What was notified
On 29 June 2026 the Ministry of Labour and Employment notified three schemes under Chapter III of the Code on Social Security, 2020. They were published in the Gazette and took effect on 1 July 2026.
| New scheme | Notification | Replaces |
|---|---|---|
| Employees' Provident Funds Scheme, 2026 | G.S.R. 525(E) | EPF Scheme 1952 |
| Employees' Pension Scheme, 2026 | G.S.R. 527(E) | EPS 1995 (and the legacy Family Pension Scheme 1971) |
| Employees' Deposit Linked Insurance Scheme, 2026 | G.S.R. 520(E) | EDLI Scheme 1976 |
The old schemes had continued after 21 November 2025 only under the Code's s.164 savings clause. Existing members, accounts, UANs and service histories continue without any action. Contribution rates are unchanged:
- 12% from the employee and 12% from the employer.
- Of the employer's share, 8.33% goes to EPS and the balance to EPF.
- EDLI is 0.5% and administrative charges are 0.5%, with a minimum of ₹500 a month.
- A reduced rate of 10% applies to notified classes.
The wage ceiling was re-notified at ₹15,000 on 29 May 2026 (S.O. 2702(E)). It was then raised to ₹25,000 from 17 September 2026 (S.O. 5109(E)).
Form map: old to new
| Purpose | Old (1952 Scheme) | New (EPF Scheme 2026) | Timeline |
|---|---|---|---|
| Initial consolidated return on coverage | Form 5 (initial) | Form V | Within 15 days of the Scheme applying |
| Monthly challan-cum-return | ECR | Form VII (ECR) | By the 15th of the following month |
| Ownership return | Form 5A | Form VI | After registration. Changes within 15 days. Display an extract at the entrance and on the website |
| Branches / departments and responsible persons | — | Form VIII | On registration, and within 30 days of any change |
| Authorised signatories (maximum 5) | — | Form IX | Within 30 days of a change |
| Principal employer's declaration of contractors | — | Form X | On engaging each contractor |
| Contractor's monthly statement to principal employer | — | Form XI | Within 10 days of month-end |
| Principal employer's monthly abstract of contract workers | — | Form XII | Within 20 days of month-end |
| International workers return | IW-1 | Monthly IW return | Within 15 days of month-end |
| Nomination | Form 2 | e-nomination (mandatory) | On joining, and afresh on marriage or acquiring a family |
| Transfer / withdrawal / pension / EDLI claims | Forms 13, 19, 31, 10C, 10D, 20, 5IF | Online claims | Employer forwards verified physical claims within 5 days |
| Exempted establishments | Various | Forms I–IV (exemption, returns, trust minutes, undertaking) | Exemption valid 3 years. Renew at least 6 months before expiry |
Forms 3A, 6A, 5, 10 and 12A stay discontinued. Their data comes through the ECR.
Other key changes
- Contract labour accountability. Forms X–XII make the principal employer track contractor PF compliance every month. They were designed to make the principal's liability under the Code enforceable in practice.
- Damages and late fees. Damages on arrears are reduced to 0.25%, 0.50% and 1% of arrears per month, depending on the length of delay. Interest on delayed contributions is 12% a year. A late fee of ₹500 a day applies to delayed returns.
- EPS higher-contribution option. EPS 2026 provides a 9.49% contribution option for members choosing higher pension, with a matching employer obligation. Model its cost before you agree to it.
- EDLI. The assurance benefit is ₹2.5 lakh minimum and ₹7 lakh maximum where the member had 12 months' continuous employment. Lower bands apply otherwise. The ₹7 lakh maximum did not change with the ₹25,000 ceiling.
- Withdrawals. Partial withdrawal is allowed after 12 months of membership for specified purposes. Full withdrawal is allowed at 55+, on permanent incapacity, or on migrating abroad. Accounts with no claim for 36 months become inoperative.
- Exempted PF trusts. Legacy exempted establishments must apply for continuation by 7 May 2028. Trust audits are due within six months of year-end, and annual member statements within two months.
- Interest. EPF interest for FY 2025-26 was ratified at 8.25%.
Time-bound windows
| Scheme | What it does | Window |
|---|---|---|
| Employees' Enrolment Campaign 2026 | One-time voluntary enrolment of employees left out between April 2009 and March 2026, on relaxed terms | 1 Jul – 31 Oct 2026 |
| VISHWAS 2026 | Settlement of damages for defaults before 14 Jun 2024 | 6 months from notification (to about 31 Dec 2026), extendable by 6 months |
| AMNESTY 2026 | Regularisation of PF trusts run without formal EPFO exemption | 6 months from notification, extendable. Audits within 3 months of application |
The Enrolment Campaign is the most time-critical for private employers. An employer who finds un-enrolled staff in an audit, due diligence or the ₹25,000 ceiling review has until 31 October 2026 to use it.
What employers should do
- To do: File Form VI (successor to 5A) where ownership particulars change. Put the extract at the entrance and on the company website.
- To do: Review Forms VIII and IX (branches, responsible persons, signatories) and correct them within 30 days of any change.
- To do: Set up the Form X–XII contractor workflow: declare each contractor, collect Form XI by the 10th, and file Form XII by the 20th.
- To do: Complete e-nomination for all members, and re-nominate on marriage.
- To do: Decide on the Enrolment Campaign before 31 Oct 2026, and consider VISHWAS for legacy damages.
- To do: If you run an exempted trust, calendar the continuation application and the audit and member-statement deadlines.
- To do: Update payroll to the ₹25,000 ceiling from 17 Sep 2026 (see our separate note).
Effective dates at a glance
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| 21 Nov 2025 | Code on Social Security in force. Old schemes continue under s.164 |
| 8 May 2026 | Social Security (Central) Rules 2026 |
| 29 May 2026 | Operational notifications, including the ₹15,000 ceiling (S.O. 2702(E)) |
| 29 Jun / 1 Jul 2026 | EPF, EPS and EDLI Schemes 2026 notified / in force |
| 17 Sep 2026 | Wage ceiling ₹25,000 |
| 31 Oct 2026 | Enrolment Campaign closes |
| ~31 Dec 2026 | VISHWAS 2026 initial window ends (extendable) |
| 7 May 2028 | Deadline for legacy exempted establishments to apply for continuation |
General information, not legal advice. Last reviewed 27 Sep 2026.