The Employees’ Provident Fund Organization (EPFO) has this month completed the migration of the database of all its members to a centralized platform under the Centralized IT Enabled Services (CITES) project. According to the Ministry of Labor and Employment, this will make EPFO services faster, transparent and member-centric than before.
Last week, Union Labor and Employment Minister Mansukh Mandaviya said that EPFO has successfully transferred all its member records to the new central database. This will bring a big change in PF and pension related services across the country.
What is CITES Project?
CITES (Centralised IT Enabled Services) aims to modernize the services of EPFO. Under this, automation and rule-based systems have been used.
Earlier, each regional EPFO office had its own separate database. Now the data of all the members will be available in a single national database. With this, the requests of members across the country can be settled from any authorized EPFO office. Now members will not have to visit their regional office for PF or pension claim.
EPFO members will get these big benefits
Claim money will be received soon
Now PF claim payment will be done through centralized payment system. The money will be sent through fast and secure electronic means directly to the member’s bank account on the same day the claim is settled.
Interest will be given till payment
Earlier, interest on final PF settlement was added only till the last day of the previous month. Now interest will be available till the date of approval of payment. That means members will get more interest than before.
Interest will be visible immediately in the passbook
According to EPFO, for the financial year 2025-26, at the rate of 8.25% interest, about Rs 1.44 lakh crore will be deposited in about 34 crore accounts by July 15. After this, members will be able to see the interest in their passbook immediately.
All information will be available on one portal
Now members can log in to the EPFO portal at one place—
- PF balance
- Claim Status
- Membership Information
- pension service record
- benefits received
You will be able to see all such information.
Chances of claim rejection will be less
Now before submitting the claim, the system will automatically check the necessary documents and information. If there is any shortage, the portal will inform you at that time. This will greatly reduce the chances of the claim being rejected.
You will get correct withdrawal information
Now members will also be able to see how much PF they can withdraw under different circumstances. Earlier, people used to apply without any information and if they asked for more than the prescribed limit, the claim would get rejected.
Will be able to withdraw up to 75% PF
Under the new system, members will be able to withdraw up to 75% of their total PF balance.
Auto settlement up to ₹5 lakh
Fully KYC verified advance PF claims up to Rs 5 lakh will be settled through auto-settlement. Earlier its limit was only Rs 1 lakh.
Online answer facility
If EPFO requires any additional information during claim investigation, members will now be able to respond online. This will reduce the need to go to the office and the claim will also be settled faster.
PF withdrawal rules become easier
Earlier there were 13 different rules for partial withdrawal. Now these have been divided into three simple categories-
- Essential Needs
- Housing Needs
- Special Circumstances
- PF will be transferred automatically on change of job
Now PF accounts with UAN linked to Aadhaar will be automatically transferred on change of job. There will be no need to apply separately for this or take approval from the old and new employer.
Claim settlement will be done from any office in the country
Now claims related to PF and pension can be processed from any regional EPFO office in the country and payment can be sent to any bank account in India.
What is EPFO Amnesty Scheme 2026?
EPFO has also started Amnesty Scheme 2026. Under this, the institutions running Exempted PF Trust recognized under the Income Tax Act, 1961 will get a one-time opportunity to regularize their legal status. This scheme will be applicable for six months from June 29, 2026.
The objective of this scheme is to provide relief to those institutions which have the recognition of the Income Tax Department, but do not have the necessary exemption under the EPF law. By getting their status regularized, eligible institutions will be able to avoid legal problems in future.
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