Social Security Schemes, 2026: EPF, EPS & EDLI

What the notification says

• Frames the successor provident fund scheme to the 1952 Scheme, which stands superseded except for things already done or omitted before supersession.
• Applies, subject to Sections 20, 21 and 143 of the Code, to every establishment to which Chapter III of the Code applies, and to Central or State Government owned or controlled establishments employing the number of employees specified in the First Schedule to the Code, whose employees are not entitled to contributory PF or old-age pension benefits under any other scheme.
• Retains the concept of "excluded employee" for members whose wages exceed the wage limit fixed under the Code, and for international workers covered by a Social Security Agreement or specified bilateral CEPA regime.
• Covers definitions, membership, contributions, administration by the Board of Trustees, exempted establishments under Section 143, and prescribed returns and forms in the Appendix.

What the notification says

• Frames the successor deposit-linked insurance scheme to the 1976 Scheme, which stands superseded except for things already done or omitted before supersession.
• Applies, subject to Sections 20 and 143 of the Code, to employees of every establishment to which Chapter III of the Code applies.
• Continues the Insurance Fund with the Central Government in the public account and provides for interest at a rate of not less than 8.5% per annum on balances held with the Central Government.
• Preserves the framework for exemption of establishments having an approved insurance policy providing benefits at least as favourable as the statutory scheme, subject to inspection and specified conditions.
• Prescribes returns to be filed by employers and exempted establishments, including monthly returns of employees, contributions and grievances, in the Appendix.

What the notification says

• Frames the successor pension scheme to the Employees' Family Pension Scheme, 1971 and the Employees' Pension Scheme, 1995, which stand superseded except for things already done or omitted before supersession.
• Subject to Section 20 of the Code, applies to employees of all establishments to which Chapter III of the Code applies under Section 1(4), or has been made applicable under sub-sections (5), (6) or (8).
• Comes into force from the date of its publication in the Official Gazette (29 June 2026).
• Continues the Pension Fund architecture and prescribes the actuarial tables (Tables A to D and Table 5 in the Schedules) used to compute monthly member pension, widow pension, commutation and past-service benefits.
• Retains statutory family, widow, children's, orphan and disablement pensions, with commutation and return-of-capital options administered through banks and post offices as per the prescribed forms.

FAQs