The Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) has extended the deadline for activating the Universal Account Number (UAN) and seeding Aadhaar in bank accounts to March 15 for the Employment-Linked Incentive (ELI) Scheme by the retirement fund body.

The UAN activation and linking of bank accounts with Aadhaar is necessary to avail of benefits under the EPFO’s ELI Scheme.

“… the competent authority has granted an extension of the timeline for UAN activation and AADHAAR seeding in bank account till 15th March, 2025,” said an EPFO circular issued by the Ministry of Labour & Employment on February 21, 2025.

Before this, the ministry has extended the deadline multiple times. The previous deadline for this was February 15, 2025.

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What is ELI scheme?

The ELI scheme, announced in the Union Budget 2024-25, is designed to facilitate job creation and provide incentives to employers and employees. The scheme aims to create over 2 crore jobs in the country in 2 years, increasing employment opportunities and enhancing livelihood.

Employees seeking to claim monetary benefits under the ELI scheme are required to activate their UAN and link their Aadhaar to their bank accounts. This process, regulated by EPFO, is necessary to access the benefits of the scheme.

“It is mandatory to seed your Aadhaar with your bank account to avail the benefits of the Employment-Linked Incentive (ELI) Scheme, an employment-centric scheme focusing on job creation in the country. Do it timely to avoid the last-minute hassle!” read the EPFO’s post on the social media platform ‘X’.

Three schemes for ELI were announced in Union Budget 2024-25 as part of the Prime Minister’s package of 5 schemes and initiatives to facilitate employment, skilling, and other opportunities for 4.1 crore youth over 5 years with a central outlay of Rs 2 lakh crore.

According to FM Nirmala Sitharaman’s Budget 2024 speech, “Scheme A will focus on first-timers joining the employment and Employees’ Provident Fund (EPF) scheme; Scheme B will focus on job creation in manufacturing; and Scheme C will focus on support for employers.”

What is UAN?

UAN or Universal Account Number is a 12-digit number allotted by the EPFO to each of its members. A UAN acts as an umbrella for multiple Member IDs that an individual may have from different establishments.

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How to activate EPF UAN through Aadhaar-based OTP?

The activation process can be completed using an Aadhaar-based OTP (One-Time Password). Employers should ensure that their employees activate the UAN by following the steps given below:

Step 1 – Go to EPFO Member Portal.

Step 2 – Click on the “Activate UAN” link under “Important Links”.

Step 3 – Enter UAN, Aadhaar number, name, DOB, and Aadhaar-linked mobile number.

Step 4 – Employees should ensure their mobile number is Aadhaar-linked to access the full range of EPFO’s digital services

Step 5 – Agree to Aadhaar OTP verification.

Step 6 – Click “Get Authorization PIN” to receive an OTP on your Aadhaar-linked mobile number.

Step 7 – Enter the OTP to complete the activation

Step 8 – A password will be sent to your registered mobile number upon successful activation.

Once the UAN is activated, members can easily access a wide range of online services on the EPFO portal. EPFO members can manage their PF accounts, view and download PF passbooks, submit online claims for advances, request withdrawals, or transfers, update personal information, and do real-time claim monitoring.