and AGILE-PRO e-forms.
II. Implementation of EPF & MP Act, 1952 in J&K and Ladakh: Consequent upon
implementation of Employees' Provident Funds and Miscellaneous Provisions Act (EPF &
MP Act), 1952 in the UTs of J&K and Ladakh w.e.f. 31st October 2019, EPFO has extended
its provident fund, pension and insurance benefits to all employees of existing establishments
covered under the erstwhile JK PF Act as well as the employees of newly covered
establishments.
III. Self-generation of UAN by Workers: To ensure coverage of all workers, a facility was
launched on 01.11.2019 through which workers can self-generate their Universal Account
Number (UAN) for enrolment as members of the social security schemes under EPFO.
IV. UAN Generation through Face Authentication Technology (FAT): In April 2025, EPFO
introduced Universal Account Number (UAN) generation and activation using Aadhaar Face
Authentication Technology (FAT) through the UMANG Mobile App. This contactless and
secure service marks a major leap in providing hassle-free and fully digital experiences to
EPFO members.
As a result of these interventions, the new establishment registration and number of contributory
members have progressed quite significantly.
Year 2019-20 2023-24
New Establishments *1,17,064 *2,94,910
* It is seen that there is an increase of 251% in the number of new registrations and coverage of
establishments from 2019-20 to 2023-24.Year 2019-20 2023-24
Avg. no. of Contributing Members #4,89,21,025 #7,37,39,204
# It is seen that there is an increase of 150% in the number of contributing members from 2019-20 to
2023-24.
The Centralized Pension Payment System (CPPS) marks a major shift by establishing a centralized
system, enabling pension disbursement through any bank, any branch across India. It ensures
disbursement of pension throughout India without any need for transfer of Pension Payment Orders (PPO)
from one office to another even when the Pensioner moves from one location to another or changes his
bank or branch.
Project EPFO 3.0 is a significant digital transformation initiative by EPFO, aimed at enhancing services to
members and establishments by introducing industry standard Core Banking System enabled services.
This initiative is designed to streamline processes and reduce paperwork, making it easier for members to
manage their social security accounts, faster claims processing and managing all member services from a
single unified platform. Claims which clear the checks and validations for risk management are designed
to be processed in auto mode without manual intervention, thereby significantly reducing the time taken
for manual settlement from up to 20 days to less than three days.
In order to monitor the effectiveness of these new features in reducing member grievances and processing
time, EPFO conducts regular meetings to review the qualitative and quantitative aspects of grievance
handling and their resolution through Zonal/Field offices, including, inter alia, the analysis of the root
cause of the issues so that matter can be taken up for systemic changes.
This information was given by the Minister of State for Labour and Employment Sushri Shobha
Karandlaje in written reply to a question in Rajya Sabha today.
*****
Rini Choudhury/Anjelina Alexander
(Release ID: 2227132) Visitor Counter : 194
Read this release in: Urdu , ही