EPFO Launches WhatsApp Services and Automates Settlement of Inactive Accounts
EPFO celebrates its 74th anniversary, introducing WhatsApp services and automating inactive account settlements to benefit millions.
New Delhi, November 1 (Daily Kiran) : The Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) celebrated its 74th anniversary on October 31 at the Dr. Ambedkar International Centre in New Delhi. During the event, Union Minister for Labour and Employment, Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya, announced two new services aimed at enhancing member experience.
Members can now access their Provident Fund (PF) balance, recent transaction details, and passbook information via a verified WhatsApp service. Additionally, EPFO will automatically settle inactive accounts with amounts up to ₹1,000 that are verified through Aadhaar. This initiative is expected to benefit around 100,000 account holders, injecting approximately ₹50 million into their accounts.
An official statement revealed that the ceremony also included the release of seven significant publications covering topics such as social security, administrative reforms, judicial decisions, Hindi literature, and sensitive administration. Outstanding regional offices, officials, and staff were recognized with the Provident Fund Awards 2026.
Dr. Mandaviya highlighted that EPFO has evolved from a simple provident fund institution into one of the nation’s key social security entities over the past 74 years. He emphasized that the trust placed in the organization by millions of workers and pensioners is its greatest strength.
Currently, EPFO serves over 80 million contributing members and 8.5 million pensioners, managing a retirement fund of approximately ₹32 trillion. Dr. Mandaviya noted that this achievement reflects the dedication and hard work of EPFO’s employees. He stressed that social security should be driven not just by processes but by human emotions, urging that every worker’s issue must be addressed with empathy and respect, as they are the foundation of nation-building.
Looking ahead to its 75th anniversary, Dr. Mandaviya called for a greater focus on worker-centric innovations. He urged officials to draw inspiration from Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ‘Panch Pran’ and contribute to the vision of a developed India. Despite technological advancements, he reiterated that the ultimate goal should remain to provide better services to workers and pensioners.
Dr. Chandra Bhushan Kumar, Secretary of the Ministry of Labour and Employment, stated that EPFO has fortified India’s social security framework over the past seven decades. He emphasized that the benefits of social security and labour reforms should extend beyond the organized sector to include workers in the unorganized sector. In the digital age, he noted, reforms must be a continuous process, requiring institutions to adapt over time.
The anniversary also highlighted the achievements of EPFO’s technical initiative, CTZ 2.01, which has reduced the average claim settlement time to just 2.57 days as of October 2026. This improvement allows members to access services related to their provident fund accounts more quickly and conveniently.
The Central Provident Fund Commissioner remarked that EPFO’s success should be measured not solely by statistics but by every claim, pension, and assistance that reaches beneficiaries on time. The organization aims to instill a sense of security, respect, and trust in each member and pensioner.
