Millions of provident fund subscribers will soon be able to check their PF balance on WhatsApp, and dormant accounts holding up to ₹1,000 will be settled automatically, the Employees' Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) announced on its 74th Foundation Day.
The programme was held at Dr. Ambedkar International Centre in New Delhi and presided over by Labour Minister Mansukh Mandaviya, who chairs the Central Board of Trustees of the EPF. He said the trust placed in EPFO is reflected in a ₹32 lakh crore corpus built from contributions by more than 8 crore members.
What changes for subscribers
- WhatsApp service: subscribers will be able to see their PF balance, the latest five transactions and passbook information through EPFO's verified WhatsApp service. It will also offer personalised guidance on requirements linked to the PMVBRY scheme, so routine tasks need fewer visits to EPFO offices.
- Automatic settlement: subscribers with Aadhaar-verified inoperative accounts holding up to ₹1,000 will not have to file individual claims. EPFO will start settlement itself after the prescribed identity and bank-account checks. About one lakh accounts involving ₹5 crore are expected to benefit.
Faster claims
The Central Provident Fund Commissioner, Ramesh Krishnamurthi, said EPFO serves about 8 crore contributory members and 85 lakh pensioners. The event highlighted that average claim settlement time had fallen to 2.57 days in October 2026, helped by the technology upgrade known as CITES 2.01.
"Seva is our sanskaar"
Mandaviya told officials that every worker's grievance must be handled "with compassion and empathy". "Seva is our sanskaar," he said, and he asked staff to focus on worker-centred innovations before EPFO's 75th year.
Labour Secretary Chandra Bhushan Kumar said social protection and labour reforms must reach workers in the unorganised sector as well, not just the organised sector.
Publications and awards
Seven publications were released, among them the EPFO State Profile 2026, a Compendium of Judgements 2026 and a volume of 83 case studies from 62 regional offices on resolving members' grievances. The Bhavishya Nidhi Awards 2026 were given to regional and zonal offices and individual staff for work including grievance handling, pension services and death-claim settlement.
What happens next
The release does not give a date for the WhatsApp service or for the first automatic settlements.
Photos
Source: official release by the Ministry of Labour & Employment, issued through the Press Information Bureau, Government of India (01 NOV 2026 3:09PM by PIB Delhi). Read the full official text: EPFO's 74-Year Journey Built on Trust, Service and Commitment to Workers: Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya.
How we verified this
VerifiedEvery fact, figure and quotation is taken from the official PIB release (Release ID 2331157) issued by the Ministry of Labour & Employment on 01 NOV 2026 3:09PM by PIB Delhi; checked against the source on publication. Story written by BDT from that release; no outside facts added.
Sources
- 1.EPFO's 74-Year Journey Built on Trust, Service and Commitment to Workers: Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya — Press Information Bureau, Government of India
