Big news for EPFO subscribers. The pension in the Provident Fund may increase this time. There is a lot of speculation about it. This may happen after more than a decade. How much will the pension be for EPFO members?

On October 13, the Central Board of Trustees, the regulatory body of EPFO, will hold a meeting. Several issues related to PF will be discussed. One important topic is the recommendation to increase the minimum pension in the Employees’ Pension Scheme from ₹1,000 to ₹2,500

EPFO Pension and Digital Update: Key Highlights

The last time the pension was increased to ₹1,000 was in 2014. But with current inflation, a pension of ₹1,000 is not enough. Pensioners are struggling to meet even their basic expenses. Various government employee unions have asked the central government to look into this issue. Reports say the Labour Ministry has reviewed it, but the final decision may come in today’s meeting.

It is being reported that along with increasing the pension, a decision may also be taken to launch EPFO 3.0 in today’s meeting. If EPFO 3.0 is launched, PF money can be withdrawn through ATMs. Services like easy withdrawal and fund transfer will also become simpler on the digital platform. Under this initiative, a framework for member-centric digital transformation was approved to modernize provident fund services. It will integrate core banking solutions with cloud and API-based modules. The goal is faster and automatic claim settlement, instant withdrawals, multilingual self-service options, and smooth payroll-related contributions. This will make EPFO services more efficient and user-friendly.

The Central Board of Trustees also approved the selection of four fund managers for EPFO’s debt portfolio for five years. This will help diversify investments and increase returns on members’ PF savings. Labour Minister Mansukh Mandaviya also inaugurated key digital initiatives during the meeting. These initiatives aim to ensure transparency, efficiency, and a better user experience. The Labour Ministry says these decisions will provide EPFO members with financial security and modern, digital, and convenient services.

EPF Return Filing Deadline Extended

In a major relief to employers, EPFO has extended the deadline for filing EPF returns (ECR – Electronic Challan-cum-Return) for September by one week, now due on October 22, 2025. This extension is given due to difficulties faced by employers in using the new ECR system. Usually, employers must submit ECRs by the 15th of every month. This extension will help implement the new and revised ECR system smoothly, which started from the September 2025 salary month. Many employers had difficulty understanding and using the new system, so EPFO gave this extension.