New Delhi — The Union Cabinet has approved raising the wage ceiling for mandatory coverage under the Employees' Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) from ₹15,000 to ₹25,000 per month, in a decision taken on 16 September 2026.

According to the government's rationale reported by SCC Times, minimum wages in several states and occupations had moved close to the existing ₹15,000 threshold, making an update necessary to keep formal social security coverage meaningful.

The change primarily affects employees earning between ₹15,000 and ₹25,000 a month in EPF-covered establishments, who will now fall under mandatory provident fund and pension coverage. The EPFO currently has about 7.98 crore contributing members and around 82 lakh pensioners under the Employees' Pension Scheme.

The effective date and detailed contribution rules are expected to be set out in official notifications. Employers will need to update payroll systems, and employees should ensure their UAN is active and KYC details are updated.

For a detailed explanation of how EPF and EPS contributions work, see our complete guide to the new EPF wage ceiling.

Sources: SCC Times (17 September 2026); Prime Minister's Office.