EPFO Rolls Out Aadhar Based Face Authentication for UAN Generation and Activation

The Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) has introduced a new method for employees to generate and activate their Universal Account Number (UAN) using Aadhaar-based Face Authentication Technology (FAT). This feature is now available through the UMANG mobile application.

UAN Generation Now Possible Without Employer

Earlier, the UAN generation process was handled by employers, who submitted employee data to EPFO. Although Aadhaar was used for verification, errors in other fields, such as the employee’s father’s name or mobile number, were common. These issues led to delays and manual corrections during claims or other services.

The updated system allows employees to generate and activate UANs directly. Using the UMANG and AadhaarFaceRD apps, employees can enter their Aadhaar details, verify via OTP, and capture a live photo to complete the process. Once matched with Aadhaar records, the UAN is automatically generated and activated. The e-UAN card is also made available for download.

Activation Rates and Technical Details

According to the Ministry of Labour and Employment, in FY 2024-25, over 1.26 crore UANs were allotted by EPFO. However, only 35.3% of them, approximately 4.5 million, were activated by members. One reason for the low activation rate was the requirement for members to separately complete Aadhaar-OTP verification, which often led to confusion.

Under the new process, activation happens alongside generation, and mobile numbers are auto-verified with Aadhaar. The new method is intended to reduce errors and streamline onboarding.

Future Use Cases and Expansion

The Ministry has confirmed plans to extend face authentication services to pensioners, as per the reports. Youth volunteers under My Bharat Will assist pensioners in submitting digital life certificates using the Jeevan Pramaan platform.

Audits for Private Provident Fund Trusts

The EPFO will also begin auditing private provident fund trusts that receive complaints regarding irregularities or mismanagement. This step comes after the Labour Minister received reports of misconduct. The Ministry has flagged concerns around the opaque functioning of some private PF trusts.

Conclusion

The new system is designed to improve accuracy in UAN generation and address gaps in existing processes, while also upgrading oversight of private PF trusts.

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