In a significant move aimed at streamlining the crediting of past accumulations, the Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) has announced relaxed norms for the generation of Universal Account Numbers (UAN) in certain special cases.
According to a circular issued on April 25, 2025, EPFO will now allow bulk generation of UANs without Aadhaar in two specific situations:
- When exempted PF trusts surrender or lose their exemption status and remit past accumulations.
- In cases where past contributions are remitted following quasi-judicial or recovery proceedings.
To facilitate this, a new software functionality has been rolled out across EPFO’s Field Offices. The system enables bulk UAN creation based on member ID and other available records, without requiring Aadhaar upfront.
Key Highlights:
- Aadhaar is not mandatory at the UAN generation stage in these special cases.
- UANs generated through this process will remain in a frozen state.
- These UANs will be activated only after successful Aadhaar seeding.
- No transfers or withdrawals can be made until Aadhaar is linked.
This initiative is expected to ensure timely crediting of funds and proper accounting of past accumulations. It reflects EPFO’s continued efforts to enhance operational flexibility while safeguarding member data and fund integrity.
