Lok Sabha Question No. 586 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-07-24
Subject: EPF Scheme
Ministry: LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT
Asked by: Sanghamitra Maurya, Keshari Devi Patel, Sanjay Haribhau Jadhav

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 586

TO BE ANSWERED ON 24.07.2023

## EPF SCHEME

†586. DR. SANGHMITRA MAURYA: SHRI SANJAY JADHAV: SHRIMATI KESHARI DEVI PATEL:

Will the Minister of LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT be pleased to state:

- (a)the salient features of Employee Provident Fund scheme;
- (b)the estimated number of employees covered under EPF scheme at
- present, State/UT-wise;
- (c)the  total  number  of  employees  who  are  contributing  in  EPF  on regular  basis,  State-wise  particularly  the  employees  of  Badaun and Prayagraj Parliamentary Constituencies of Uttar Pradesh and of
- Ratnagiri-Sindhudurg Parliamentary Constituencies Maharashtra ;
- (d)whether the Government proposes to relax the eligibility norms to provide benefit to the beneficiaries, if so, the details thereof and the time by which it is likely to be implemented; and
- (e)whether a large number of EPF accounts of the staff/employees are lying inactive for the last many years, if so, the details thereof along with the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE FOR LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT (SHRI RAMESWAR TELI)

(a): The Employees' Provident Fund (EPF) Scheme, 1952 is one of the three schemes framed under the Employees' Provident Funds and Miscellaneous Provisions (EPF & MP) Act, 1952. The EPF Scheme, 1952 aims at providing social security to employees employed in an EPF  covered  establishment.  Under  the  EPF,  Scheme,  1952,  an employee of any covered establishment drawing monthly wages up to Rs. 15,000 is statutorily required to join the fund and to contribute 12% of wages, which includes basic wages, dearness allowance and retaining  allowance,  if  any.  The  employer  is  also  required  to contribute  12%  of  the  wages.  The  Employees'  Provident  Fund  is managed by a Board of Trustees  consisting of  representatives from

Central Government, employers, employees and State Governments. A  member  of  the  EPF  Scheme,  1952  is  entitled  to  the  benefit  of withdrawal and advance for various purposes (viz. for purchase/construction of dwelling house, illness, education, marriage, Covid-19, etc.) from the EPF as per the provisions contained in the said scheme. A member is also entitled for credit of interest on his/her PF accumulations each year.

(b) & (c): The  State/UT-wise (including details of  Badaun  and Prayagraj  districts  of  Uttar  Pradesh  and  Ratnagiri  and  Sindhudurg Districts  of  Maharashtra)  details  of  employees  (Universal  Account Numbers contributing atleast once during last one year from Wage month July, 2022 to June, 2023 and not exited) contributing in EPF on regular basis are at Annexure.

(d): The  wage  ceiling  for  coverage  under  the  EPF  Scheme, 1952 is revised from time to time. Presently, it is Rs.15000/- per month since 01.09.2014.

(e): As per paragraph 72(6) of the EPF Scheme 1952, certain accounts are classified as Inoperative Accounts. All such Inoperative Accounts, however, have definite claimants. As on 31.03.2022, the total amount in Inoperative Accounts is Rs. 4962.70 crore.

*                                                 *****

ANNEXURE REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (b) & (c) OF LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 586 TO BE ANSWERED ON 24.07.2023 BY DR. SANGHMITRA MAURYA, SHRI  SANJAY  JADHAV,  SHRIMATI  KESHARI  DEVI  PATEL  REGARDING  'EPF SCHEME'

State/UT-wise (including details of Badaun and Prayagraj districts of Uttar Pradesh and Ratnagiri and Sindhudurg districts of Maharashtra) details of employees (Universal Account Numbers contributing atleast once during last one year from Wage month July, 2022 to June, 2023 and not exited) contributing in EPF on regular basis.

| Sl. No.   | State/UT                  | Employees                              |
|-----------|---------------------------|----------------------------------------|
| 1         | ANDAMANANDNICOBAR ISLANDS | 20240                                  |
| 2         | ANDHRA PRADESH            | 1500966                                |
| 3         | ARUNACHAL PRADESH         | 11642                                  |
| 4         | ASSAM                     | 361954                                 |
| 5         | BIHAR                     | 1163720                                |
| 6         | CHANDIGARH                | 594835                                 |
| 7         | CHATTISGARH               | 656683                                 |
| 8         | DADRA AND NAGAR HAVELI    | 165025                                 |
| 9         | DAMANANDDIU               | 109811                                 |
| 10        | DELHI                     | 4007063                                |
| 11        | GOA                       | 250279                                 |
| 12        | GUJARAT                   | 4187709                                |
| 13        | HARYANA                   | 3617407                                |
| 14        | HIMACHAL PRADESH          | 435518                                 |
| 15        | JAMMU AND KASHMIR         | 194754                                 |
| 16        | JHARKHAND                 | 690022                                 |
| 17        | KARNATAKA                 | 7537917                                |
| 18        | KERALA                    | 1249560                                |
| 19        | LADAKH                    | 2356                                   |
| 20        | LAKSHADWEEP               | 40                                     |
| 21        | MADHYAPRADESH             | 1453179                                |
| 22        | MAHARASHTRA               | 13431905 (37782) &Sindhudurg (8422)    |
| 23        | MANIPUR                   | 16924                                  |
| 24        | MEGHALAYA                 | 41049                                  |
| 25        | MIZORAM                   | 4234                                   |
| 26        | NAGALAND                  | 11224                                  |
| 27        | ODISHA                    | 1091497                                |
| 28        | PUDUCHERRY                | 132719                                 |
| 29        | PUNJAB                    | 851871                                 |
| 30        | RAJASTHAN                 | 1725304                                |
| 31        | SIKKIM                    | 30711                                  |
| 32        | TAMIL NADU                | 6530368                                |
| 33        | TELANGANA                 | 3966619                                |
| 34        | TRIPURA                   | 33572                                  |
| 35        | UTTAR PRADESH             | 3145415 Badaun(4287) &Prayagraj(76790) |
| 36        | UTTARAKHAND               | 734969                                 |
| 37        | WEST BENGAL               | 3264085                                |
|           | Total                     | 63223146                               |