**Executive Summary**
This document presents the Minister of Labour and Employment's responses to questions regarding the Employee Pension Scheme-95 (EPS-95), the Digital Life Certificate (DLC) campaign, updating pensioner records with Aadhaar, and early pension rules. It clarifies the financial status of EPS-95, the effectiveness of the DLC campaign, the integration of Aadhaar for pensioners, and existing rules regarding early pension commencement, with no new rules introduced in 2025. The answers were provided in response to questions asked on December 8, 2025.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Employee Pension Scheme-95 (EPS-95):**
* EPS-95 is a defined contribution-defined benefit social security scheme.
* The fund consists of an 8.33% contribution by the employer and a 1.16% contribution from the Central Government on wages up to Rs.15,000 per month.
* The Government provides a minimum pension of Rs. 1000 per month with budgetary support.
* **Nationwide Digital Life Certificate (DLC) Campaign 4.0:**
* Conducted by the Department of Pension & Pensioners' Welfare (DPPW), with EPFO participation.
* Promoted Aadhaar-based Face Authentication through camps and social media.
* 46% of DLCs were generated through Aadhaar-based Face authentication during November, 2025.
* **Updating Pensioner Records:**
* Pensioner's Aadhaar is added to the EPFO database once the Digital Life Certificate is successfully updated.
* **Early Pension Rules:**
* No new early pension rules introduced in 2025.
* As per the existing Employees Pension Scheme 1995, a member can draw an early pension between 50 and 58 years of age if they have completed eligible service and exited employment.
* The pension amount is reduced by 4% for each year the age falls short of 58 years.
**Impact Analysis**
**Stakeholder: Pensioners**
* **Impact:**
* Pensioners will have an understanding of the status of EPS-95, the Government's support, and how Aadhaar is being integrated into their records.
* Pensioners can understand how the Digital Life Certificate campaign has increased the uptake of Aadhaar-based Face Authentication.
* Pensioners can become aware of the conditions for early pension commencement.
* **Action Required:**
* Pensioners who have not linked their Aadhaar with their EPFO records should do so when updating their Digital Life Certificate.
**Stakeholder: EPFO (Employees' Provident Fund Organisation)**
* **Impact:**
* EPFO is responsible for managing the EPS-95 fund, promoting the DLC campaign, and updating pensioner records.
* The EPFO is required to provide social security coverage through EPF Scheme, 1952, EPS-95 and EDLI Schemes.
* **Action Required:**
* Continue to promote Aadhaar-based Face Authentication for DLCs and efficiently manage the EPS-95 fund.
**Stakeholder: Government of India (Ministry of Labour and Employment)**
* **Impact:**
* The Ministry is responsible for overseeing the EPFO and providing budgetary support for EPS-95.
* The Ministry is committed to providing robust social security coverage.
* **Action Required:**
* Maintain financial support for EPS-95 and continue to oversee the EPFO's operations.
Key Entities Referenced
Employees' Pension Scheme, 1995 (EPS-95): A Defined Contribution-Defined Benefit Social Security Scheme providing pension benefits, administered by EPFO. The question concerns a proposal to increase the minimum pension.
Employees' Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO): The organization responsible for managing the Employees' Provident Fund and Employees' Pension Scheme, 1995.
Digital Life Certificate (DLC): A digital certificate used by pensioners to prove they are alive and eligible for pension, with a campaign (DLC 4.0) focused on Aadhaar-based Face Authentication.
EPF Scheme, 1952: An older scheme managed by EPFO that provides retirement savings benefits.
Ministry of Labour and Employment: The government ministry responsible for labour policies, including the EPS-95.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1153
TO BE ANSWERED ON 08.12.2025
PENSIONERS' WELFARE AND DIGITAL LIFE CERTIFICATE
1153. SHRI TEJASVI SURYA:
SHRI KONDA VISHWESHWAR REDDY:
SHRI ALOK SHARMA:
SHRI ANIL FIROJIYA:
SHRI KALI CHARAN SINGH:
SHRI SHANKAR LALWANI:
SHRI RAJKUMAR CHAHAR:
Will the Minister of LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT be pleased to
state:
(a)the details of the final status of the proposal to increase the
minimum Employee Pension Scheme-95 (EPS-95) pension to Rs.
7,500 per month;
(b)the details of the Nationwide Digital Life Certificate (DLC)
Campaign 4.0 and its usefulness in promoting Aadhaar-based Face
Authentication;
(c)whether the Government has simplified the process for updating
pensioner records, such as Aadhaar, on the portal; and
(d)the details of the new rules introduced in 2025 regarding early
pension commencement from age 50 years for Employees'
Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) members?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE FOR LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT
(SUSHRI SHOBHA KARANDLAJE)
(a): Employees' Pension Scheme, 1995 is a 'Defined Contribution-
Defined Benefit' Social Security Scheme. The corpus of the
Employees' Pension Fund is made up of (i) contribution by the
employer @ 8.33 per cent of wages; and (ii) 1.16% contribution from
Central Government on wages upto Rs.15,000/- per month. All
benefits under the scheme are paid out of such accumulations. The
fund is valued annually as mandated under paragraph 32 of EPS, 1995
and as per the valuation of the fund as on 31.03.2019, there is an
Contd..2/-:: 2 ::
actuarial deficit. The Government is providing a minimum pension of
Rs.1000 per month to the pensioners under the EPS, 1995 by
providing budgetary support, which is in addition to the budgetary
support of 1.16 per cent of wages provided annually towards EPS to
Employees' Provident Fund Organization (EPFO). The Government of
India is committed to provide robust social security coverage through
EPF Scheme, 1952, EPS-95 and EDLI Schemes being run by EPFO, to
the members of these schemes, taking into consideration the
sustainability of the respective funds as well as the future liabilities
thereon.
(b): Nationwide DLC Campaign 4.0 was conducted by Department of
Pension & Pensioners’ Welfare (DPPW). EPFO also participated in this
campaign. During the campaign period, Aadhaar-based Face
Authentication was promoted through camps and social media. As a
result, around 46% DLCs were generated through Aadhaar-based
Face authentication during the month of November, 2025.
(c): Pensioner’s Aadhaar, where not already available, gets seeded
in the EPFO database, as soon as a Digital Life Certificate is
successfully updated.
(d): No such rule has been introduced in 2025.
However, it is informed that as per para 12(7) of the Employees
Pension Scheme 1995, a member upon exit from employment and
having rendered eligible service for pension, if he so desires, may be
allowed to draw an early pension from a date earlier than 58 years of
age but not earlier than 50 years of age. In such cases, the amount
of pension is reduced at the rate of four per cent, for every year the
age falls short of 58 years.
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