In a major development for the Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) subscribers, the Labour Ministry is set to introduce a facility allowing access to EPF withdrawals via ATM and UPI services.
The facility could be introduced as early as March 2026. The move backs up recent reforms regarding EPF withdrawals, with members allowed to take up to 75 per cent of their provident fund balance.
One of the aims is to significantly cut down the paperwork and make EPF funds as easily accessible to members as possible. “You can still withdraw your 75% EPF immediately. I am telling you in advance that before March 2026, the Ministry will introduce a feature where a subscriber can withdraw their EPF through an ATM. The Ministry will also link EPF withdrawals with UPI,” said Union Labour Minister Mansukh Mandaviya in an interview with OneIndia.
Digital Access And Simpler Withdrawal System
As the EPF withdrawal currently involves several forms and extensive paperwork, certain subscribers find it complicated and face delays in accessing their hard-earned money. “Money lying in EPF belongs to the subscriber, but withdrawals currently require applying through different forms, which becomes a hassle for many members,” Mandaviya explained. It is with keeping such inconveniences in mind that the government is rolling out the ATM/UPI EPF withdrawal facility.
As ATM and UPI services become increasingly integral to people’s regular financial activities and banking habits, the proposal for EPF withdrawal seeks to align with the same. No longer would members have to rely on online portals or their employer for withdrawals. By connecting the EPF structure with the regular payment infrastructure, the authorities hope it will reduce time constraints and eliminate delays in claim settlement.
EPF Withdrawal Overhaul
The upgrade to online and ATM withdrawals reflects well on the set of reforms introduced by the EPFO in October 2025. The EPFO approved changes to make the provident fund operations more transparent and streamlined. The main goal was to ensure that EPF withdrawal claims are completed faster without rejections. It resolved the complications faced by those members who often struggled to understand and comply with the eligibility rules.
The EPF withdrawal procedure was certainly complicated, with categories being fragmented before the reforms. Each category carried its own conditions and service limits. As multiple rules often led to confusion and errors, the Labour Ministry focused on curbing the processing time and rejected applications. Now, the 13 separate withdrawal categories have been combined to form a simplified framework.
