The Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO), operating under the Ministry of Labour and Employment, has embarked on a transformative digital journey by introducing Aadhaar Face Authentication Technology through the UMANG Mobile App for Universal Account Number (UAN) generation and activation. This revolutionary step is set to redefine the experience of crores of EPFO members, offering a secure, hassle-free, and entirely digital process for accessing provident fund-related services.
The new initiative marks a departure from traditional methods where UANs were primarily generated by employers based on data submitted to EPFO. Previously, inaccuracies in key fields such as names, mobile numbers, or dates of birth often hindered the seamless functioning of UAN-based services, leaving employees to navigate complicated correction procedures during claim submissions or other service access. The issue was exacerbated by inadequate communication between EPFO and employees, with many employees unaware of their UANs or unable to activate them effectively.
Data from the fiscal year 2024-25 highlights these challenges, with only 35.30% of UANs activated out of the 12.6 million allotted during the year. Despite reminders to employers urging employees to activate their UANs via Aadhaar OTP, a substantial number remained unverified, impeding future access to direct benefits linked to employment schemes.
To address these issues, EPFO has introduced a direct UAN generation and activation system using Aadhaar Face Authentication. This groundbreaking service is accessible to both employees and employers via the UMANG app and is designed to ensure 100% validation using biometric technology. Aadhaar-linked data, including mobile numbers, is seamlessly pre-populated to eliminate discrepancies. UAN activation is automatically completed during generation, empowering employees to directly download their e-UAN cards and bypass reliance on employers for onboarding with EPFO. This innovative approach unlocks immediate access to EPFO services such as passbook viewing, KYC updates, and claim submissions.
The process for generating a UAN using Aadhaar Face Authentication is straightforward and user-friendly. Employees can download both the UMANG and AadhaarFaceRD apps from the Playstore, navigate to the “UAN Allotment and Activation” section under UAN services, and follow a few simple steps. The authentication involves capturing a live photo, validated against the image stored in the Aadhaar database. Once confirmed, the UAN is generated and sent via SMS, enabling employees to download their activated UAN cards for immediate use.
For members who already possess a UAN but have not activated it, the new technology offers a simplified activation route through the UMANG app, eliminating previous complexities.
The introduction of Aadhaar Face Authentication heralds a new era of enhanced security and efficiency in EPFO operations. Biometric authentication ensures tamper-proof identity verification, fortifying the organization’s framework against discrepancies while enabling a wide range of self-service options. This move is expected to significantly reduce the dependency on employers and regional offices for essential services, fostering a more transparent and user-centric system.
Employers have been strongly urged to adopt this innovative method for UAN generation, prioritizing the ease and accuracy it offers. Facilitating this process for first-time employees promises to streamline registration, ensuring timely and authenticated integration into the EPFO system.
In addition to these advancements, EPFO plans to extend the benefits of Aadhaar Face Authentication to pensioners by promoting digital life certificates through the Jeevan Pramaan initiative. This collaboration, involving volunteers from My Bharat, aims to provide doorstep services for elderly pensioners, further demonstrating EPFO’s commitment to leveraging technology for inclusive and accessible solutions.
The implementation of Aadhaar Face Authentication through UMANG app stands as a testament to EPFO’s dedication to modernizing its operations. By prioritizing member convenience and accuracy, EPFO has set a new benchmark in delivering efficient and secure digital services, reflecting a forward-thinking approach to social security in India.
