The 113th meeting of the Executive Committee (EC) of the Central Board of Trustees (CBT), EPF, was held in Srinagar, Jammu & Kashmir, on March 28, 2025. The meeting was chaired by Smt. Sumita Dawra, Secretary of the Ministry of Labour and Employment, and attended by Shri Ramesh Krishnamurthi, Central Provident Fund Commissioner of EPFO. Other senior officials from the Ministry of Labour and Employment, as well as representatives from both employers and employees, were also present.
Key discussions included new initiatives aimed at streamlining EPFO’s processes and enhancing its delivery systems. The following agenda items were presented for discussion:
- Seamless PF Claim Settlement via UPI: The Executive Committee reviewed the progress of EPFO’s digital initiative to streamline claim settlements through immediate credit to bank accounts via the UPI platform. Development of the API and system integration with SBI and NPCI is being undertaken by CDAC (the technology partner) to ensure a smooth rollout in alignment with EPFO’s IT modernization project, CITES 2.01. This initiative underscores EPFO’s commitment to enhancing the ease of living for its members.
- Proposal to Increase the Auto Claim Limit to 5 Lakhs: The EC welcomed and appreciated the proposal, noting that it would significantly benefit EPF subscribers by improving their overall ease of living.
- IT Infrastructure and CITES 2.01 Implementation: EPFO highlighted the completion of hardware upgrades and progress in consolidating decentralized databases. Modules for User Management, Centralized Payments, and Re-engineered ECR are currently undergoing rigorous testing to ensure seamless deployment in the coming months. Despite facing multiple challenges, EPFO assured stakeholders of its commitment to complete the rollout within the next two months.
- Processing of Pension on Higher Wages Gains Momentum: The EC applauded the notable progress in processing cases related to Pension on Higher Wages (PoHW), noting a 22.8% increase in the total number of applications processed compared to the previous month. Additionally, 326,152 demand letters were issued, representing a substantial increase of 29.5% compared to last month’s figures. These achievements reflect EPFO’s commitment to fulfilling the directives of the Hon’ble Supreme Court.
The chairperson emphasized the importance of creating public awareness about the initiatives and efforts made by EPFO for good governance through regular campaigns in print, electronic, and social media.
The Executive Committee also discussed plans to finalize a roadmap aimed at transforming the organization into a member-centric, technology-driven body.
