Union Minister Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya Chaired 238th Meeting of CBT of EPF in New Delhi

Current Context: On 14 Oct 2025, Union Labour & Employment Minister Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya chaired the 238th meeting of the Central Board of Trustees (CBT) of EPF in New Delhi.

• The Board approved simplification of EPF partial withdrawals, merging 13 provisions into 3 categories – Essential Needs, Housing, and Special Circumstances.
• Withdrawal limits for education and marriage were liberalised, with a safeguard that 25% of balance must remain for retirement.
• The Vishwas Scheme was launched to settle long‑pending litigations on damages and penalties, reducing court cases.
• EPFO 3.0 reforms were rolled out, including doorstep Digital Life Certificate (DLC) services with India Post Payments Bank.
• The meeting also reviewed the EPS‑95 minimum pension issue and emphasised digital transformation of EPFO.

Question:

Q.1 Under the revised EPF (Employees’ Provident Fund) withdrawal rules, what minimum percentage of balance must remain for retirement after partial withdrawal for education or marriage?
a) 10%
b) 20%
c) 25%
d) 30%

Answer: c) The rule mandates that at least 25% of the EPF balance must remain intact to protect the member’s retirement savings.