Why in News?
The Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) is set to launch a new digital facility, the E-PRAAPTI portal, to help members trace and link their old provident fund (PF) accounts with their Universal Account Number (UAN).
| UPSC Relevance: GS-2 Social Justice: Welfare schemes (Social Security); GS-3 Economy: Digital Infrastructure, Inclusive Growth Prelims: E-PRAAPTI portal, Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation, Universal Account Number |
About E-PRAAPTI Portal:
- E-PRAAPTI (EPF Aadhaar-Based Access Portal for Tracking Inoperative Accounts) is a dedicated digital platform that would allow the members to:
- Identify and track old/inoperative EPF accounts
- Link them with Universal Account Number (UAN)
- Enable seamless access and claim settlement
- Significance: Expected to reduce manual intervention, minimise documentation, and enhance transparency and efficiency.
What is the Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation?
- The Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) is a statutory, non-constitutional body under the Ministry of Labour & Employment. It was formed under the Employees’ Provident Fund and Miscellaneous Provisions Act, 1952.
- It provides social security benefits to its members in the form of a provident fund, pension, and insurance. It administers three schemes:
- Employees’ Provident Funds Scheme (retirement savings)
- Employees’ Pension Scheme (EPF)
- Employees’ Deposit Linked Insurance Scheme (EDLS)
- Contribution Structure:
- Employee Contribution (12%): 12% of basic salary and dearness allowance (DA) goes into the EPF account.
- Employer Contribution (12%): Split into the Employees’ Pension Scheme (8.33 %) and the EPF account (remaining).
- EPFO primarily covers organised sector employees (establishments with 20 or more employees). It de facto excludes the unorganised sector (exclusion is not always strict, as voluntary coverage exists).
What is Universal Account Number (UAN)?
- Universal Account Number (UAN) is a unique 12-digit identification number allotted by the EPFO to every salaried employee who is a member of the Employee Provident Fund.
- The UAN will act as an umbrella for the multiple Member IDs allotted to an individual by different establishments (linking all Provident Fund accounts to one ID).
UPSC PYQ 2021
Q. With reference to casual workers employed in India, consider the following statements:
1. All casual workers are entitled for Employees Provident Fund coverage.
2. All casual workers are entitled for regular working hours and overtime payment.
3. The government can, by a notification, specify that an establishment or industry shall pay wages only through its bank account.
Which of the above statements are correct?
(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 1 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3
Answer: (d)
Tell Google you want more of this.
Add Anantam IAS as a preferred sourceOne tap, and this site shows up more often in your own Top Stories, AI Overviews and AI Mode. Remove it any time.
