Overview

• Thirteen partial-withdrawal provisions were consolidated into three categories—Essential Needs, Housing Needs and Special Circumstances—with no reason required under the special-circumstances route.
• Members may withdraw up to 100% of the eligible EPF balance, including employer contributions, while maintaining a mandatory 25% minimum balance that preserves a portion of the retirement corpus.
• The minimum service requirement for partial withdrawals is set at 12 months, with higher permitted frequencies for education (up to 10 times) and marriage (up to five times).
• The window for premature final settlement shifts to 12 months of unemployment for EPF and 36 months for EPS, replacing the earlier two‑month threshold and lengthening access for those newly jobless.
• The board approved the six‑month Vishwas Scheme to cut penal damages on delayed remittances to as low as 0.25%–1% per month, advanced a doorstep Digital Life Certificate service via India Post Payments Bank, endorsed a hybrid‑cloud, automated claims framework, and appointed SBI, HDFC, Aditya Birla Sun Life and UTI AMCs to manage the debt portfolio for five years.