New Delhi: The Employees' Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) is set to introduce a new facility that will enable its members to identify, track, activate, and link their old provident fund accounts with their existing Universal Account Number (UAN). Labour minister Mansukh Mandaviya made this announcement to reporters on Wednesday.
Benefiting Pre-UAN Era Workers
The facility is expected to be particularly useful for a large number of individuals who began their careers before the UAN system was introduced in 2014. Many of these workers face difficulties in providing a complete work history when filing claims with the retirement fund body, as they may have worked for multiple employers over the years.
Understanding the UAN System
Introduced in 2014, the 12-digit UAN serves as a universal umbrella for all member IDs from different employers. It allows a member to manage all provident fund contributions under a single number throughout their career, simplifying tracking, transfers, and online access to their PF.
E-PRAAPTI Portal Features
Mandaviya explained, "The E-PRAAPTI portal (EPF Aadhaar-Based Access Portal for Tracking Inoperative Accounts) will provide a streamlined Aadhaar-based authentication mechanism. This will enable members to securely access their old EPF accounts that may not have a linked UAN and initiate the process of updating their member profile, followed by seamless UAN linking and activation."
Initial Phase and Future Expansion
Earlier, TOI reported that EPFO was planning to deploy new-age technologies to validate past service records. This would help authenticate damaged or missing records, enabling the merging of multiple accounts and facilitating the settlement of inoperative EPF accounts with minimal manual intervention. In the initial phase, the portal will assist workers who can recall their member IDs. "Going forward, it is contemplated to expand the scope of E-PRAAPTI to include members who may not be able to recall or access their old IDs as well," Mandaviya added.
Current Data and Claim Settlement
According to the latest government data, the total number of allotted UANs stood at 20.3 crore at the end of FY24, while the total number of member accounts exceeds 30 crore. Among these, nearly 7.3 crore UANs are actively contributing to the retirement fund body.
Additionally, Mandaviya revealed that EPFO settled 8.3 crore claims in 2025-26, of which 5.5 crore were advance or partial withdrawals. This highlights the ease of access to PF accounts, enabling members to draw upon their savings to meet their needs.
