EPFO Introduces One-Time VISHWAS 2026 Scheme For Amicable Settlement Of Provident Fund Penalty Disputes The Employees' Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) has launched the VISHWAS 2026 scheme, a one-time initiative aimed at resolving disputes related to penalties or damages under specific legal provisions. Effective from 29 June 2026, the program will remain active for six months. The scheme seeks to encourage voluntary compliance among employers, reduce the burden of litigation, and expedite the resolution of long-standing disputes concerning provident fund penalties. Under VISHWAS 2026, eligible employers can settle pending penalty cases by paying significantly lower damages than the legally mandated rates. The revised penalty rates apply to defaults occurring before 14 June 2024. For defaults lasting up to two months, the rate is 0.25 percent per month. Defaults spanning two to four months will incur 0.50 percent monthly, while defaults exceeding four months will face a 1.00 percent monthly rate. The scheme covers four categories of cases. These include disputes where penalty or damage orders are under judicial review, cases with pending or partially recovered damages, instances where notices have been issued but final orders are pending, and cases where notices for penalties have not yet been issued. Employers seeking relief must ensure full payment of statutory interest under Section 7Q of the EPF & MP Act, 1952, or Section 127 of the Code on Social Security, 2020, before submitting applications. Applications must be submitted online via the EPFO Employer Portal using a Digital Signature Certificate or e-Sign. However, certain cases are excluded from the scheme.#provident_fund #epfo #vishwas_2026 #employer_portal #code_on_social_security
EPFO Implements Fully Digital UAN Activation Using Aadhaar Face Authentication The Employees' Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) has launched a comprehensive digital overhaul of its Universal Account Number (UAN) activation process, replacing traditional methods like One-Time Passwords (OTPs) and fingerprint verification with Aadhaar-based face authentication. This shift marks a significant step toward enhancing security, reducing fraud, and streamlining access to provident fund services for employees across India. The new system, integrated with the UMANG app and Aadhaar FaceRD app, allows users to activate their UANs entirely through self-service, eliminating the need for manual interventions or employer involvement. The updated process requires users to install both the UMANG app and the Aadhaar FaceRD app on their mobile devices. During activation, individuals must enter their personal details and complete a live face scan under optimal lighting conditions. Upon successful verification, the UAN is instantly activated, and a default password is sent to the registered mobile number. This change addresses longstanding challenges such as OTP delivery failures, fingerprint mismatch issues, and the inconvenience of requiring office visits or employer assistance for UAN activation. Senior citizens and others facing difficulties with traditional verification methods are particularly benefiting from this transition. Security and fraud prevention are central to the new system. Aadhaar-based face authentication employs live biometric verification to confirm the user’s identity, significantly reducing the risk of unauthorized access or fake account creation.#provident_fund #umang_app #digital_india #epfo #aadhaar_facedrd_app
Govt questions Sixth Schedule limits, statehood fiscal burden at Ladakh talks Govt also sought clarity on the financial burden of granting Ladakh full statehood with a legislature, including salaries, provident fund liabilities and other expenditures for about 19,000 employees. Running a state or a Union territory with a legislature involves managing deficits and long-term fiscal responsibility, prompting the panel to press Ladakhi activists for detailed projections, the sources said. #Sixth_Schedule #Schedule_limits #questions_Sixth #including_salaries #Ladakh_talks #granting_Ladakh #Ladakh_full #Govt_questions #talks_Govt #provident_fund
