In a welcome move for government employees, the Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) has extended the deadline to activate Universal Account Numbers (UAN) and link Aadhaar with bank accounts till June 30, 2025. This extension aims to facilitate those seeking financial benefits under the Employment Linked Incentive (ELI) scheme.
The earlier deadline was November 30, 2024, which has already been revised multiple times to accommodate more beneficiaries.
What is UAN and Why is it Important?The Universal Account Number (UAN) is a 12-digit unique identifier assigned to every EPFO member. It allows employees to manage and track their Provident Fund (PF) accounts across various jobs.
Even if an employee changes their employer, the UAN remains constant, thereby centralizing their EPF contributions under one umbrella.
Having an active UAN is mandatory to avail key EPFO services such as:
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Checking PF balance online
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Submitting withdrawal or transfer claims
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Updating personal information
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Ensuring timely receipt of funds
Additionally, Aadhaar seeding with the bank account is required to ensure the smooth transfer of EPF benefits under the government’s employment incentive programs.
New Deadline: What EPFO SaidAs per the official circular issued by EPFO on May 30, 2025, the final deadline for both UAN activation and Aadhaar-bank account linking has been revised to June 30, 2025.
Employees failing to complete these steps by the deadline risk losing access to financial benefits under EPFO-related schemes, including the ELI scheme.
What is the Employment Linked Incentive (ELI) Scheme?The ELI Scheme was announced by the Indian government in the Union Budget for FY 2024-25 to stimulate job creation across the country. Under this scheme:
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The central government provides financial assistance to both employers and employees.
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The initiative is expected to benefit over 40 million youth across India.
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Three employment-linked schemes were launched, with UAN activation and Aadhaar linkage being a prerequisite to avail the benefits.
If you haven’t activated your UAN yet, follow these four easy steps through the EPFO Member Services Portal:
Visit the official EPFO Member Portal
Click on ‘Activate UAN’ under the "Important Links" section.
Enter required details including your date of birth, Aadhaar number, UAN, and mobile number.
Enter the OTP received on your registered mobile number to verify and activate your UAN.
Once completed, you can start using EPFO's digital services immediately.
Final TakeawayWith the extended deadline of June 30, 2025, government employees and other eligible workers now have more time to comply with these mandatory EPFO procedures. Timely activation of UAN and Aadhaar-bank account linking will not only ensure access to employment incentives, but also hassle-free management of Provident Fund benefits.
Employees are advised to act promptly to avoid last-minute rush and ensure continued access to EPFO’s financial benefits and services.
