Union Minister Dr Mansukh Mandaviya Chairs 239th meeting of CBT & EPF

Current Context: On March 2, 2026, Union Labour & Employment Minister Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya chaired the 239th meeting of the Central Board of Trustees (CBT) of the Employees’ Provident Fund (EPF) in New Delhi.

• The Board recommended retaining the Employees’ Provident Fund (EPF) interest rate at 8.25% for FY 2025–26, despite an internal suggestion of 8.10%, covering a projected shortfall of ₹944 crore from past surpluses.
• It approved three new schemes – Employees’ Provident Fund (EPF) Scheme 2026, Employees’ Pension Scheme (EPS) 2026, and Employees’ Deposit Linked Insurance (EDLI) Scheme 2026 – aligned with the Code on Social Security, 2020, replacing legacy schemes.
• A pilot project was launched for auto-claim settlement of inoperative accounts with balances ≤ ₹1,000, covering 1.33 lakh accounts worth ₹5.68 crore.
• The Board also cleared a one-time Amnesty Scheme for exempted establishments to regularize compliance within six months.
• Additionally, a unified Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for EPF exemptions and risk-based digital audits were introduced to enhance transparency and efficiency.

Question:

Q.1 During the 239th meeting of the Central Board of Trustees (CBT) of EPF, what interest rate was recommended for Employees’ Provident Fund deposits for FY 2025–26?
a) 8.00%
b) 8.10%
c) 8.25%
d) 8.50%

Answer: c) At the 239th CBT meeting, the Board recommended retaining the EPF interest rate at 8.25% for FY 2025–26, despite an internal proposal suggesting 8.10%.