THEBUSINESSBYTES
BUREAU
NEW
DELHI, NOVEMBER 1, 2026
Union Labour and
Employment Minister Mansukh Mandaviya on Sunday said the Employees' Provident
Fund Organisation (EPFO) had emerged as one of India's most trusted social security
institutions over its 74-year journey, with a responsibility to further
strengthen worker-centric services through technology, compassion and
transparency.
Addressing the 74th
Foundation Day celebrations of EPFO at the Dr Ambedkar International Centre
here, Mandaviya said the organisation's credibility was reflected in its nearly
Rs 32 lakh crore corpus, built through contributions from more than eight crore
members, and credited its workforce for this remarkable achievement.
He said EPFO's
journey from a statutory provident fund organisation established in 1952 to a
major pillar of India's social security framework was marked by the trust of
millions of workers and pensioners.
Emphasising the human
dimension of social security, the minister said every worker's concern and
grievance must be addressed with compassion, empathy and dignity, recognising
their contribution as nation-builders.
"Seva is our
sanskaar," Mandaviya said, urging EPFO officials to ensure that the
benefits of reforms and technological advancements reached workers at the last
mile.
Appreciating the
organisation's technological transformation, particularly the implementation of
CITES 2.01, he called upon officials to draw inspiration from the 'Panch Pran'
articulated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and work collectively towards the
vision of Viksit Bharat.
With EPFO approaching
its 75th year, Mandaviya stressed the need for continuous innovation,
resilience and adaptation to changing times. He said the organisation must
develop more worker-centric solutions across different domains to make its
services faster, simpler and more accessible.
He also extended
Diwali greetings to EPFO officials, members and beneficiaries, wishing them
prosperity and success.
Labour and Employment
Secretary Chandra Bhushan Kumar said EPFO had strengthened India's social
security architecture over more than seven decades and established an
institutional model that could inspire future generations.
He emphasised that
social protection and labour reforms must extend beyond the organised sector to
reach unorganised workers, ensuring that the benefits of welfare initiatives
were accessible to those at the grassroots.
Describing reform as
a continuous process, Kumar said institutions must constantly evolve in the
digital age to address the everyday problems of ordinary citizens. He called
upon officials to change their mindset and working approaches in line with
emerging requirements, prioritising accessibility and ease of living for beneficiaries.
He said collective
efforts towards inclusive social security would play an important role in
achieving the national vision of Viksit Bharat @2047.
Central Provident
Fund Commissioner Ramesh Krishnamurthi, reflecting on the organisation's evolution
since its establishment in 1952, said EPFO now served approximately eight crore
contributory members and 85 lakh pensioners while safeguarding a retirement
corpus of nearly Rs 32 lakh crore.
Acknowledging the
contribution of officers and employees across the country, he said their
dedication had sustained service delivery even as the organisation underwent
significant technological and administrative changes.
Krishnamurthi said
institutional trust was built through every claim settled, every pension
delivered and every family supported during difficult times. He stressed that
the ultimate measure of EPFO's success was the confidence and financial
security experienced by its members and pensioners.
A key highlight of
the celebrations was the presentation of improvements achieved through the
organisation's technological transformation under CITES 2.01.
The average claim
settlement time declined to just 2.57 days in October 2026, reflecting efforts
to accelerate access to provident fund savings and make services more
convenient for members.
The event was attended by senior officials, members of the Central Board of Trustees, representatives of workers and employers and other stakeholders, marking an occasion to reflect on EPFO's achievements and chart its future course towards its 75th year.
