The Centre has officially rolled out the Employees’ Provident Fund (EPF) Scheme, 2026, replacing the long-standing Employees’ Provident Fund Scheme, 1952. The new framework has been notified under the Code on Social Security, 2020, and took effect on July 1. While the revised scheme retains several existing EPF provisions, it significantly changes the way members can make partial withdrawals from their provident fund accounts. The new rules streamline withdrawal purposes, introduce a minimum balance requirement, and formally incorporate provisions that were earlier approved as part of the EPFO 3.0 reforms.
