New Delhi
The Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) has introduced a new, digital method for its members to generate and activate their Universal Account Number (UAN) using Aadhaar-based Face Authentication Technology (FAT) via the UMANG mobile app. This contactless and secure feature aims to simplify the process and enhance user convenience.
Previously, employers generated UANs using employee data, but errors in details like mobile number or date of birth often delayed access to EPFO services. In 2024–25, only 35% of issued UANs were activated due to these issues. Many employees didn’t receive their UANs or lacked correct mobile numbers, making activation difficult. The earlier process, which required Aadhaar OTP on the EPFO portal, also led to confusion.
With the new system, both employees and employers can now directly generate and activate UANs through the UMANG app. The app verifies the user’s identity and details directly from the Aadhaar database using face recognition. The mobile number must match the one linked with Aadhaar, and UAN activation is completed instantly.
Once activated, employees can share a PDF copy of their e-UAN card with employers for EPFO onboarding. This also unlocks immediate access to services like passbook viewing, KYC updates, and claims.
In addition, the government recently removed the need to upload a cheque leaf or passbook image and waived employer approval after bank verification for claim settlements, benefiting over 7.7 crore EPFO members.