With the increasing focus on digital inclusion and efficient employee benefit systems, the Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) has introduced several user-friendly features. One such initiative is the bulk UAN generation facility. This system allows employers to generate Universal Account Numbers (UANs) for multiple employees at once—streamlining the process and bringing more workers, especially those from the unorganised sector, into the formal provident fund network.
In this article, we explain what bulk UAN generation is, how it works, its advantages, and how employers can initiate this process. If you’re wondering how to generate bulk UAN number, read on.
What Is UAN?
Before diving into bulk generation, it’s essential to understand what a UAN is. The Universal Account Number (UAN) is a 12-digit unique identification number allotted to each employee by the EPFO. It acts as a centralised ID for multiple PF member IDs assigned to an individual across different organisations during their career.
The UAN allows easy tracking of PF contributions, withdrawals, and transfers—making employee benefits more accessible and organised.
Understanding Bulk UAN Generation
Bulk UAN generation is a feature provided by EPFO to allow employers to generate UANs for several employees simultaneously. Instead of manually creating UANs one by one, the bulk generator allows the employer to upload member details in bulk, saving time and effort.
This system is particularly helpful in large organisations or sectors like construction, gig work, or seasonal employment where a large workforce is hired at once. This initiative was introduced to enable employees with previous provident fund contributions to retrieve and access their accumulated savings.
When Is Bulk UAN Generation Used?
- Onboarding large teams: Companies hiring hundreds of workers—like in infrastructure or delivery services—use the bulk UAN generator to quickly register employees under the EPF scheme.
- Accessing old PF accumulations: Sometimes, employees have unlinked or forgotten PF deposits from previous jobs or from employers with exempted PF trusts. With bulk UAN generation, these workers can now receive UANs and access their old savings.
- Compliance and recovery cases: In cases where the EPFO recovers pending dues or companies surrender their exempted trust status, bulk UAN generation helps register the employees and credit funds quickly.
- Dormant or unlinked employees: If certain employees did not get UANs earlier due to Aadhaar issues or administrative delays, employers can now generate UANs in bulk for them as well.
Bulk UAN Generation Without Aadhaar
Traditionally, Aadhaar seeding was a must for generating UANs. However, EPFO has relaxed this requirement in specific cases like:
- Surrendered or cancelled exempted PF trusts
- Legal recovery actions for past dues
- Unorganised workers with no Aadhaar link
Now, employers can generate UANs based on available member details like Member ID, even if Aadhaar is not linked. However, these UANs will remain frozen until the Aadhaar is seeded successfully.
This relaxation has made it significantly easier for employees to access their past PF contributions, even if their Aadhaar details are not yet updated.
How to Generate UAN Number in Bulk?
- Step 1: Login to Employer Portal Visit the EPFO employer portal and log in using your credentials.
- Step 2: Navigate to ‘Bulk UAN Generation’ Module Look for the bulk UAN generator section in the portal’s dashboard.
- Step 3: Download the Format Download the predefined Excel format where you’ll enter employee details such as name, date of birth, Member ID, and PAN (if available).
- Step 4: Fill in Employee Data Accurately enter the details for each employee. Ensure the data matches EPFO records for verification.
- Step 5: Upload the Sheet Upload the completed file through the portal. The system will validate the information.
- Step 6: Acknowledgement and Status After successful upload, the system generates UANs in bulk and displays the status for each employee.
Employers must also inform employees about the newly generated UANs and guide them on linking Aadhaar for activation.
Advantages of Bulk UAN Generation
- Time-saving: No need for manual UAN creation for each employee
- Inclusive: Helps onboard unorganised or previously excluded workers
- Efficient processing: Simplifies crediting of past PF dues
- Scalable: Suitable for companies onboarding hundreds or thousands of workers
- Greater compliance: Enables employers to meet EPFO requirements without administrative delays
Important Points to Remember
- UANs generated without Aadhaar are kept frozen until Aadhaar is seeded.
- No withdrawals or transfers can be done using frozen UANs.
- Employers must ensure employees update Aadhaar as soon as possible.
- The bulk UAN generator is only accessible through the official EPFO employer portal.
- The facility is especially helpful during compliance drives or inspections by EPFO authorities.
The Role of EPFO Field Offices
EPFO has also developed a dedicated software module for use by its field offices. This allows regional offices to assist in bulk UAN generation in exceptional cases such as:
- Legal recovery of old PF dues
- Surrendered exempted trusts
- Workers with incomplete data but verified employment history
These field offices can bulk-generate UANs using internal EPFO data such as Member IDs, payroll records, and employment details—even if Aadhaar is missing.
Future of Bulk UAN Generation
The bulk UAN generation facility is a key step towards wider inclusion under India’s social security network. By removing Aadhaar dependency in select cases, the EPFO is ensuring that unorganised workers and previously overlooked employees can now access their rightful PF benefits.
This is especially beneficial for sectors with high workforce mobility or temporary staffing, where maintaining consistent PF records can be a challenge.
Conclusion
Bulk UAN generation is a powerful tool introduced by EPFO to enhance coverage, speed up employee registration, and support efficient PF fund management. Whether you’re an HR executive at a large firm or a compliance officer looking to settle old dues, knowing how to generate bulk UAN number and using the bulk UAN generator can save significant time and help your workforce stay connected to their PF savings. This initiative ensures greater financial inclusion and smooth handling of past accumulations—helping EPFO achieve its goal of serving every working Indian.
FAQs
What is bulk UAN generation?
Bulk UAN generation is a facility by EPFO that allows employers to generate Universal Account Numbers for multiple employees at once through the employer portal.
Who can generate bulk UAN numbers for PF?
Employers registered with EPFO can generate bulk UAN numbers for their employees, especially when onboarding large teams or during recovery and compliance actions.
How to generate bulk UAN number using the EPFO portal?
Log in to the EPFO employer portal, download the UAN format, fill in employee details, and upload the file under the bulk UAN generator section to generate UANs in bulk.
Can UANs be generated without Aadhaar?
Yes, EPFO allows UAN generation without Aadhaar in special cases like recovery proceedings or cancelled exempted trusts. However, these UANs remain frozen until Aadhaar is linked.
What happens if the UAN is frozen?
Frozen UANs cannot be used for PF withdrawals or transfers until Aadhaar seeding is completed. Employers must ensure employees complete the Aadhaar update.
