Current Context: The Employees' Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) launched the Amnesty Scheme, 2026, providing a one-time six-month window from 29 June 2026 for eligible establishments to regularise the legal status of their exempted Provident Fund (PF) Trusts.
- The scheme is meant for establishments that operate PF Trusts recognised under the Income Tax Act, 1961, but do not possess a formal exemption notification under the EPF & MP Act, 1952.
- It was introduced after the Finance Act, 2026 aligned the recognition of provident funds under the Income Tax framework with the exemption provisions of the EPF & MP Act, 1952.
- Eligible employers can obtain retrospective regularisation, reducing long-pending legal and compliance issues while bringing their PF trusts under the statutory framework.
- The scheme also provides relief from specified compliance requirements and allows eligible trusts to continue as exempted establishments or opt for regular EPFO compliance, subject to prescribed conditions.
- Applications must be submitted within the six-month period, along with the required documents and audit reports, through the prescribed EPFO process.
- The initiative aims to improve transparency, governance and compliance while ensuring better protection of employees' provident fund savings and strengthening India's social security system.
Question:
Q1. The Employees' Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) launched the Amnesty Scheme, 2026 with a one-time window of:
a) Three months
b) Six months
c) Nine months
d) One year
Answer: b) The EPFO Amnesty Scheme, 2026 provides a one-time six-month window starting from 29 June 2026 for eligible establishments to regularise their exempted PF Trusts.
